Colorado College vs Naropa University

Colorado College and Naropa University, both located in Colorado, offer distinct educational experiences. Colorado College, with an acceptance rate of 14%, is a private liberal arts college known for its rigorous academics and strong emphasis on experiential learning. Naropa University, on the other hand, is a private Buddhist-inspired university with an acceptance rate of 70%, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in contemplative education, environmental studies, and the arts. While Colorado College boasts a diverse student body with a 4-year graduation rate of 83%, Naropa University's student population is smaller and more focused on contemplative practices, with a 6-year graduation rate of 58%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid options.
Colorado College logo

Colorado College

Naropa University logo

Naropa University

Overview

Location Colorado Springs, Colorado Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 54.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.3% 100.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $60
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 10,975 148
Total number of admissions given out 1,564 148
Admitted students who chose to enroll 620 29
Yield rate 39.6% 19.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,562 $53,858
Average net price $30,200 $29,924
Tuition $61,596 $34,600
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,052

Meal plan: $5,616
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

57.0%
Average amount $48,666
92.0%
Average amount $22,372
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $5,010
50.0%
Average amount $11,330
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $26,825
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,241
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
325
Men 26.5% Women 73.5%
Graduate students 25
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
639
Men 25.2% Women 74.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 40.7%
International students 6.6% 2.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,745 104
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Colorado California New York Arizona Georgia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Physical Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Psychology
  • English Language and Literature
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.7% 34.2%
Dropout rate 2.2% 23.7%
Transferred out 11.5% 42.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,092
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $59,954
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,396
  • Year 2: $20,482
  • Year 3: $29,045
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,826
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $16,137
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,555
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: N/A
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,472
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,475
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $31,734
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,802
  • Year 2: $21,052
  • Year 3: $20,185
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,019
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,154
  • Year 3: N/A

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