University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) vs United States Air Force Academy

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. UCCS boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students from diverse backgrounds. USAFA, on the other hand, offers a rigorous and highly selective admissions process, catering to students seeking a military career. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into the details and discover which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
United States Air Force Academy logo

United States Air Force Academy

University of Colorado Colorado Springs logo

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Overview

Location USAF Academy, Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado
Campus setting Town: Fringe City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 93.0% 67.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 12.4% 95.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1208 - 1490 N/A
ACT range 29 - 34 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 35.0%
Students submitting ACT score 21.0%
Total number of applicants 11,687 11,900
Total number of admissions given out 1,453 11,337
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,091 1,409
Yield rate 75.1% 12.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,306

Out of state: $38,762
Average net price $15,547
Tuition
In state: $7,296

Out of state: $19,752
Room & board $11,458
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

71.0%
Average amount $6,940
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $5,047
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,415

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,181
Men 71.4% Women 28.6%
10,002
Men 45.8% Women 54.2%
Graduate students N/A 2,029
Men 40.0% Women 60.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 22.0%
International students N/A 1.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,200 1,719
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Colorado Texas California Illinois Minnesota

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 86.1% 44.1%
Dropout rate 13.9% 16.8%
Transferred out N/A 35.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,442
  • Year 2: $92,358
  • Year 3: $103,568
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,849
  • Year 2: $67,240
  • Year 3: $77,111
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,511
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,950
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,374
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $74,444
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,567
  • Year 2: $56,544
  • Year 3: $64,874
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,473
  • Year 2: $59,441
  • Year 3: $63,152
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,437
  • Year 2: $45,048
  • Year 3: $53,324
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,674
  • Year 2: $44,170
  • Year 3: $49,511
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,542
  • Year 2: $40,089
  • Year 3: $48,299
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,745
  • Year 2: $40,521
  • Year 3: $47,859