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Looking for more information about how to apply to CU Boulder? Watch these previously recorded virtual visit sessions, where we cover everything from common application terminology to writing a great college essay. We’re always posting new videos, so check back in to see the new virtual sessions you may have missed.

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Planning Your Application

Decoding the college admissions process.

Learn the basics of the common terms and steps you may encounter as you apply, how they differ by institution, and feel more confident through all the steps needed to apply.

Rising Senior Night

Future First-Year Buffs, learn more about how to apply and specific CU Boulder application updates for the first-year application. We also share some tips and tricks to make applying easier!

Creating the College Essay

Learn more about the importance of the college essay, writing tips, the types of essays and common writing prompts.

Colorado Admissions & Financial Aid Workshop

Future First-Year Buffs, learn how to complete your CU Boulder admission application and understand how financial aid works.

What Should I Major in?

Undecided? This video explores students’ personal interests and experiences, and connects them to the majors available at CU Boulder. This session includes a brief overview of majors, along with information on how to use Career Services and Academic Advising to help you explore our academic offerings.

Student Life & Community

Cu boulder student stories.

Listen to CU Boulder students share their personal experiences about life on campus.

Living Your Best Buff Life

Learn more about CU Boulder events and traditions, and how you fit in the CU Boulder community.

Living & Creating Community on Campus

Learn more about living on campus. This video includes information about residence hall options, Living Learning Communities and Residential Academic Programs.

Mountains Are Calling - Study in Colorado!

Hear from CU Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and the University of Denver to learn about the benefits of pursuing a higher education in Colorado. Students ask questions about the admission process and what it’s like to study in Colorado.

Education Abroad

Learn how Education Abroad can fit into your experience as a student at CU Boulder. Our numerous options can fit every budget while keeping you on track to graduate. Studying abroad can be a great opportunity for any student.

Opportunities for Top Scholars

Learn about CU Boulder’s top scholar community and insights into honors and enrichment opportunities on campus.

The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. You may  view the list of ADA and Title IX coordinators  and  review the Regent policy .

As a student or prospective student at CU Boulder, you have a right to certain information pertaining to financial aid programs, the Clery Act, crime and safety, graduation rates, athletics and other general information such as the costs associated with attending CU Boulder. To view this information visit  colorado.edu/your-right-know .

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Self-guided tour: Notable places on campus

Ready to check out CU Boulder’s beautiful campus? Our self-guided tour highlights some of our most notable places on campus.

For reference, you can view our campus map here , or you can choose from one of our two online versions:

• Online map: Explore campus with a searchable and interactive replica of this printed map. Visit colorado.edu/map .
• Virtual tour: Learn more about different spaces and places on campus through our immersive virtual tour. Visit youvisit.com/tour/Colorado .

We start the tour at the CASE building; however, you can begin your self-guided tour at any point along the way.

Each number represents a stop on the tour and is reflected on the campus map.

• The Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE, G-5) is new to CU Boulder. This center contains classrooms, offices, study nooks and information about CU Boulder. *Photo op: Take in the beautiful views and grab a photo with the buffalo statue on the fourth-floor balcony.
• The University Memorial Center (UMC, F-5) is where students can find it all. Filled with restaurants, tables, conference rooms and the book store, the UMC is where students commonly gather to relax, eat and meet friends.
• Old Main (MAIN, D-4) Our first building, Old Main, was built in 1876 with donations from our generous community. Old Main once housed the entire university, including the president, the janitor, the library and all the classrooms. The third floor of this beautiful building is home to the CU Heritage Center— a free center that showcases the history of CU Boulder.
• Macky Auditorium (MCKY, D-4) Built in 1912, Macky Auditorium is one of Colorado’s premier concert halls. The 2,047-seat theater hosts classical and popular musical concerts, dance performances, lectures and films. Stop by to see the beautiful interior. *Photo op: Varsity Lake, just west of Macky Auditorium.
• Norlin Library (LIBR, D-5) The library features a learning commons, a research center, team technology rooms and a coffee shop. Norlin Library also houses the Writing Center, Center for Asian Studies, Faculty Teaching Excellence Program and Honors offices.

The Student Recreation Center (REC, D-6) The Rec Center was recently renovated and now houses three swimming pools (including an outdoor pool shaped like a buffalo!), an ice arena, a turf gym, 10,000 square feet of strength and cardio space, a climbing wall, six multipurpose wood courts and five fitness studios with more than 90 classes offered weekly.

Folsom Field ((D-8) Our breathtaking football field is where Ralphie, our live bison mascot, can be seen charging the field at every home football game in the fall. The student section of the stadium faces the Flatirons, so students can enjoy the view of the field as well as the Rockies.

Farrand Field (G-7) This grass field features a performance stage and recreational space for students to enjoy. Some of CU Boulder’s 24 residence halls frame Farrand Field, including:

Willard Hall (G-8) to the southeast, Farrand Hall (G-8) to the east and Baker Hall (F-7) to the northwest. * Photo op: Farrand Field offers one of the best views of the Flatirons. Snap a pic and don’t forget to share with #ViewsFromCU.

Roser ATLAS building (Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society) (ATLS, F-6) The ATLAS building has facilities for innovative learning, with spaces for information technology classes and research. The building features an auditorium, a 2,700-square-foot black box studio and a 1,000-square-foot production studio. It is here that art, tech and creative thoughts merge.

The Visual Arts Complex (VAC, F-5) This complex houses the Department of Art and Art History. It includes resources such as a woodshop, kiln yard, Visual Resources Center and more. It’s also home to the CU Art Museum, which is open to all visitors.

This is the end of your tour. We hope you enjoyed your time on campus, and be sure to share your visit experience @FutureBuffs! #ViewsFromCU.

Self-guided tour: Academic buildings

Interested in seeing academic buildings while on the self-guided tour? Feel free to explore our academic buildings during normal business hours.

College of Music: Warner Imig Music Building (MUS, G-6) The Warner Imig Music Building is a large complex of practice rooms, faculty studios, offices, ensemble rehearsal areas, seminar facilities and classrooms. Our College of Music not only offers traditional degrees in music, it also provides students with opportunities in music technology and entrepreneurship.

School of Education: Education Building FLMG, J-9) The School of Education has moved to a new home in the Fleming Building, with upgraded offices, collaborative and community spaces, new classrooms, and state-of-the-art teaching labs. CU Boulder is home to Colorado’s top-ranked school of education ( U.S. News & World Report, 2023 ).

College of Media, Information and Communications (CMCI): The Armory Building (ARMR, C-3) Located across the street from Varsity Lake, CMCI found its home in our historic Armory building, which was originally the site of the Colorado National Guard. CMCI was established in 2015, CU Boulder’s first new college in more than 50 years.

College of Arts and Sciences: Eaton Humanities (HUMN, D-5) The College of Arts and Sciences has the largest number of academic majors. And although fields of study for arts and sciences are housed across campus, Eaton Humanities is the College of Arts and Sciences’ home. This building offers state-of-the-art instructional technology, classrooms and offices.

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences: The Engineering Center (EC, F-10) This center houses our engineering offices, labs and classrooms. We offer top-ranked engineering programs in Colorado and across the Rocky Mountain region, and one of our own civil engineering professors founded the Engineers Without Borders NGO.

Leeds School of Business: The Koelbel Building (KOBL, G-10) Our business school is the eighth-oldest in the United States and consistently ranked one of the best in the nation by sources like Bloomberg Businessweek and U.S. News & World Report .

Program in Environmental Design: (ENVD, F-6) Dedicated to the creation of healthy and sustainable communities, the Program in Environmental Design emphasizes evidence-based practice and experiential learning.

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The College of Arts & Sciences Daily Tours

Important Announcement: To help limit COVID-19 risk to our prospective students and community, CU Boulder is taking precautions to keep our community safe by suspending on-campus visit programs and tours starting Monday, March 16, 2020. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes and appreciate your patience as we navigate this unprecedented situation. For more information about what precautions CU Boulder is taking, please visit colorado.edu/coronavirus .

Plan your University of Colorado Boulder Visit

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder for short), is home to over 33,000 students. It is easy to see why so many are drawn to this laid-back mountain town, nestled in the foothills of the Flatiron Mountains. If CU Boulder is on your college list, use this guide to plan a visit to the University of Colorado Boulder.

Located just 30 minutes northwest of Denver, Boulder is a hip city with a cute downtown and was dubbed “America’s Foodiest Town” by Bon Appetít . Boulder is also a great destination for those seeking outdoor adventures, from hiking and mountain and road biking to stand-up paddleboarding and rock climbing. 

Getting to University of Colorado Boulder

If you are flying into Denver International Airport, you can rent a car and drive 45 minutes up to Boulder. However, if you (or your student) need public transportation, CU Boulder is an hour away from the Denver International Airport (DIA) via the  RTD SkyRide bus service.

There are also other affordable options such as shared-ride service shuttles , which pick-up and drop-off from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, island 5, outside doors 505-507 (east side) and 510-512 (west side). For those that prefer rideshare services, an Uber will cost about $78 one way.

Taking a Tour of University of Colorado Boulder

You need to register in advance for University of Colorado Boulder tours , and spots fill up quickly so be sure to secure your spot before booking your travel. Luckily, CU Boulder is not a closed campus, so you can also always visit and self-tour the campus, you just won’t be able to go inside any of the buildings.

Make sure to walk past the Center for Community, with its extensive dining hall and 10 micro-restaurants; Old Main, the first building on campus; the Case Center; University Memorial Center; Norlin Library; the Recreational Center; Fiske Planetarium (you may also notice the solar system model throughout campus); Macky Auditorium; and Farrand Field, where the students like to hang out.

Of course, CU Boulder is a great sports school, so you have to walk around Folsom Field and rub the horn on the statue of Ralphie, the renowned Buffalo mascot.

Where to Stay Near CU Boulder

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Since you are visiting Boulder for a campus visit, you will want to pick accommodations close to the school. If you want to be within walking distance, I’d recommend either the Boulder Marriott Hotel and Spa , Residence Inn Boulder Canyon Boulevard , Hilton Garden Inn Boulder , or the Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder .

For our first visit, we decided to use some Hilton points to book a one-bedroom suite with a balcony and mountain view at the Embassy Suites. I expected the typical dated Embassy Suites with a pyramid-like atrium and decor from the 1990s, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the Boulder property. It was modern and fresh, with beautiful views over Boulder and the Flatiron Mountains.

Every two-room suite has a private bedroom and separate living room with a sofa bed and dining table and includes an HDTV, Keurig coffee-maker, refrigerator, microwave, and complimentary WiFi along with hydration stations on every floor. The hotel includes a free made-to-order breakfast and an evening reception with drinks and snacks in the Brickstones Kitchen & Bar. The suite setup was perfect when traveling with a young adult, giving everyone privacy without requiring two room reservations. The free breakfast, including hot breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee, and snacks was also a money saver.

On our second visit, we stayed next door at the Hilton Garden Inn Boulder. Also a new property, we enjoyed the fresh new decor and the community spaces in the lobby for working, studying, or relaxing. Located right off of 28th Street/ Route 36, it is a convenient spot for exploring or walking to campus.

Where to Eat in Boulder

Boulder’s downtown Pearl Street was ranked among  Food & Wine’s  10 Best Foodie Streets in America. With 22 craft breweries and a burgeoning wine and spirits industry, Boulder’s food and drink scene is hopping. For Food Network fans, “Top Chef” winner Hosea Rosenburg has two restaurants in Boulder — Blackbelly and Santo. Cafe Aion’s chef/owner Dakota Soifer was a winner on Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen.”

Frasca Food and Wine have earned a James Beard award, and the less expensive Pizzeria Locale next door is owned by the same people. For casual dining with your teen, the food trucks park at the Rayback Collective, where you will find indoor and outdoor seating, yard games, a stage for live music.

Two places that I would highly recommend are Oak at Fourteenth and Santo. Oak at Fourteenth is a stylish neighborhood restaurant off Pearl Street featuring local and seasonal New American cuisine. The clean style and open kitchen are warm and inviting, and the wood-scented aromas from the oven and grill will whet your appetite. The food is innovative and full of flavor. I’d recommend the olive-oil whipped ricotta appetizer and either the wild mushroom and potato gnocchi or the Piri Piri roast half-chicken.

You will need a car or an Uber to get to the next recommendation, but dinner at Santo is well worth the short drive and disregard the strip mall setting. Once you walk in you can appreciate the New Mexican-influenced design, from the light fixture that resembles the NM state flag, to the artwork and the use of natural materials. The big question when choosing from the menu is whether you want green, red, or Christmas (both kinds of chilis — personally I’m a fan of green!)

For a more casual dinner, try Post Chicken and Beer in the Pearl Street Mall area. Known for its fried chicken and craft beer, this is a perfect spot to bring a potential college student. We recommend the chicken thigh fries with curry ketchup!

A must-try for breakfast is Boulder is The Buff . You may need to wait in line but you need time to build up an appetite for the giant portions (I’m sure it makes a great hangover remedy!)

Things to do Near CU Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is a great choice for outdoor lovers. The school is only an hour from the Estes Park entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, where you can enjoy hiking, biking, winter sports like snowshoeing, fishing, and horseback riding. Just be sure to check out the Park’s website before you go to check for road closures or to see if day pass reservations are required.

If you are looking for a guided hike, I strongly recommend Rewilding Expeditions . The owner Nick is a former park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park and extremely knowledgeable about the park and dedicated to conservation.

If you don’t want to go that far, take a hike on one of the many trails that start at the Chautauqua Trailhead, many of which will offer great views of the campus from above. Another great scenic overlook is Panorama Point on Flagstaff Road. The Boulder Creek Path, which runs through town and campus along a babbling creek, is also a good place to bike, jog, skate and walk.

Downtown, you will want to stroll through the Pearl Street pedestrian mall, take a downtown walking tour, check out the goods at the Boulder Farmer’s Market, or pop into the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

If you are a tea fan, you may want to check out the Celestial Seasonings Factory tour and then refresh at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.

Fascinated by weather? Stop in for a tour of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Visitor Center for an informative view of weather, climate, and the broad spectrum of atmospheric research at a world-class laboratory. After the tour, head outdoors on the Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail, or take a longer hike on one of the extensive trails in the 40,000+ acre Boulder Open Space area.

Of course, if you are looking for other day trip options, from Boulder you are only 30 minutes from Denver and 40 minutes from the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where you can go climb the amphitheater steps, hike a network of trails, or visit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. 

One hour away you can reach the otherworldly landscape of Roxborough State Park , where you can hike among the slanting ochre sandstone formations, watch for wildlife, and spot wildflowers alongside the trails.

A forty-minute drive will take you to Golden, Colorado. This former gold rush town has a unique Western-flavored culture surrounded by rugged mesas and is home to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, with 12,000 acres of high mountain landscape with aspen trees, granite boulders, tall grasses, and fields of wildflowers.

If you are willing to drive an hour and a half to Colorado Springs, you can hike through the towering sandstone rock formations at the Garden of the Gods Park.

Visiting other Colleges?

Check out recommendations for planning campus visits to:

• Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland
• University of Michigan  in Ann Arbor
• University of Wisconsin-Madison

Getting Ready for College? Read these…

• College packing list for guys
• Things to do before college

Tamara is an over 50, award-winning travel writer, and recent empty nester based in Rhode Island. After years of writing about family travel on We3Travel and inspiring wanderlust as co-host of the Vacation Mavens family travel podcast, she started Your Time to Fly as a place to share ideas for girlfriend getaways, romantic escapes, and solo female travel for midlife women.

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Things to Do at CU

11 things to do at the university of colorado boulder.

The  University of Colorado Boulder  sits in the heart of the city, and its students and faculty help make Boulder a center for research and culture. Here’s our roundup of campus highlights, most of which you can do in just a day or two!

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Local News | ‘I can’t believe I made it’: Students celebrate…

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Local news | ‘i can’t believe i made it’: students celebrate at cu boulder’s graduation ceremony.

“I never thought I’d be able to do this … to be able to go through this is nothing short of a miracle,” Bargas said.

Bargas is one of more than 9,400 students who earned a degree from the University of Colorado Boulder during its graduation ceremony on Thursday at Folsom Field. Bargas, a first-generation college student from Thornton, said earning his degree in neuroscience wasn’t easy.

“In a degree where it’s very difficult in some classes you always feel like you don’t, I guess in a sense, belong,” Bargas said. “Like you’re not smart enough and all this, so just believing in yourself is always a struggle.”

Now, he’s excited and nervous for the future.

Students ages 20 to 63 were honored at CU Boulder’s graduation ceremony on Thursday. Despite the clouds hovering above the stadium, attendees made it through without any rainfall, enduring only slightly chilly temperatures and cloudy skies. The university awarded 6,882 bachelor’s degrees, 1,789 master’s degrees, 141 MBAs, 194 law degrees and 464 doctoral degrees.

“Honestly, I can’t believe I made it. I’m so excited, I’m so proud of myself and everyone else who’s made it this far,” graduate Isabella Caccia said. “College is not easy, so it’s a big accomplishment that should be celebrated.”

Caccia is graduating with a degree in integrative physiology and plans to take the MCAT exam to attend medical school and ultimately become a doctor.

“I think being in college has made me realize that you have to be the one to stand up for yourself because you can’t trust other people to stand up for you,” Caccia said. “You’ve got to be your own advocate, you’ve got to be your own support system because when those things fail in other people you don’t want to drown. You’ve got to make sure you support yourself.”

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, delivered the commencement address. Wozniak attended CU Boulder from 1968 to 1969 before returning to California, where he co-founded Apple Computer Inc. with Steve Jobs in 1976. He holds an honorary doctorate in engineering, conferred in 1989, from CU Boulder.

“You’ve all been educated to be leaders, not followers,” Wozniak said. “Don’t do what everyone else tells you and don’t do what everyone else does. Think for yourself and decide what’s right and wrong.”

He advised the class of 2024 to “stay honest, keep smiling and pay your own successes forward by helping others.”

“You’ll forget a lot of your class material over time but one thing you’ll remember is the people you had experiences with and your time here at CU and today,” Wozniak said.

Graduate Davis Lapkin is happy to be done. He earned a degree in computer science and said the classes were often challenging and stressful.

“It’s definitely pretty relieving being able to say that I’m finished and I’m done now,” Lapkin said. “It’s definitely happy being able to say that.”

Lapkin will return to Florida after graduation to take time off before finding a job. He said his time at CU Boulder helped him be more outgoing.

“I was kind of shy and introverted when I first came into school and it’s definitely brought me out of my shell a lot, and the bigger school and bigger city helped with that,” Lapkin said.

Thursday’s ceremony was Chancellor Phil DiStefano’s last as chancellor. He said it’s particularly special for this group of graduates, many of whom arrived at CU Boulder during the pandemic in 2020.

“It’s extra special for our students, for their parents, their grandparents and it’s special for us to be able to celebrate with them since they didn’t have a high school graduation,” DiStefano said. “These are going to be wonderful graduates, wonderful alumni for the university and I look forward to what they do.”

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