Business School

Business School at University of Colorado Boulder

Public university ยท Boulder, Colorado

  • AACSB accredited
  • MBA
  • Executive MBA

University of Colorado Boulder is a public university with graduate business programs in Boulder, Colorado. Those programs run through the Leeds School of Business. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The business school holds AACSB accreditation - one of 5 of the 6 schools in MBA Lab's Colorado directory that do. It is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States, and it covers the school as a whole rather than any one program - a floor, not a ranking. More on accreditation.

Federal reporting puts graduate enrollment at 6,555 students, alongside 31,939 undergraduates. Total enrollment is not MBA cohort size - ask the admissions office how many students are in the specific program you're considering, which is usually a far smaller number and the one that shapes your experience.

Based on MBA Lab's directory data, the school offers a graduate MBA path and an executive MBA (EMBA) format designed for experienced professionals. That puts it among the 3 of 6 schools in MBA Lab's Colorado directory listing an executive MBA. Format availability changes; confirm the current lineup with the school before planning around it.

It is the only school in Boulder in this directory - the other 5 business school options in Colorado are elsewhere in the state, so weigh travel time against fit before ruling them out.

What to ask University of Colorado Boulder

These questions are picked from what MBA Lab's data already says about this school, so they're the ones most likely to surface a real difference between it and the next school on your list.

  • Residency and tuition tier. As a public institution, University of Colorado Boulder may price in-state and out-of-state students differently, and some programs charge a flat rate regardless. Ask which tier you'd fall into and whether it changes after a year of residency.
  • Cohort experience level. An EMBA's value is largely the room. Ask for the average years of work experience, the seniority mix, and how many classmates are employer-sponsored - a cohort of directors and a cohort of five-years-in analysts are different products at the same price.
  • Where the degree is administered. Programs run through the Leeds School of Business may have their own admissions timeline, aid pool, and career office, separate from the university's central graduate school. Confirm which office owns your application.
  • Ask for the school's own outcome numbers. The federal figures on this page cover business master's graduates who took federal aid, pooled across several years. The school's employment report will be narrower and more current - ask for it by program and by graduating class, not a blended average.

At a glance

InstitutionUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Business schoolLeeds School of Business
Controlpublic
LocationBoulder, Colorado
Campus settingMidsize city
Carnegie classDoctoral university, very high research activity (R1)
MBA formats listed MBA Executive MBA
Graduate enrollment6,555
Undergraduate enrollment31,939
Business accreditation AACSB — view listing
Institutional accreditationHigher Learning Commission
Official site Visit website
Net price calculator Estimate your cost
Federal data College Scorecard profile

School names, locations, and program formats are curated by MBA Lab and reviewed periodically (last data update: August 2026). Enrollment, accreditation, links, and any outcome figures come from U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Always verify formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. How this data works.

Programs at University of Colorado Boulder

Details below come from University of Colorado Boulder's own program pages, not from a ranking service or an aggregator. Each card links to the page it was read from and the date it was last checked, so you can confirm anything before you plan around it.

Leeds Executive MBA

Executive MBA
$89,000 2026-27
  • Length 21 months
  • Delivery Hybrid
  • GMAT/GRE Not required
What that price isProgram total for the Class of 2028 entering August 2026, billed as four equal payments of $22,250 - subject to change before the program starts
Price includesCourse resources (ebooks and cases), a campus computing fee, lodging, and most meals during orientation and all residencies, including the international one. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit applies to first-semester tuition.
Class scheduleRemote coursework between in-person residencies, rather than a fixed weekly class night
Residencies and travelThree one-week residencies in Boulder and Vail, typically in October, January or February, and April, plus a 10-day international experience across two locations
Work experience8+ years required
StartsFall

Reported outcomes

Median earnings, 1 year out $94,825 Median of 215 graduates working one year after completion +9% vs. the $87,219 median across MBA Lab's directory
Median earnings, 4 years out $137,635 Median of 159 graduates working four years after completion +45% against the 1-year figure - two separate cohorts measured at different times, not one group's career path
Median federal graduate debt $41,000 Median across 160 borrowers entering repayment About 0.43x the 1-year earnings median. Federal loans only - private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings aren't counted

Among the 6 schools in MBA Lab's Colorado business schools directory that report a figure, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 3rd by one-year earnings. Schools that report nothing are left out of that count rather than counted as zero.

What these numbers are. Figures cover graduates of master's-level programs in Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) who received federal financial aid. At some institutions that group includes business master's degrees other than the MBA, and it never includes graduates who took no federal aid - so these are a directional signal about a school's business master's programs, not an MBA salary report. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Check University of Colorado Boulder's Scorecard profile. Full methodology.

Want to see what these figures could mean for your own timeline? Try the free MBA ROI calculator, prefilled with University of Colorado Boulder's context.

Compare with other schools in Colorado

School City AACSB Formats listed Earnings, 1 yr out
University of Colorado Boulder This page Boulder Yes MBA, Executive MBA $94,825
Colorado State University Fort Collins Yes MBA, Online MBA $99,929
University of Denver Denver Yes MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA $86,375
Regis University Denver — MBA, Online MBA $75,196
University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Yes MBA $83,829
University of Colorado Denver Denver Yes MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA $108,322

"Not reported" means College Scorecard publishes no figure for that school - usually too few federally-aided graduates to release without identifying them. It is not a low number, and these schools are excluded from every average on this page rather than counted as zero. A dash under AACSB means the school isn't on AACSB's accredited list; it may hold ACBSP or IACBE accreditation instead, which this directory doesn't track.

This school in other directories

Frequently asked questions

What MBA formats does University of Colorado Boulder offer?

MBA Lab's directory lists an executive MBA at University of Colorado Boulder, alongside the core MBA. Formats change - confirm the current lineup on the school's official site.

How much does the Leeds Executive MBA at University of Colorado Boulder cost?

University of Colorado Boulder lists $89,000 for the Leeds Executive MBA. Program total for the Class of 2028 entering August 2026, billed as four equal payments of $22,250 - subject to change before the program starts. Price includes: Course resources (ebooks and cases), a campus computing fee, lodging, and most meals during orientation and all residencies, including the international one. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit applies to first-semester tuition. Checked against the school's own page on July 26, 2026; costs change, so confirm before you apply.

How long is the Leeds Executive MBA at University of Colorado Boulder, and when does it meet?

The Leeds Executive MBA takes about 21 months and is delivered in a hybrid format. Classes meet: Remote coursework between in-person residencies, rather than a fixed weekly class night Applicants need at least 8 years of work experience. GMAT or GRE: Not required.

What do graduates of University of Colorado Boulder's business master's programs earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of $94,825 one year after completion for graduates of master's-level Business Administration programs at University of Colorado Boulder who received federal financial aid. Four years out the reported median is $137,635. That group can include business master's degrees other than the MBA, and excludes graduates who took no federal aid, so treat it as a directional signal rather than an MBA salary figure.

How much debt do students take on at University of Colorado Boulder?

The reported median federal graduate debt is $41,000 for business master's graduates at University of Colorado Boulder. Against the reported one-year earnings median, that is about 0.43x a year of earnings. Federal loans are only part of the cost picture - it excludes private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings.

Is University of Colorado Boulder's business school AACSB-accredited?

Yes - University of Colorado Boulder appears on AACSB's list of accredited institutions. AACSB, founded in 1916, is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States (the others are ACBSP and IACBE). Accreditation covers the school, not any individual program, so treat it as a quality floor rather than a ranking.

Is University of Colorado Boulder a public or private institution?

University of Colorado Boulder is a public university, and MBA Lab lists its graduate business programs in Boulder, Colorado. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How do I compare University of Colorado Boulder with other schools in Colorado?

MBA Lab lists 6 schools in its Colorado business schools directory. Use a consistent rubric across them: curriculum, recruiting outcomes, format fit, cost after aid, and location constraints.

Where should I verify program details?

Always confirm formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. MBA Lab is a planning directory, not an admissions authority, and does not endorse specific schools.

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