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Estimated Finances

Costs of attending a university in the U.S. are generally high. In most cases, CU-Boulder cannot provide financial support to international students. And, immigration regulations severely restrict employment of international students. Therefore, you must have sufficient funds from other sources. Costs listed below are estimates and may vary from those stated on your Form I-20 or DS 2019.

Tuition and Costs

The chart below shows the typical cost of being a full-time international student at CU-Boulder for one academic year (nine months) in the College of Arts & Sciences:

Breakdown of Estimated Costs 2009-10
Cost per academic year (nine months)
Tuition and fees
$28,186
Living expenses, including health insurance, housing and food
$11,880
Books and supplies
$1,750
TOTAL
$41,816
Possible additional expenses
Living expenses if you stay in the U.S. for the summer $3,960
Living expenses for spouse $6,000 for 12 months
Living expenses for dependent children $5,500 each for 12 months

Proof of Sufficient Funds

You must show proof of sufficient funds before your admission can be finalized and an immigration form can be sent. As a condition of being issued immigration documents for F-1 or J-1 status, you must submit evidence of full financial support sufficient for all first-year expenses at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

If you are financially supported by your government, home institution, or sponsoring agency, you must provide an official letter from that agency as evidence.

The letter must:

  • Guarantee support equal to or greater than the estimated costs quoted in the Financial Statement for International Applicants (PDF)
  • Be written in English
  • Specify the academic term(s), billing address, level and area of study
  • Specify the U.S. dollar amount you will receive and how the funds will be paid

Note: Be aware that the exchange rate for foreign currencies can fluctuate. Be prepared for costs to increase from five to ten percent each year.

Student Funding Possibilities