Why CU Boulder?

Exterior shot of the engineering center against a blue sky

  • AI – Natural Language Processing
  • AI – Cognitive Science
  • AI – Machine Learning
  • AI – Robotics
  • Complex Systems
  • Computational Biology
  • Computational Social Science
  • Distributed and Networked Systems
  • Human-Centered Computing
  • Mobile and Wearable Systems
  • Numerical and Scientific Computing
  • Programming Languages and Verification
  • Security
  • Software Engineering
  • Theory of Computing

Learn More about our Research Labs

Aerial view of CU Boulder

  • $109 million in research funds for engineering in 2019
  • Campus is focused on entrepreneurship, in one of the most entrepreneurial cities in the nation
  • Our students consistently reveal an appreciation for a "work-life" balance, as do our faculty and our staff
  • More than 60 faculty in Computer Science
  • Collaboration opportunities across departments
    1. Information Science
    2. Education
    3. Applied Math, other Engineering disciplines
    4. Various institutes: ATLAS, ICS, IQBIO
    5. The new AI Institute

Google office

Tech Community

Boulder/Denver is one of the largest, hottest tech communities in the US outside of the two coasts, with a $75 billion startup ecosystem (2020-22).

Our Environment

  • The gorgeous Flatirons backdrop the city of Boulder. 

  • You can get to an international airport, a national park, white water rafting, a big city with arts and museums, a major concert venue, a Broadway show, a professional football game, a horse farm and a brewery all within less than an hour's drive.

  • There are 45,000 acres of public lands and lots of skiing opportunities. 

  • The cost of living is cheaper than the Northeast or the Bay Area, but boasts many of the same tech companies.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Computer Science Graduate Student Association (CSGSA) recognizes that there is much work to be done in fostering an inclusive community for folks who have been historically marginalized. We are striving to be transparent around how we are working to be more antiracist and inclusive. Please see the CSGSA website for more details.

We currently host biweekly meetings for all graduate students, faculty, and staff in the department to come together and discuss issues of antiracism and inclusion, as well as take actions around these themes. We also organize weekly Tea Time social hours to strengthen social connections between department members of all backgrounds, traditions, countries and identities.

CSGSA members have served on a college-wide committee with the goal of hiring new faculty who are passionate about and experienced in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We invite you to join us as we continue this work of rebuilding the structures and processes to make our department antiracist, inclusive, and equitable

Funding your PhD

  • CSEN at CU Boulder accepts PhD students with FIVE years of full funding commitment. 
  • Students will hold either a Teaching Assistant or a Research Assistant position within this funding.
  • This funding includes
    • Tuition and Fees  
    • 91% of health insurance, which includes dental health insurance
    • a stipend of approximately $2,800 per month during the Academic Year
    • 6 weeks paid parental leave
  • Read here for more details.

Grad Student advisor agreement, leave and insurance

The CU Boulder Graduate School has an Advising Agreement guidelines that faculty advisors are expected to discuss with their advisees to understand expectations early on. This document is here to support our graduate students. Read about Advisor/Advisee agreement here.

Grad Students get 6 weeks paid maternity leave if they hold at least a 25% TA/RA/GA appointment. Read about students' maternity leave here.

As of this past year, the University has added a dental insurance plan for graduate students on appointment. Read about updated dental insurance plan here.

Graduate students are also provided with 24 hours sick leave at the beginning of each fall, spring and summer semester, usable immediately.