If you are accepted into the pre-engineering program, as opposed to getting into the Engineering school directly, would you still be eligible or likely to receive merit scholarships? If so, would you see the offer in the initial acceptance email or is that part only included in the mailed acceptance letter? How many people are accepted into the pre-engineering program vs Engineering? Is there a high rate of success moving over?
The merit awards depend directly on your ACT/SAT score and GPA, so you can look up if you will win a merit award in advance. There is no College of Engineering quota to move over, anyone who passes the classes will get into engineering, but you do need to meet college GPA requirements to major in engineering at CU Boulder.
The BA in computer science is another option if you stay in the Arts and Sciences College.
This degree requires less math and CS classes then the bachelor of science degree.
https://www.colorado.edu/cs/current-students/undergraduate-students/ba-degree/ba-degree-requirements
The students in engineering get higher salary job offers,in general,than BA degree students from CU Boulder, but it may depend a lot on what internships you can land over the summers in CS.