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AlmaSpire

Denver, CO · Private · 6,025 undergraduates · urban

University of Denver

Moderately selective

Denver pairs an urban residential campus with a university-owned mountain campus, giving outdoor, leadership, and experiential programming its own dedicated setting.

Own / CC BY 3.0

Institutional profile

Well established Strong in student experience, and solid in career outcomes.
Academic Solid Affordability Steady Career Solid Mobility Steady Experience Strong
Academic standing Solid
Affordability Steady
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Steady
Student experience Strong
Admission
71.2% admitted

19,214 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
75.8%

$71,155 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets University of Denver apart

Academic design

The 4D Experience coordinates advising and programming around intellectual growth, well-being, character, and career-and-purpose development across the undergraduate years.

Campus pattern

Students have a Denver campus near light rail plus the Kennedy Mountain Campus, a university-owned mountain property used for outdoor and leadership experiences.

A signature opportunity

Kennedy Mountain Campus gives the university a permanent second environment for retreats, outdoor learning, leadership programs, and student experiences.

Can I get in?

71.2% admitted

Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.

Recent applicant pool

19,214

About 71 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 71.2%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1240–1410
11201520
ACT middle 50%29–32
2734

Of admitted students, 27% submitted an SAT, and 16% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA35%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of Denver, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What University of Denver weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

The 4D Experience coordinates advising and programming around intellectual growth, well-being, character, and career-and-purpose development across the undergraduate years.

02

Make institutional fit specific

Denver pairs an urban residential campus with a university-owned mountain campus, giving outdoor, leadership, and experiential programming its own dedicated setting.

03

Use the application route carefully

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.

Early DecisionNov 1
Early Decision IIJan 15
Early ActionNov 1
Regular DecisionJan 15
Fee and waiver$65 application fee

Fee waiver: accepted

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Hospitality and hotel managementAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$87,528
Average annual cost after aid$36,000
Affordability profileSteady

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at University of Denver

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years75.8%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one88.3%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$71,155

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Psychology, General

Recent graduates163
Median earnings$56,161

International Relations and National Security Studies

Recent graduates101
Median earnings$59,895

Communication and Media Studies

Recent graduates91
Median earnings$63,374

Admits separately

Biology, General

Recent graduates70
Median earnings$54,513

What is campus life like?

University of Denver beyond the classroom

Students have a Denver campus near light rail plus the Kennedy Mountain Campus, a university-owned mountain property used for outdoor and leadership experiences.

Academics

A defining academic feature

The 4D Experience coordinates advising and programming around intellectual growth, well-being, character, and career-and-purpose development across the undergraduate years.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Students have a Denver campus near light rail plus the Kennedy Mountain Campus, a university-owned mountain property used for outdoor and leadership experiences.

Signature opportunity

A reason to look closer

Kennedy Mountain Campus gives the university a permanent second environment for retreats, outdoor learning, leadership programs, and student experiences.

6,025 undergraduatesMountain Westurban settingCampus housing available