University of Colorado Denver
Colorado's public urban research university, on a shared downtown campus with rolling admission and test-optional entry.
- Acceptance rate
- 75%
- First-year students entering fall 2024 (Common Data Set 2024-25, the latest published). CU Denver and the Anschutz Medical Campus file one combined CDS; its first-year section is reported through CU Denver's undergraduate admissions office in downtown Denver, and no CU Denver-only CDS is published.
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $31,006
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1912
About CU Denver
The University of Colorado Denver began in 1912 as the University of Colorado's extension center in Denver and became an independent university in 1973. It shares the Auraria Campus on the edge of downtown Denver with Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Community College of Denver. Legally it forms one institution with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, home to CU's medical, nursing and other health schools, which is why rankings list it as University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. Since 2014 the two campuses have had separate chancellors, and undergraduates apply to and study at CU Denver's downtown campus.
CU Denver describes itself as Colorado's only public urban research university, with about 13,000 students, seven schools and colleges and more than 110 undergraduate majors and minors. Undergraduates study in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (the largest), the Business School, the College of Engineering, Design and Computing, the College of Arts and Media, the College of Architecture and Planning, the School of Education and Human Development and the School of Public Affairs.
Admission is broad: CU Denver admitted 11,151 of 14,931 first-year applicants for fall 2024, and admits on a rolling basis, usually within two to three weeks. It suits self-directed students who want a city campus, part-time or working-student flexibility and internships in Denver's economy.
Let Your Light Shine
University motto
Why students choose CU Denver
A downtown campus next to Larimer Square, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Ball Arena, with two light-rail stops on campus.
Test-optional, rolling admission with decisions usually within two to three weeks, plus guaranteed admission for students with a 3.0 GPA at CU Denver Direct partner high schools.
Colorado families with incomes of $90,000 or less can have tuition and fees reimbursed under the Colorado Promise, alongside CU Denver's own CU Promise for low-income residents.
International first-years receive automatic merit scholarships of $5,000 to $10,000 a year based on GPA, renewable for four years.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2024 (Common Data Set 2024-25, the latest published). CU Denver and the Anschutz Medical Campus file one combined CDS; its first-year section is reported through CU Denver's undergraduate admissions office in downtown Denver, and no CU Denver-only CDS is published.
11,151 admitted from 14,931 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
1,440 first-years enrolled in fall 2024. CU Denver says the middle 50% of admitted first-years had a 3.23-3.93 GPA. Admission to the College of Engineering, Design and Computing is more competitive than general admission, and audition-based arts majors have extra requirements. Health professions degrees at the Anschutz Medical Campus (medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy) have their own admissions and are not covered by these figures.
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school curriculum | Official or unofficial high school transcript; applicants whose GPA (and any scores) fall in or above the admitted middle 50% (3.23-3.93 GPA) are strong candidates for general admission; GED accepted with 145 in each area |
|---|---|
| International secondary education | Secondary school transcripts converted to a U.S. 4.0 GPA during review; SAT/ACT optional |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 70 Undergraduate minimums: TOEFL iBT 70 (3.5 on the new 1-6 scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95; SAT EBRW 480, ACT English 18, AP English 3 or IB English A 4 also qualify. Applicants without adequate scores can be considered for conditional admission (except Nursing) and meet the requirement through CU Denver's ESL Academy. |
Deadlines
- International priority scholarship consideration Non-binding Next deadline · In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
For international first-years starting fall 2027; the final international deadline is July 15, 2027 from outside the U.S. (August 8 from inside the U.S.).
- Fall 2027 priority deadline (rolling admission) Non-binding In ~9 monthsJuly 15, 2027
Rolling admission; you can apply up to a year ahead, and CU Denver encourages applying in the fall of senior year to secure housing, aid and scholarships. Classes begin August 16, 2027.
CU Denver has no early action or early decision rounds. Its undergraduate admissions page lists a fall 2027 priority deadline of July 15, 2027, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
How to apply
Apply online through CU Denver's undergraduate application; $50 non-refundable fee for domestic applicants ($75 for international), with fee waivers available; send an official or unofficial high school transcript; SAT/ACT optional; file the FAFSA (or CASFA) for aid. Admission is rolling and decisions usually arrive two to three weeks after the file is complete.
What admissions looks for
- Your high school GPA, measured against the admitted middle 50% of 3.23-3.93.
- Optional SAT or ACT scores, if they strengthen your application.
- For engineering, design and computing, a stronger academic record than for general admission.
- For audition-based arts majors in the College of Arts and Media, a successful audition or portfolio.
Tips for applying to CU Denver
- 1 Apply in the fall of senior year even though the deadline is in July: early applicants get first access to housing, financial aid and scholarships.
- 2 If your high school is a CU Denver Direct partner and you have a 3.0 GPA, you are guaranteed admission.
- 3 Colorado residents should file the FAFSA or CASFA to be considered for the CU Promise and the Colorado Promise.
- 4 International applicants: apply by March 1 for priority scholarship consideration; automatic awards are based on your GPA converted to a 4.0 scale.
- 5 If you live in a western state, check whether you qualify for the Western Undergraduate Exchange rate ($16,800 tuition in 2026-27) instead of full non-resident tuition.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Colorado Denver
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
CU Denver undergraduates receive more than $30 million a year in scholarships, mostly from its schools and colleges, searchable through Scholarship Universe. The CU Promise, running since 2005, lets eligible low-income Colorado residents cover academic costs without debt, and from fall 2024 the Colorado Promise reimburses tuition and fees for residents with family incomes of $90,000 or less. International first-years get automatic GPA-based merit scholarships of $5,000 to $10,000 a year.
- $34,724 Colorado resident; $54,596 non-resident; $41,516 WUE
- 2026-27 estimated budget, full-time on campus
- $5,000 (GPA 3.0-3.29), $7,500 (3.3-3.69) or $10,000 (3.7+) per year
- International automatic merit scholarship
- Tuition and fees reimbursed for Colorado residents with family income of $90,000 or less
- Colorado Promise
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Music and Entertainment Industry Studies
In the College of Arts and Media; the largest music department in the Rocky Mountain region, and the major taken by The Fray's Isaac Slade.
Business School
A downtown business school; CU Denver has the largest graduate business school in Colorado.
College of Engineering, Design and Computing
More competitive admission than CU Denver's general entry, with particular emphasis on strength in math coursework.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
CU Denver's largest school, with 23 bachelor's degrees; alumni include Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert.
College of Architecture and Planning
Architecture, urban design, historic preservation, planning and landscape architecture, taught on 14th Street downtown.
Research
- Classified R1 (very high research activity).
- CU Denver awards more master's degrees than any other institution in Colorado.
- Joint institution with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, whose health-sciences research drives the combined institution's world rankings.
Schools & faculties
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Business School
- College of Engineering, Design and Computing
- College of Arts and Media
- College of Architecture and Planning
- School of Education and Human Development
- School of Public Affairs
College Scorecard (University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus): median earnings of $64,270 ten years after entry and $52,475 six years after entry for federally aided students.
Student life
CU Denver is largely a commuter and working-student campus, with more than 100 student organizations. First-year and international students are encouraged to live in Campus Village or CU Denver housing on the Auraria Campus. The Tivoli Student Union, in a restored 19th-century brewery, is shared with MSU Denver and the Community College of Denver, as is the Auraria Library. CU Denver has no NCAA teams; the Lynx compete in club sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and cycling.
- The Tivoli Student Union, a converted brewery that closed in 1969, at the heart of the Auraria Campus.
- 100+ student-led organizations.
- Club sports as the Lynx (mascot Milo the Lynx) instead of NCAA athletics.
- The Auraria Library, shared by three institutions, with nearly 1 million print books.
Housing. First-year and international students are encouraged to live in campus housing on the Auraria Campus, but most CU Denver students commute.
Location
The Auraria Campus sits just southwest of downtown Denver, between Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway, with two RTD light-rail stops on campus. Larimer Square, the 16th Street Mall, the Colorado Convention Center and Ball Arena are all nearby. CU Denver points to Denver's roughly 300 days of sunshine, startup scene and quick access to the Rocky Mountains. The CU Anschutz Medical Campus is a separate campus in Aurora, east of the city.
Nearest airport: Denver International Airport (DEN)
Notable alumni
- DG Daniel GilbertHarvard psychologist and author of Stumbling on Happiness; BA in psychology, 1981
- IS Isaac SladeCo-founder and former lead singer of The Fray; Bachelor of Music in music and entertainment industry studies
- DC Deanne CriswellAdministrator of FEMA (2021-2025); Master of Public Administration
- MB Michael B. Hancock45th Mayor of Denver (2011-2023); master's in public administration
- RA Rick AldenFounder of Skullcandy; BA in political science
- CS Carlos SamourJustice of the Colorado Supreme Court; BA in psychology
- I IlleniumEDM producer and DJ Nick Miller; attended CU Denver
Frequently asked questions
Is CU Denver the same as CU Anschutz?
They are one legal institution, listed in rankings as University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, but they are separate campuses with separate chancellors. Undergraduates attend CU Denver downtown; the Anschutz campus in Aurora hosts CU's medical, nursing and other health schools.
What is CU Denver's acceptance rate?
CU Denver admitted 11,151 of 14,931 first-year applicants for fall 2024, about 75%, according to the 2024-25 Common Data Set, which CU Denver files jointly with the Anschutz Medical Campus; CU Denver says the middle 50% of its admitted first-years had a 3.23-3.93 GPA.
Does CU Denver require the SAT or ACT?
No. CU Denver is test-optional, and not submitting scores won't count against you. Among enrolled fall 2024 first-years who sent scores, the middle 50% was 980-1220 on the SAT and 23-32 on the ACT.
When is the CU Denver application deadline for fall 2027?
CU Denver admits on a rolling basis with a fall 2027 priority deadline of July 15, 2027; international students should apply by March 1, 2027 for priority scholarship consideration. Applying in the fall of senior year gives the best access to housing and aid.
How much does CU Denver cost?
For 2026-27, full-time Colorado residents pay about $11,134 in tuition and fees after the College Opportunity Fund stipend, and non-residents pay $31,006. With on-campus food and housing, the estimated budget is $34,724 for residents and $54,596 for non-residents.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to CU Denver in the QS World University Rankings 2027.