Founded in 1864, University of Denver. is a Private college. Located in Colorado, which is a city setting in Colorado, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 5,754 full time undergraduate students, and 5,860 full time graduate students.
The University of Denver Academic calendar runs on a Quarter basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 11:1. There are 722 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Denver include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
53%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
65
SAT Range
1110-1310
ACT Range
26-31
Admissions at DU are considered Selective, with ,77% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 7 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
97% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 78% were in the top quarter, and 44% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Denver.
170 Students rated on-campus housing 4 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
129 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
187 Students rated campus food 3.2 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
195 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 55 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
195 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 67 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
193 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
196 Students rated local services 4.4 stars. 58 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
195 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.
University of Denver REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of University of Denver?
70 Students rated University of Denver
Corbin
Prospective04/14/2025
I like the quarter system so I can double majoring and get multiple minors. I like the culture there. I like that it has different clubs and activities to join to make you feel like you belong.
Amelie
04/11/2025
The University of Denver is a small school that has so much to do. It is only 20 minutes away from downtown so students aren't stuck on campus and can go out and explore the city. There are so many academic and social opportunities with their R1 research certification and their national championship winning hockey team.
Lyle
College04/08/2025
Very impressed with the campus and student services provided. As a graduate student, I was looking for a strong program with a professional faculty and great reputation and University of Denver was very impressive in all facets.
Alex
Prospective04/04/2025
When I visited, I was intrigued by the offered education opportunities as well as the clubs. The campus itself was incredibly beautiful and easy to navigate. The surrounding area as well is a place of interest to me.
Marina
09/29/2024
I recently transferred to the University of Denver, and I absolutely love it. The food is not great, but it’s also not bad. The students and staff are very very friendly. My dorm building has a kitchen and is very nice. There’s tons of clubs that are super easy to join.
Kennedy
07/26/2024
I think Denver was a great time due to our hockey team, strong teachers, and amazing academics. The downsides were that the school could feel small sometimes so if you're looking for a big school, Denver is not the case. Dorm and food was alright; it wasn't the best but it wasn't bad either. On top of that, our facilities are nice but not very accessible as they are always being rented out. The gym gets packed by 4 everyday so lift early if you can to avoid traffic. Overall, DU is great and amazing place.
Ubaldo
05/03/2024
I think its a great school and it has been my dream to go there for several years. I cant wait to spend the next four years of my life doing everything and anything to be involved in the Community on campus. I also can't wait to travel abroad with the opportunities the university gives me.
Shemar
08/05/2023
My college experience was a rich tapestry of growth and resilience, defined by my profound connection with inspiring professors, engaging classes, and a nurturing community. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I found solace and joy in the academic environment.
The heart of my enjoyment lay in the exceptional professors who ignited my passion for learning. Their dedication to teaching went beyond the curriculum, fostering a genuine curiosity and intellectual exploration within me. Their mentorship extended beyond the classroom, providing invaluable guidance that shaped my academic journey.
My love for the classes was equally significant. The diverse range of subjects I delved into expanded my horizons and allowed me to discover unexpected interests. Each lecture was a captivating dialogue, stimulating my critical thinking and encouraging active participation. This interactive dynamic transformed education from a chore into a gratifying pursuit.
Despite the adversity of COVID-19, the college community remained a source of strength. The camaraderie among students, even in the virtual realm, created a sense of togetherness. Collaborative projects and online study groups helped bridge the gap created by physical distancing, reminding me of the collective resilience we all shared.
While the pandemic presented its share of obstacles, it also highlighted the power of adaptability and the importance of maintaining connections. Through the support of professors, the allure of intriguing classes, and the unwavering camaraderie of my college community, I emerged from this period with a deeper appreciation for the value of education and the resilience of the human spirit. My college experience, with all its facets, has indelibly enriched my life and propelled me toward a future defined by both academic passion and unwavering determination.
Eva
12/29/2021
Culture is kind of toxic, administration needs to get their shit together. The professors are the best part of the school, they're all engaging and passionate. Classes are unique, small, and really just phenomenal. The food and dorms leave something to be desired for sure.
Amy
09/20/2021
I feel that the school could do better by consolidating courses as many courses teach the exact same content under the guise of a different title. Tuition is outrageous. Internships are crap as we truly do not have a say in where we want to intern, the process in which to secure a internship is arduous. I completed all of my coursework but they could not place me in a internship that was geared towards what I wanted to do with my degree.
Madison
08/03/2021
Aside from the fact that the school is crippling me financially, I would say that my experience at the University of Denver has been pretty positive overall. While I do not necessarily believe that the return on investment is great at all, I am content with the education I have received as well as with the plethora of resources I have access to.
Andrew
03/10/2021
University of Denver is a great school for information technology and computer science. I graduated here with my masters and currently in my doctoral program at another university and I say DU is top tier school and great place to go. My programming courses here helped me receive a promotion at the worlds top software company and have made me an expert in OOP concepts that I now help other engineers I work with on.
Calayne
12/11/2020
I really enjoy the school. It is a beautiful campus, and I believe I could do well and get a great education at this facility. Right now, I am going to go to a community college to get my RN degree in nursing, however, for my 4 year degree I feel the University of Denver would be a pretty enjoyable school.
Alexandra
08/17/2020
I think the University of Denver charges too much tuition for how little they give back to the students regarding resources and activities to engage students and help them most. The things the school does invest in is assets that can give them more money overall like new Freshman dorms for example. I just don't really feel that at home at DU and I do at other schools in Denver where my friends attend.
Brigid
07/05/2020
I think that it is a great school. It is very expensive, but you can get out what you put in. There are so many resources, clubs, and events that make it all worth it. Coming here, networking is one of the best things you can do for yourself, I highly recommend getting involved with something. We have everything outdoors with the Alpine Club, but we also have a Dungeons and Dragons Club and Pioneers for Pollinators Club, just to name a few to exemplify the diversity of clubs. Greek life is also big if you are interested in that but there are also plenty of people not involved with Greek life, so you won't feel any pressure to join. We don't have football, our big sport is hockey, but we also have many other D1 sports, club sports, and intramurals (I recommend broomball). There are also a lot of jobs on or near campus if you want/ need to work through school. Personally, I work at the student call center and love it and I have a friend who works in the Chemistry Office and she also loves that. I also know people who work with professors on their research in the science and psychology labs if you want to get involved with that kind of work and experience. All in all, you get out what you put in, so I wouldn't recommend DU if you don't think you want to work, get an internship, go to events, join a club, or anything like that. It is a great school for academics, don't get me wrong, but if that is all you want you can go somewhere less expensive for an education that is just as good. The price of DU really comes down to everything else that you can get out of this experience. Personally I am double majoring in History and Environmental Studies with minors in Spanish and Urban Studies, work at the call center, play intramural broomball (and have done volleyball and indoor soccer as well), go to a lot of the free on-campus events (different lectures of interest, but also fun sustainability crafts, and food truck events), and am planning of doing a geology field quarter and study abroad semester. Getting involved makes a big difference!
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Denver is 53%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Study harder, you moron! I mean, really. Why did you let yourself slack off so much? Just because it was your senior year and you thought it would be a piece of cake to just skate by and get by on your "good looks" now you have to study harder in college and now you tend to quit when things get tough. You never applied yourself so now you pay for it by stuggling to write an essay and not knowing how to manage your time so you are not stretched thin. I pay for it now and I wish you had realized that a few years of hard work is nothing if it means a better life in the future. And quit eating all that junk food because now I have to struggle to keep the weight off after losing it because you loved potato chips and Twinkies! Geez. A little self love wouldn't hurt! And stop taking everything so seriously. Life is short. Lighten up and learn to enjoy yourself a little.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
The University of Denver has a smaller campus than the other schools I toured in Denver. It also has smaller class sizes therefore giving more of a personal learning environment rather than one where there are over 70 students in one class.
Overall I feel like the professors genuinly care about their students. I have had several professors e-mail me when I was sick to make sure I was doing ok and e-mail students extra powerpoints to view to clarify material. Most of my professors also made themselves available for office hours or by appointment and for the most part they really do want to help. The most unique class I took was 'movement improvisation': we would act with our bodies to impersonate objects, spell our names through movement with our bodies across the floor, and experimented with stillness, movement, dynamics, and working with partners. It was one of the strangest classes I have ever taken, but it really required me to think outside of the box challenge myself to be open and not care about what others think.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about my school is that there is no football team. I say this because I feel that students have so much pride at the hockey games that could be used towards another sport. In the fall there is no big sport that the school gets excited about. Watching hockey games and being a part of the DU community is so great. If we had a football team I feel this pride would be even bigger.
DU is a fairly prestigious school, whenever I tell people I go there they say something like, "oh wow! That's a great school", and I agree to a certain extent. One thing that I wish I could change is where all of the money goes. It seems as though most of the money and attention are directed towards the business school. I have friends who are studying engineering and they said the engineering building wasn't even shown on the tour because it is that ugly. However, I do hear that they enjoy what they study. I also sometimes feel as though there isn't a lot of school pride and that not everyone feels connected as a community. It is great living in Denver-there are so many little food places to go to, parks, and the light rail is walking distance away to go into the city. Oh, one more thing--I wish the library would be remodeled-it is hideous, and as a major place where students study, I think DU can do a lot better.
I believe the school is best known for the academics and activities. University of Denver offers a fantastic education while putting some fun into it at the same time. Perosnally, I am involved with Alpine Club and Colleges Against Cancer. Those are just two of so many more. These extra activities help me relax and find other reasons to study even more.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
There are definitely a fair share of rich kids, but not all of them are stuck up. You will find that over breaks almost everyone goes on exotic vacations to Mexico, Europe, Africa, etc. like it is no big deal. But I have found some great friends-rich and average and everything in between.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
The type of person that should not attend this school is a person who do not have a good work ethic, someone who is not willing to make friends and connect with others, and who does not enjoy a magnificent campus that rarely sees rain or clouds. University of Denver is a place that welcomes everyone with open arms. The academics and athletics are state of the art and do not stand for people who pick the easy way out. Not only does DU except everyone, but so do the students. Everyone loves to meet new people and share interests.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
People in the dorm I lived in (J-Mac) left their doors open most of the time and I felt like their was a great community. I have met my best friends in my dorm. Sororities and fraternities are fairly important-their are always sorority/fratenity sponsered bar parties and events. A fair share of the people I lived around partied very often. If you don't drink though it is possible to find great friends who are up for doing things other than drinking such as going downtown, going to movies, and many other random fun things you find to do.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
The stereotype at DU, to put it bluntly, is that most of us are rich, spoiled white kids. Part of this isn't very accurate -- more than 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of DU students are here on some sort of scholarship or financial aid, or both. A majority of students are white, however (roughly three-quarters).
Another stereotype is that we're all Colorado kids who love skiing or snowboarding. Part of this isn't true at all -- only about 35{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of freshmen this year are from Colorado. The majority of students are from out of state, so you actually get a much wider variety of geographic backgrounds than this stereotype would suggest. And regarding the skiing -- I'd say it's mostly true that a majority of people here love to go up to the mountains on weekends, especially during Winter quarter, but I don't ski or snowboard, and I have personally met many people who aren't necessarily avid skiers or snowboarders. In any case, of all the stereotypes on DU, this one is probably the most true.
I always spend my class time feeling curious. The professors I've had at DU inspire students to be interested in the topic as well. Classes are challenging, but rewarding. DU has a small class size, which make classes interactive, participatory, and conversational.
I decided to go to DU, because it has one of the most beautiful campuses that I visited. I also really enjoyed how it is a smaller school. Coming from a small high school, it made it an easier transition moving to another smaller school. Last, I was really influenced by some of the theatre professors that made a big impression on me when I interviewed to attend the school.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
86% of students attending University of Denver receive some sort of financial aid.
18% were awarded federal grants.41%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
