University of Denver is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Denver, Colorado. It enrolls 6,025 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value19
Affordability7
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.8%, University of Denver is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1240 – 1410
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Denver is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Denver isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $36,131 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$36,131
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$61,398
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,759
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,967
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,409
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,201
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,476
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,097
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,211
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,940
$75,001 – $110,000
$31,759
Over $110,000
$47,222
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,24610%percentile
$7,76525%percentile
$21,844Medianpercentile
$27,15775%percentile
$37,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $2,844
No Pell $16,500
↓ $5,344
Dependent students $18,000
↓ $3,844
Independent students $19,055
↓ $2,789
Female students $18,560
↓ $3,284
Male students $16,307
↓ $5,537
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,835, less than completers ($21,844), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Denver graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Denver earn a median of $71,155 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$71,155
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$57,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$77,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$66,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$60,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$68,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,200, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Denver is home to 6,025 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
6,025
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.9%4,033
Hispanic 14.4%869
Other 7.0%421
Asian 3.8%230
Black 3.0%180
International 2.9%172
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Denver. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityDenver, Colorado
Housing
Mostly residential2,647 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Denver offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
157 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Denver is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.8B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$112,711
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
779 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
246
32%
$150,258
Associate Professors
191
25%
$115,233
Assistant Professors
155
20%
$94,030
Lecturers
187
24%
$76,228
Pros & Cons of University of Denver
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Denver tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Denver is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Denver
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Denver.
Is University of Denver hard to get into?
University of Denver has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Denver?
University of Denver has an acceptance rate of 77.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Denver?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Denver scored between 1240 and 1410 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Denver?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Denver scored between 28 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Denver cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Denver is $36,131 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Denver worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $71,155 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $36,131 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Denver known for?
University of Denver is best known for its programs in Social Work, Law, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Denver graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Denver are $71,155, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Denver accredited?
Yes. University of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Denver?
University of Denver enrolls 6,025 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Denver?
University of Denver graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Denver a public or private college?
University of Denver is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is University of Denver located?
University of Denver is located in Denver, Colorado.
What programs does University of Denver offer?
University of Denver offers 157 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Law, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Denver?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Denver is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Colorado
Other colleges in Colorado share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature University of Denver
University of Denver appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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