University of Denver: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Denver, Colorado · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
University of Denver is a private institution located in Denver, Colorado with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Denver admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 71%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1344 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,037 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Denver is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Denver?
University of Denver admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Denver weight in admissions?
University of Denver reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Interview
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores University of Denver typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1210 |
| 50th percentile | 1310 |
| 75th percentile | 1380 |
| % submitting SAT | 24% |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 13% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 39% |
| Top 25% of class | 72% |
| Top 50% of class | 93% |
| % submitting class rank | 14% |
How much does University of Denver actually cost?
Published tuition is $59,340 for in-state students and $59,340 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,049 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,037 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $61,848 |
| Room and board | $18,593 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $36,037 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Denver
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | March 15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 77% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Denver?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Colorado parents ask about
- University of Colorado Boulder83% acceptance
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins90% acceptance
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus78% acceptance
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs99% acceptance
- Colorado College97% acceptance
- Community College of Denver93% acceptance
- Arapahoe Community College
- Colorado School of Mines20% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Denver
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Denver recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Denver
What GPA do I need for University of Denver?
University of Denver admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Denver typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32.
How much does University of Denver actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Denver after grants and scholarships is $36,037 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Denver realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Denver is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Denver, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.