University of Denver: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

University of Denver is a private institution located in Denver, Colorado. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Denver admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 85%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1280 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,131 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for University of Denver?

56% of enrolled students at University of Denver had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does University of Denver weight in admissions?

University of Denver reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

How University of Denver reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores University of Denver typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–33. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

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.

How much does University of Denver actually cost?

Published tuition is $61,398 for in-state students and $61,398 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,759 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,131 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Denver

Will my child graduate from University of Denver?

These predict outcomes at University of Denver better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at University of Denver

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Denver, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Communication and Media Studies. Across all programs, University of Denver confers roughly 771 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $58,126 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is University of Denver safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Denver disclosed 91 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 15.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 14 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at University of Denver?

About 45% of undergraduates at University of Denver live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 24% of men join a fraternity and 21% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Colorado parents ask about

• University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
  75% acceptance
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  97% acceptance
• Colorado College
  18% acceptance
• Colorado School of Mines
  61% acceptance
• University of Colorado Boulder
  78% acceptance
• Colorado State University-Fort Collins
  89% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Jacksonville State University
  78% acceptance · Alabama
• Pacific Lutheran University
  78% acceptance · Washington

Common questions parents ask about University of Denver