Established in 1864, the University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado. Formerly known as the Colorado Seminary, this institution is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain Region of the US. It was founded by the former governor of Colorado Territory, John Evans (an appointee of President Abraham Lincoln). In 1880, the seminary was renamed to the University of Denver.
The university struggled in its early years because of its location in Denver’s downtown. Due to the frontier town’s anarchic atmosphere and the absence of government services, vigilantism and vendettas developed. Thus, in order to cultivate an environment favourable for learning, the school was moved 11 kilometers south of the city’s centre.
Over the years that have followed, the university has grown and prospered along with Denver’s growth and development. Today, DU is considered one of the top universities in the US. It was ranked 93rd among ‘National Universities’ by US News and World Report 2022. In this article, we will discuss the various programs offered by DU and its admission process. Additionally, we also talk about the scholarships and financial aid this university provides.
Programs at the University of Denver
DU offers several courses in various fields of study, such as Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Business Management, Engineering, and Social Science, among others. It is also recognised nationally for the education it provides in the domain of law and criminology. For example, it was ranked 78th among ‘Best Law Schools’ and 6th among ‘Legal Writing Programs in Law’ by US News and World Report 2023. DU also held the 48th rank among ‘Criminal Law Programs’ in the same survey. Some of the courses offered by the university are mentioned in the table below:
| Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering | Master of Business Administration |
| Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering | Master of Science in Data Science |
| Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering | Master of Science in Business Analytics |
| Bachelor of Science in Game Development | Master of Science in Computer Engineering |
| Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics | Master of Science in Marketing |
| Bachelor of Science in Management | Master of Science in Management |
| Bachelor of Science in Finance | LLM in American Law Praactice |
| Bachelor of Science in Marketing | LLM International Business Transaction |
| Bachelor of Science in Biology | Master of Science in Bioengineering |
| Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry | Master of Arts in Economics |
The university provides these courses through its ten colleges:
- College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
- Daniels College of Business
- Sturm College of Law
- University College
- Morgridge College of Education
- Graduate School of Professional Psychology
- Graduate School of Social Work
- Josef Korbel School of International Studies
- Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
Admission Process
Every year, over 20,000 aspirants apply to the University of Denver. Around 12,000 of them are accepted by the institution; it has an acceptance rate of 61%. The process of securing admission to this university varies depending on the program you wish to pursue, as every course comes with a specific set of eligibility criteria. However, the admission requirements that are common for all the courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Tests | Required Scores |
| IELTS | 80 |
| TOEFL (Internet-Based Test) | 6.5 |
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) | C or higher |
| Duo Lingo | 150 |
In addition to the scores obtained in the above-mentioned exams, you are required to submit other essential documents such as school and college transcripts, letters of recommendation (LORs), statement of purpose, and resume, among others. The program-wise admission prerequisites are available on the official website of the university. Aspirants can visit the website to learn more about the eligibility requirements for their preferred courses.
Fee Structure, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
The table below illustrates the fee structure for students applying to undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Denver.
| Costs | For Undergraduate Students | For Graduate Students |
| Tuition | $55,260 | $50,076 |
| Fees | $1,179 | $327 |
| Housing and Meals | $15,470 | $18,180 |
| Books | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Health Insurance | — | $3,620 |
| Transportation | $1,536 | $1,536 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,521 | $1,521 |
| Loan Fee | $70 | $196 |
| Total | $76,036 | $76,456 |
Annually, DU spends over $125 million and $69 million in financial aid for undergraduate graduate students, respectively. Below are some of the types of financial aid that this provided to students:
- Merit-Based Scholarships
- Residence Hall Grant
- Talent Scholarships
- Gift and Endowed Scholarships
- DU Educational Grant
- Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships (for Transfer Students)
- RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships
Alumni
The University of Denver has a strong alumni network of 140,000 graduates residing across all the states in the US and in different countries across the globe. Some of the notable alumni of this institution include Carol Tome, CFO of Home Depot; Condoleezza Rice, Former US Secretary of State; Michelle Wingshan Kwan, American diplomat and two-time Olympic medalist in figure skating; David Adkins (stage name Sinbad), stand-up comedian and actor; Jason Alan Zucker, professional ice hockey player; and Ruth Marianna Handler, businesswoman and inventor, among others.
So if you aspire to study at an institution that offers courses in exciting fields such as law and criminology, business management, and engineering, among others, then the University of Denver is the place to be. We hope that this article has provided you with all the information that you require in order to consider applying to this institution. All the best!