University of Denver is a private nonprofit R1 research university in Denver, Colorado, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across ten schools and colleges, anchored by experiential learning and the 4D Experience.
DU provides more than 100 undergraduate majors and 200-plus graduate and certificate programs through schools including the Daniels College of Business, Sturm College of Law, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, and the College of Professional Studies, serving traditional undergraduates, working adults, graduate students, and professionals.
DU is positioning itself for a smaller, more agile future through its DU Forward strategic plan and the Denver Difference capital campaign, while navigating national headwinds in higher education enrollment and funding.
Leadership has framed DU Forward as a roadmap to strengthen enrollment, retention, reputation, and student success, and the Denver Difference campaign has reached 70% of a $1 billion goal. The University is responding to industry-wide pressures by launching accelerated, reduced-credit degree options and consolidating departments; the outcome depends on execution and market reception.
DU emphasizes a distinctive 4D Experience integrating intellectual growth, well-being, character, and career readiness, supported by a low student-to-faculty ratio and an R1 research designation. Its location adjacent to downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains, plus the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus, creates experiential learning opportunities that differentiate it from peer institutions.
The university is the premier private R1 research university in the Rocky Mountain West and reports high study-abroad participation, with around 70% of undergraduates studying abroad. Small class sizes, direct faculty mentorship, and extensive career and internship connections in the Denver metro area reinforce its position against regional and national competitors.
DU's high cost of attendance and ongoing academic restructuring create near-term competitive pressures. Undergraduate tuition for the 2026-27 academic year is approximately $63,720, with an on-campus cost of attendance reaching $87,581, well above the national average for private institutions.
In June 2026, DU announced a major academic restructuring that closes or merges several departments amid a $20-$30 million budget shortfall linked to declining enrollment, reduced international students, and broader sector-wide financial stress. These changes risk faculty and community uncertainty while the institution adjusts its academic footprint.
DU charges tuition on a per-credit basis with a full-time flat rate. For 2026-27, traditional undergraduates pay $1,770 per credit or a flat $21,240 per quarter, yielding about $63,720 in annual tuition; most financial aid is scholarships and grants.
On-campus students can expect roughly $87,581 in total cost of attendance for the academic year, while the College of Professional Studies bachelor's completion program is priced at $603 per credit. DU reports that 79% of undergraduate financial aid is provided through scholarships and grants, and aid offers are capped at the federally defined cost of attendance.
