Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Colorado Denver is a public national university located in Denver, Colorado. CU Denver is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at CU Denver is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $57,987 10 years after enrolling, 5th in Colorado, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, CU Denver bachelor students earn 4% more than the national average. CU Denver is ranked 2nd in Colorado.
University of Colorado Denver’s median net annual cost of $14,470 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at CU Denver sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Biology, Psychology, Comms & Media Studies, Economics - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$14,470
Average years to graduate
4.7
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #68
Economic score: 1.33
Computer science
Rank: #93
Economic score: 1.52
Civil Engineering
Rank: #100
Economic score: 1.99
Criminal Justice
Rank: #107
Economic score: 3.55
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #28
Economic score: 4.42
Drama
Rank: #15
Economic score: 6.03
Research&Experimental Psych
Rank: #20
Economic score: 6.33
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #305
Economic score: 6.74
Education
Rank: #26
Economic score: 7.67
Music
Rank: #98
Economic score: 16.18
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at CU Denver - Business Administration, Public Health, Registered Nursing, Public Administration, Computer Systems Analysis, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Finance
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.2
Educ. Administration
Rank: #52
Economic score: 0.29
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #27
Economic score: 0.37
Library Science
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.41
Quantitative methods Mgmt.
Rank: #33
Economic score: 0.53
Criminal Justice
Rank: #50
Economic score: 0.68
Special Education
Rank: #168
Economic score: 0.68
Education
Rank: #128
Economic score: 0.69
Education
Rank: #311
Economic score: 0.96
Urban/community planning
Rank: #34
Economic score: 1.09
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 58% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at CU Denver is 4% higher than the state average, and 10% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At CU Denver, Pell Grant recipients represent 26% of the measured graduating class, 9% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at CU Denver graduates within 4.8 years.
CU Denver is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Colorado Denver’s economic mobility score of 22.75 is calculated by adjusting the 1.31 economic score of lower-income students by the 26% pell grant recipients within the student body. CU Denver’s EMS of 22.75 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Colorado Denver pays $14,470 a year, $16,366 less than the $30,836 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $14,470
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At CU Denver, 77% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $14,470 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 29% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,546. This is 25% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,521
Pell grants
$5,292
State grants
$2,467
Institutional grants
$3,304
University of Colorado Denver offers 3 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level CU Denver offers 11 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
14
Percentage of programs online
12%
University of Colorado Denver's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 72% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 14,428 applicants, of which 10,395 were admitted and 1,688 enrolled. CU Denver has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
78%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
37%
59%
In-state
91%
68%
1st generation
38%
35%
White
43%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
25%
15%
Asian
11%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
15%
12%