CU Denver acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Public · Denver, CO · 14,027 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
CU Denver admitted 77.8% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 75.9% in 2013. Colorado residents pay $10,835 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $30,179.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 75.9% | 3,075 | 2,333 |
| 2014 | 73.0% | 7,220 | 5,270 |
| 2015 | 67.4% | 8,615 | 5,808 |
| 2016 | 60.5% | 12,252 | 7,415 |
| 2017 | 65.2% | 11,373 | 7,418 |
| 2018 | 63.6% | 11,315 | 7,200 |
| 2019 | 67.3% | 9,565 | 6,438 |
| 2020 | 66.3% | 9,458 | 6,271 |
| 2021 | 72.0% | 14,428 | 10,395 |
| 2022 | 74.6% | 15,631 | 11,658 |
| 2023 | 77.8% | 14,569 | 11,336 |
Applications went from 3,075 in fall 2013 to 14,569 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $7,543 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $7,378 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $7,908 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $11,237 |
| Over $110,000 | $19,820 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $10,835 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $30,179 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $22,834 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $10,217 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 24% submitted the SAT, 5% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| CU Boulder CO | 83.3% | $17,513 in-state |
| Colorado State CO | 89.6% | $13,774 in-state |
| Rowan NJ | 77.8% | $17,428 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
CU Denver reported 14,569 applicants for fall 2023 and 11,336 admitted students, a rate of 77.8%.1 The fall 2013 rate was 75.9%, so the net rise is 1.9 percentage points, with a low of 60.5% in 2016 along the way.1 Declines made up exactly 5 of the 10 annual comparisons.1 Applications grew 374% and admitted students grew 386%, though the 2013 base of 3,075 applications was small.1 In the latest year both applications and admits declined, by 7% and 3%.1
Tests are optional. Middle 50% ranges in 2023 were 500 to 620 on SAT reading and writing, 480 to 600 on SAT math, and 21 to 27 on the ACT.1
Colorado residents pay $10,835 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, which matches the $10,835 median of 13 public bachelor's colleges in the state, and non-residents pay $30,179.2 After grants, families in the lowest income band paid $7,543 on average in 2024-25, the $48,001 to $75,000 band paid $7,908, and the over $110,000 band paid $19,820.2
Among 2019 entrants, 49% graduated within 6 years, close to the 48% state median across 20 colleges.2 Median earnings were $69,387 10 years after entry, and graduates who borrowed owed a median of $18,650.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 14,569 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 11,336 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,628 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 14,027 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 500 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 480 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 21 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 24% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 5% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $10,835 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $30,179 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $22,834 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $10,217 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $7,543 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $7,378 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $7,908 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $11,237 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $19,820 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 49% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 73% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 30% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $69,387 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $18,650 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Colorado (N = 13) | $10,835 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Colorado (N = 20) | 48% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with CU Denver, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page