Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Denver, Colorado
71.2% Acceptance Rate
University of Denver — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
71.2%Acceptance Rate
3.72Avg GPA
1344Avg SAT
31Avg ACT
$75,020Annual Cost
$71,155Grad Salary
14.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
71.2%
Avg GPA
3.72
Avg SAT
1344
Avg ACT
31
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1240–1410
ACT Middle 50%
29–32
Need-Based Aid
14.7% receive Pell
University of Denver is a prestigious private research university in Colorado known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement. Offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university fosters a dynamic campus environment that encourages research, leadership, and professional development. Its focus on providing a transformative, high-value education makes it a premier choice for students seeking to achieve their academic and professional goals in a top-tier academic setting.
University of Denver Acceptance Rate
At 71.2%, admission to University of Denver is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What DU Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 71.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.72 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.52 – 3.71
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.27
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Denver Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Denver is November 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 87 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
DU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at DU is 3.72. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.42 and 3.72? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.92–4.12.DU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.72 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.52 – 3.71
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.32 – 3.51
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.31
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Requires only the standard Common App personal essay - no DU-specific supplemental essay - a genuine structural distinction from most private universities at this selectivity level.
- BFA Art & Art History applicants submit a portfolio; Lamont School of Music applicants receive a separate supplemental application from the music school after Common App submission.
- Test-optional; acceptance rate clusters around 71-77% across recent cycles and sources, with roughly 61% of one recent admitted class applying test-optional.
- Early Decision admits receive an automatic $5,000 merit scholarship; top academic performers admitted via ED have full demonstrated financial need met.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at DU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Denver's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Denver (DU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if DU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into DU Without SAT or ACT?
DU considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Denver Average SAT Score: 1344
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Denver is 1344 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1344 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1410 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Denver allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1240, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at DU. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 655 | 610 | 700 |
| SAT Reading | 670 | 630 | 710 |
| SAT Composite | 1344 | 1240 | 1410 |
Below 1240, you're behind most admitted students; at 1410 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350
Can I get into University of Denver (DU) with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of DU's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of Denver (DU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at DU is 31.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 31 — Very Competitive
An average of 31 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 26 | 30 |
| ACT English | 31 | 28 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 31 | 29 | 32 |
Can I get into University of Denver with a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of DU's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at DU.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for DU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into DU isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Don't draft a DU-specific supplement that doesn't exist
Unlike most private universities at its selectivity level, DU requires only the standard Common App personal essay - no school-specific supplemental essay - confirmed directly on DU's own admissions checklist. Redirect any "extra" essay-writing time toward making the Common App essay itself exceptional, since it's the only writing DU evaluates, rather than searching for a nonexistent DU supplement.
For BFA Art & Art History or Lamont School of Music applicants, build a separate materials timeline
BFA Art & Art History applicants must submit a portfolio alongside their application, and Lamont School of Music applicants receive a separate supplemental application directly from the music school after submitting the Common App - both add real, distinct timelines beyond DU's otherwise single-essay process. Confirm a student's specific program track early, since these requirements aren't visible until after initial application submission for music applicants specifically.
Weigh Early Decision deliberately given DU's concrete, stacked financial incentives
DU offers admitted Early Decision students an automatic $5,000 merit scholarship on top of standard merit aid, and top academic performers admitted via ED have their full demonstrated financial need met - a real, quantifiable incentive structure, not just an "ED helps your odds" generality. Walk families through this specific financial calculus alongside the binding commitment before recommending ED.
Use DU's holistic factors beyond test scores to set realistic, accurate expectations
With roughly 61% of admitted students applying test-optional in a recent cycle and DU's own materials explicitly naming essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular involvement (sports, arts, community service, employment, student government) as core review factors, coach students to invest real effort in demonstrating involvement outside the classroom rather than assuming test scores alone drive decisions.
Expert Insight:
Don't let a family anchor on outdated acceptance-rate figures - DU's rate has shifted across recent cycles (high-50s to high-70s depending on year and source), so pull the current figure directly from DU's admissions office or a recent Common Data Set rather than an older blog post.
DU Profile
Full Name
University of Denver (DU)
City
Denver
State
Colorado
ZIP Code
80208
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a DU Degree Worth It?
At $75,020/year against a $71,155 median graduate salary, DU is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $78,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.76%.
How much does a degree from DU Cost?
The sticker price is $75,020/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
14.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 30.1% take federal loans at DU. File your FAFSA early and list DU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a DU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $71,155. That's about 75% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Denver. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Denver. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Denver. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
Degree Programs at DU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About DU Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Denver run about $71,155 a year.
At about $75,020 a year, University of Denver's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
University of Denver's Pell Grant rate of 14.7% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 71.2%, University of Denver's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Denver average a 3.72 GPA.
University of Denver doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.42 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.32, University of Denver becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Denver — aim above 1344, ideally within the 1240–1410 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Denver is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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