·Private·Est. 1864
“Colorado's oldest private university — combining Daniels' top-ranked business school, the Korbel School of International Studies, and a unique 4D Experience that pairs every student with a Mile High lifestyle.”
The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, founded in 1864 and now home to roughly 13,500 students across its 125-acre campus in south Denver, Colorado. DU is one of a small number of U.S. universities that operates on the quarter system (Fall, Winter, Spring), giving students three immersive 10-week academic terms each year — ideal for taking a deeper dive into more subjects, layering minors, or fitting in semester-abroad programs without falling behind. Academically, DU is anchored by two nationally distinctive schools: the AACSB-accredited Daniels College of Business — one of the oldest collegiate business schools in the U.S. and an early adopter of business-ethics requirements — and the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, founded in 1964 and known globally for producing two U.S. Secretaries of State (Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice). DU is also home to the Sturm College of Law, the Morgridge College of Education, and strong engineering, computer-science and natural-science departments through the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. DU's distinctive 4D Experience integrates intellectual growth, character, well-being and careers across the undergraduate journey, with mentors and structured reflection at every stage. The university's James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus — a 720-acre property two hours from Denver — is a flagship of this model, with required first-year retreats and outdoor leadership programming. Athletically, the Denver Pioneers are an NCAA Division I powerhouse with 11 NCAA hockey championships. Life off-campus means easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park, world-class skiing, and one of the fastest-growing tech and finance hubs in the western U.S.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Affairs (Graduate, Korbel)
Foreign Policy 2024
Real Estate (Daniels)
US News
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceThe deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$63,700
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
AACSB-accredited business school distinguished by a built-in ethics curriculum, top-ranked real-estate and hospitality programs, and the Knoebel School of Hospitality Management.
One of the most respected international affairs schools in the U.S., training generations of diplomats, foreign-service officers and global development professionals — including former U.S. Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice.
DU's engineering and CS programs combine project-based learning with deep ties to Denver-area aerospace, defense and tech employers (Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Palantir).
Houses DU's liberal-arts core including psychology, political science, languages and the celebrated Lamont School of Music.
Strong undergraduate research culture across biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and the geosciences — supported by Ricks Center for Gifted Children labs and DU's National Science Foundation funding.
4 years
DU's flagship Korbel BA — concentrations in Global Health, Development, Human Rights and Security, with a built-in second-language requirement and study abroad.
4 years
Top-10 nationally ranked Burns School of Real Estate program; deep recruiting pipelines into commercial real estate, urban planning and development.
4 years
Top-ranked hospitality program with mountain-resort and luxury-hotel internships built into the degree — uniquely positioned in Colorado's tourism economy.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $61,398
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
