DU admitted about 85% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025 (14,205 of 16,637). For most solid students, getting in is not the hard part. The real question is how big the merit award will be, and that number gets set the day your student is admitted.
Test-optional is real here. Only about 1 in 3 enrolled first-years sent scores. Those who did landed in the 27 to 32 ACT or 1160 to 1360 SAT range.
Grades carry the most weight. The average high school GPA of the Fall 2025 class was 3.68, and DU rates course rigor and GPA as its most important factors.
Most students come from out of state. 64% of first-years are from outside Colorado, and everyone pays the same price.
Daniels Fund (CO/NM/UT/WY), Boettcher (CO), Lamont music, Native American awards
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at the University of Denver (Read This First)
Self-reported scores don’t count. If your student wants test scores to help their merit award, the scores must be sent officially from College Board or ACT. Typing them into the Common App isn’t enough.
The merit award is frozen, but tuition isn’t. Whatever amount DU offers stays the same all four years while tuition climbs. The gap your family covers grows every year.
Full time means 12 credits every quarter. DU runs on quarters, not semesters. Starting in 2026-27, DU checks enrollment after the first week of each quarter, and dropping below 12 credits can shrink the aid package.
Some awards cancel each other out. A Lamont music scholarship replaces both merit and DU need-based grants. Athletic aid means no DU need-based grants. A Tuition Exchange award replaces merit.
FAFSA alone won’t get you DU’s grant money. DU’s own need-based grants require the CSS Profile, including a separate Profile from a noncustodial parent if parents are divorced or separated.
Colorado families: the big outside scholarships close in the fall. The Daniels Fund application closes October 15 and Boettcher closes November 1 of senior year. Also, DU no longer awards the Colorado Student Grant after 2025-26 because of state budget cuts.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Denver is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 27-32; SAT: 1160-1360.
Average net price? About $39,527/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Denver: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Denver has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,700 to $4,200 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$84,119
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$65,304
Housing & meals (typical)
$18,815
Total billed cost
$84,119
Average federal net price: $39,527 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
One Price for Everyone
DU is private, so there’s no in-state discount and no regional exchange like WUE. A family in Denver and a family in Dallas see the same sticker price. What changes the bill is merit, need-based aid, and outside scholarships. One Colorado-only extra: Pell-eligible students who graduated from a Colorado high school can get the College Opportunity Fund stipend of $38.67 per credit hour.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Denver
What does a year at DU actually cost?
For 2026-27, a student living on campus is billed $84,119: $63,720 tuition, $1,584 in required fees, $11,283 for housing, and $7,532 for food. DU’s full cost of attendance, which adds books, transportation, and personal expenses, is $87,581. Students who aren’t Colorado residents get an extra $763 travel allowance in their budget.
Why does the table say “2 semesters” when DU uses quarters?
DU’s year is three quarters (fall, winter, spring). The annual totals above cover all three. Full-time students taking 12 to 18 credits pay a flat $21,240 per quarter. Outside that range, tuition is $1,770 per credit.
Is the student health insurance charge mandatory?
Most students are enrolled automatically in DU’s health plan, about $2,200 a year, billed in fall and spring. You can waive it if your student is covered on another plan. It isn’t included in the required fees shown above, so watch for it on the first bill.
How much do families really pay after aid?
The federal average net price shown above is what aided first-year families actually paid. For students with financial need, DU met an average of 88% of need for Fall 2025 first-years, and the average need-based grant was $48,039. Run DU’s Net Price Calculator for your own number.
Do we need the CSS Profile, or is the FAFSA enough?
The FAFSA covers federal and state aid. DU’s own grants, like the DU Educational Grant and Elevate Grant, require the CSS Profile. If parents are divorced or separated, the noncustodial parent files a separate Profile, and DU can’t offer institutional need-based aid until it arrives or a waiver is approved.
Will the price go up after freshman year?
Usually yes. Tuition and housing rise most years, but DU merit scholarships stay at the same dollar amount for all four years. Plan for your out-of-pocket share to creep up a little each year.
November 1: Merit consideration for Early Decision I and Early Action applicants, plus the $5,000 ED bonus for ED I.
November 15: CSS Profile and FAFSA priority date for ED I and Early Action.
January 15: Merit consideration for Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants.
February 1: CSS Profile and FAFSA priority date for ED II and Regular Decision, and the last day official test scores can arrive.
Parent rule of thumb: DU builds the merit award from the admission file, so the application is the scholarship application. Get scores and transcripts in early.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Denver
Every first-year applicant is considered for merit automatically, with no separate form. Awards run from $15,000 to $40,000 a year and stay at the same amount for four years. DU doesn’t publish GPA or test cutoffs, and it no longer uses named tiers. Test scores are optional, but if your student sends them, DU superscores and they must come officially from the testing agency.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College Opportunity Fund (COF)
📅 Deadline: Authorize each quarter (or lifetime) before tuition charges post ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Lifetime maximum of 217.5 credit hours per student. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides $38.67 per credit hour for eligible Pell-Grant-eligible students who graduated from a Colorado high school. Stipend is paid directly to tuition. Limited to a lifetime maximum of 217.5 credit hours across all Colorado higher education, students using credits during high school dual-enrollment may have a reduced ceiling.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the COF application online at cof.college-assist.org. Submit the Colorado Residency Form to DU's Registrar's Office. If a transfer student, submit a high school transcript (or equivalent) to the Registrar. Authorize the COF stipend in My4D each quarter (or select lifetime authorization).
The College Opportunity Fund pays $38.67 per credit hour for Pell-eligible Colorado high school graduates. Lifetime maximum of 217.5 credit hours (with extension waiver available through the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for students needing additional credits to complete a degree). Caveat: SB25-230 moved private-college COF funding into the state financial aid appropriation, and HB26-1345 bars state financial aid at private colleges for 2026-27. Confirm with DU's financial aid office whether the stipend is being paid this year and whether it is expected for 2027-28.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pell-Grant-eligible Colorado high school graduates attending Colorado higher education institutions, including DU. The benefit is automatic once enrolled and authorized, small per-credit but adds up over a degree.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
DU Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Considered automatically with admission: Nov 1 (ED I/EA) or Jan 15 (ED II/RD) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$15,000–$40,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Students at non-graded high schools must submit an official SAT or ACT to be considered for merit. Must enroll full time (12+ credits per quarter) and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to keep it.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the $3,000 Residence Hall Grant for students living on campus, the $5,000 Early Decision Scholarship for ED admits, need-based grants, and outside scholarships, up to cost of attendance. Does not combine with a Lamont music scholarship (music scholarship recipients are not eligible for admission merit) or a Tuition Exchange award, which replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
DU's published first-year merit range is $15,000 to $40,000 per year. The amount is fixed: whatever your student is awarded stays the same all four years, even as tuition rises. DU no longer publishes named merit tiers, so tier names on third-party sites are outdated. Fall 2025 first-years with no financial need who received merit averaged $28,815 (DU Common Data Set 2025-26).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most admitted first-years. DU reviews every applicant, and the size of the award follows the strength of the academic record: course rigor, grades, and test scores if sent. The top of the range goes to the strongest files in the admitted pool.
Automatic
Early Decision Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 (ED I) or Jan 15 (ED II) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to the DU Merit Scholarship and Residence Hall Grant. ED is binding: if admitted, your student withdraws every other application, so run DU's Net Price Calculator before committing.
💡
Strategic Detail
Early Decision I and II admits receive $5,000 a year on top of their merit scholarship, for up to four years. DU also says top academic performers admitted ED will have their full demonstrated financial need met. Students receiving athletic aid and music majors can apply ED but do not receive these financial incentives.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every ED I or ED II enrollee who is not on athletic aid and is not a music major.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Residence Hall Grant
📅 Deadline: Tied to merit scholarship award and on-campus housing assignment ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays toward tuition, not housing or meals. Your student only receives it in years they live in eligible DU housing. DU requires students to live on campus their first two years, so for most families this is a years-one-and-two benefit. Transfer students are not eligible.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $3,000 grant added automatically for any DU merit scholarship recipient who is full time and lives in eligible on-campus housing. DU lists the eligible residence halls and apartments each year on its Grants & Scholarships page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Merit recipients living on campus, which covers nearly every first-year: 89% of Fall 2025 first-years lived in college housing.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling per DU transfer admission deadlines ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,000–$25,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
DU uses final college transcripts to estimate time to degree completion and determine the number of remaining quarters of scholarship eligibility. Transfers can stack this with Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship if they were prior PTK members, plus federal/state aid. Transfer students are NOT eligible for the $3,000 Residence Hall Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
Transfer applicants are considered for merit scholarships of $12,000 to $25,000 per year, in addition to institutional aid if FAFSA and CSS Profile are submitted. Music majors awarded a Lamont scholarship are not also eligible for this transfer merit.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted transfer students whose college coursework demonstrates strong academic performance. The full range ($12K to $25K) reflects DU's holistic evaluation of transcript rigor and GPA.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Submit with transfer admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of the Transfer Merit Scholarship and renews automatically as long as the student maintains good academic standing. A nice extra $2,500/year for PTK members making the move to DU.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $2,500 award for transfer students with prior Phi Theta Kappa membership. Automatic renewal for students who maintain good academic standing. Designed to recognize community college academic excellence.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students who joined Phi Theta Kappa at their community college and can document membership through a transcript notation or chapter letter.
Data last verified Oct 4, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: The DU Merit Scholarship, Early Decision Scholarship, and Residence Hall Grant can all land in the same package. A student admitted ED who lives on campus gets merit, plus $5,000, plus $3,000, every year they qualify.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Denver)
Do we have to apply separately for DU merit scholarships?
No. DU reviews every first-year applicant for merit using the academic information in the admission application. Apply by November 1 or January 15 and your student is in the running.
How much merit do students actually get?
DU’s range is $15,000 to $40,000 a year. In Fall 2025, first-years with no financial need who received merit averaged $28,815. Students at the top of DU’s admitted pool see the biggest numbers.
Should my student send test scores?
Only if they help. DU is test-optional and superscores, combining the best section scores across sittings. Scores must come straight from College Board or ACT; self-reported scores aren’t considered. One exception: students from non-graded high schools must send an official SAT or ACT to be considered for merit.
Is the Early Decision Scholarship worth it?
It’s $5,000 a year, or $20,000 over four years. DU also says top academic performers admitted ED get their full demonstrated need met. But ED is binding, and students on athletic aid and music majors don’t receive the incentives. Run the Net Price Calculator before your student signs the ED agreement.
Does the $3,000 Residence Hall Grant cover housing?
No, it pays toward tuition. Your student only gets it in years they live in eligible DU housing. Since DU requires two years on campus, most families should count on it for freshman and sophomore year only.
How does merit renew?
It renews at the same dollar amount as long as your student stays full time (at least 12 credits every quarter) and keeps Satisfactory Academic Progress.
What about transfer students?
Transfers are considered for $12,000 to $25,000 a year. Phi Theta Kappa members add $2,500 a year with proof of membership. How many quarters the award lasts depends on how many credits transfer in.
DU doesn’t run a big in-house, essay-and-interview flagship scholarship. Its largest competitive awards are either funded by outside partners (Daniels Fund and Boettcher), tied to talent (Lamont music), or reserved for specific communities (Native American awards). For most families, the automatic merit award is still the big number.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at DU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
DU Parent Translation
ED Bonus + Residence Hall Grant
Yes
These sit on top of merit automatically when your student qualifies.
Lamont Music Scholarship
No, replaces
Music scholarship recipients give up admission merit and DU need-based grants. Compare both packages before choosing.
Athletic Aid
Blocks need grants
Athletes choose between athletic money and DU need-based grants. They can’t have both.
Daniels Fund / Boettcher
Combined
DU and the foundation pool money to hit a target: full cost for Daniels, full tuition and fees for Boettcher.
Outside Scholarships
Usually
If you go over need or cost, DU cuts loans first, then work-study. Tuition-only outside awards can sometimes reduce a DU grant.
If your student lives in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming, the two outside awards below are the closest thing DU has to a flagship scholarship. Both close in the fall of senior year, well before DU’s own deadlines.
Full RideApp Requiredgeographicneed based
Daniels Fund Scholarship
📅 Deadline: September 1 to October 15 of senior year (4:00 p.m. MT) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance
✔ Stackable
⚠ High‑achieving, high‑need residents of CO, NM, UT, or WY only
Graduating seniors living in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; unweighted GPA 3.0+; ACT 18+ in each section or SAT 490+ Math and 490+ Reading & Writing; household AGI of $100,000 or less (more allowed with additional dependents).
✚
Stacking & Combining
DU is a Daniels Fund partner school, so the Daniels Fund and DU combine funding to cover up to your student's full cost of attendance: tuition, fees, housing, books, and more.
📄
How to Apply
Apply directly through the Daniels Fund online application as an eligible high school senior from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. If selected as a Daniels Scholar, you can use the scholarship at DU as a partner institution; submit complete documentation including essays, recommendations, and financial information.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes strength of character, leadership, commitment to serving others, and financial need, along with academic readiness.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The Daniels Scholarship is four years, renewable annually. At a partner school like DU it covers up to full cost of attendance. Scholars also receive a laptop, personal support through college, and leadership and career programming.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from the four-state region with strong character, leadership, and service who also fit the income limit. The application window is short and early in senior year, which knocks out a lot of families who hear about it too late.
Full TuitionApp Requiredgeographic
Boettcher Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 of senior year (5 p.m. MT) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
Tuition & Fees model: $20,000/yr from Boettcher plus DU aid up to full tuition and fees
✔ Stackable
⚠ Colorado high school seniors only
👥 ~About 50 initial winners per year winners/yrGraduating Colorado high school seniors. See the Boettcher Foundation eligibility page for current residency and citizenship rules.
✚
Stacking & Combining
At DU, a Tuition and Fees model school, Boettcher pays $20,000 a year and DU adds institutional, merit, or need-based aid so the total covers up to full tuition and fees. Housing and food are not part of the DU package, so DU need-based aid and outside money still matter.
📄
How to Apply
Apply directly to the Boettcher Foundation in the fall of senior year (opens September 1, due November 1 at 5 p.m.). Semifinalists, notified in mid-December, submit two letters of recommendation. About 100 finalists are interviewed in March, and winners choose a Colorado partner college. DU is one of them.
Selection criteria: Scholastic ability and intellectual curiosity, leadership, service, and character.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Colorado's best-known scholarships, with about 50 initial winners a year. Scholars can use it at any Colorado partner college; DU participates on the Tuition and Fees model.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top Colorado seniors with strong academics and a record of leadership and service. It is highly selective, so treat it as a bonus shot rather than the plan.
Full TuitionApp Required
Lamont Music Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Lamont audition deadlines posted annually; notification within two weeks of admission decision · 📢 Results: Within two weeks of the admission decision ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
talent_scholarship
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
CRITICAL: Lamont music scholarship recipients are NOT eligible to also receive DU's automatic admission merit scholarships OR institutional need-based grants (DU Educational Grant, Elevate Grant). Families must compare the Lamont package to what their student would receive through automatic merit + need-based aid and choose accordingly.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission to DU and indicate your interest in the Lamont School of Music. Submit a music audition (recorded or in-person) following Lamont's audition guidelines. Lamont reviews talent, academic merit, and financial need together for a comprehensive scholarship decision.
Lamont School of Music applicants are holistically considered for a comprehensive scholarship ranging from $1,000 to full tuition. Talent, academic merit, and financial need are all considered together. Recipients are NOT also eligible for admission merit scholarships or institutional need-based grants, it's an either/or.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Talented musicians (instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, etc.) whose auditions stand out alongside strong academic credentials. The full range, from $1,000 to full tuition, reflects how holistically Lamont weighs talent, academics, and financial need together.
Full RideApp Requiredidentity based
Native American Community Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Separate application; 2026 window closed, reopens in 2027 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tribal_community_full_cost_scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Students committed to Native American and Indigenous communities
👥 ~Limited number of selections each year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the standard cost of tuition, fees, food and housing, and books, effectively a full cost-of-attendance award. Recipients must attend quarterly check-ins with the Director of Community Connections, maintain full-time enrollment, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress. Renewable for 12 quarters from initial enrollment.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission to DU, then complete the separate Community Scholarship application focused on your commitment to Native American and Indigenous communities. Financial need is considered but not required, so submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and any requested aid documents.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of admission application plus demonstrated commitment to Native American and Indigenous communities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A competitive identity-based award covering the standard cost of tuition, fees, food, housing, and books for students committed to Native American and Indigenous communities. Financial need is considered but not required. Involvement with the Native Student Alliance is encouraged but not required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students with a deep, demonstrated commitment to Native American and Indigenous communities. Selections are limited each year and the committee also reviews the admission application.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyidentity basedneed based
Empowerment Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Separate application; 2026 window closed, reopens in 2027 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tribal_community_tuition_scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Native American and Indigenous community involvement plus demonstrated financial need
👥 ~Limited number of selections each year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the standard cost of tuition. Recipients must attend quarterly check-ins with the Director of Community Connections and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Renewable for 12 quarters (first-year admits) or for the estimated time-to-degree based on transfer credits (transfers).
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission to DU as a first-year or transfer student. Complete the separate Empowerment Scholarship application demonstrating involvement in and contributions to Native American and Indigenous communities. Submit FAFSA, CSS Profile, and ALL requested financial aid documents, demonstrated financial need is REQUIRED.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of admission application, community involvement in Native/Indigenous communities, and demonstrated financial need.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A competitive tuition-coverage scholarship for students with both community involvement in Native American and Indigenous communities AND documented financial need. Open to both first-year and transfer applicants. Selections are limited each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year and transfer students with demonstrated community involvement AND documented financial need. Both pieces are required, strong community story alone is not enough.
Data last verified Oct 4, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does DU offer a full ride?
Not as a general merit award. The full-cost paths are the Daniels Fund (DU is a partner school, so Daniels and DU together cover up to full cost of attendance), the Native American Community Scholarship, and the Sand Creek Descendant Scholarship.
When is the Daniels Fund deadline?
The application runs September 1 to October 15 of senior year (4:00 p.m. Mountain). It’s open to seniors in CO, NM, UT, and WY with household income of $100,000 or less, an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, and minimum test section scores.
What does Boettcher cover at DU?
Boettcher pays $20,000 a year and DU adds aid to reach full tuition and fees. Housing and food aren’t part of the DU package. Colorado seniors apply directly to the foundation by November 1.
Is the Lamont music scholarship better than merit?
It depends on the offer. Lamont awards range from $1,000 to full tuition and consider talent, grades, and need together. Because it replaces merit and DU need-based grants, a small Lamont award can leave a family worse off. Notification comes within two weeks of the admission decision.
What’s the difference between the Community and Empowerment Scholarships?
Both focus on involvement in Native American and Indigenous communities and need a separate application. Community covers tuition, fees, housing, food, and books, and financial need is considered but not required. Empowerment covers tuition and requires demonstrated financial need. Both windows reopen in 2027.
How can my student prepare for these applications?
Start early on essays and an activity summary. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize the leadership and service stories Daniels and Boettcher look for.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Merit Is Automatic, Almost Nothing Else Is
At DU, getting admitted gets you merit. Most of the other money needs its own form, and those forms open on their own calendars after admission.
File the CSS Profile and FAFSA by the priority date for your round. DU’s own grants depend on the Profile.
After admission, watch for program applications: Puksta (opens in January), CWC Leadership Scholars (spring), and the Honors Program (late January).
Once enrolled, have your student submit the Departmental Scholarship Application every February. That’s where DU’s 500+ gift and endowed scholarships live.
Screenshot every submission confirmation.
Parent translation: skip these and your student still keeps their merit award, but you’ll miss the smaller awards that close the gap.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up in the merit letter. Some are need-based, some are cohort programs with real money attached, and a few are for specific communities. Most stack with DU merit.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
DU Educational Grant
📅 Deadline: CSS Profile and FAFSA priority: Nov 15 (ED I/EA) or Feb 1 (ED II/RD); returning students March 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
The DU Educational Grant can ONLY pay toward tuition costs, not housing or meal plans. It's packaged with federal, state, and other institutional aid; amounts can change year over year based on updated need and cost-of-attendance limits. Re-file FAFSA/CSS each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
DU lists this as one of its two most common institutional need-based grants (along with the Elevate Grant). Specific dollar amounts vary by year and financial circumstances, there is no published range. Students who receive athletic aid are NOT eligible for this grant.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with demonstrated financial need based on both FAFSA and CSS Profile, often from low- and middle-income families. This is DU's primary tuition-only institutional need grant.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Elevate Grant
📅 Deadline: CSS Profile and FAFSA priority: Nov 15 (ED I/EA) or Feb 1 (ED II/RD); returning students March 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Unlike the DU Educational Grant (tuition-only), the Elevate Grant can pay toward non-tuition charges like housing and meals. Stacks with other grants and scholarships up to cost of attendance. Athletes receiving athletic aid are not eligible, students must pick athletic funding OR institutional need-based grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Elevate Grant pays toward charges beyond tuition (housing, meals, etc.), making it a critical companion to the tuition-only DU Educational Grant for families facing high non-tuition costs. Award sizes vary based on Student Aid Index and available institutional funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with very high demonstrated financial need as calculated from FAFSA and CSS Profile, often including first-generation and low-income students.
App Requiredgeographicneed based
Puksta Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Opens in January after DU admission (2026 cycle closed; next cycle January 2027) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$7,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Colorado residents who are Pell Grant eligible
Incoming first-year Colorado residents with financial need, defined as Pell Grant eligible on the FAFSA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with DU merit and need-based aid up to cost of attendance. Incoming Puksta Scholars cannot also join the Pioneer Leadership Program or the CWC Leadership Scholars Program, so your student picks one cohort program.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted to DU first. The Puksta application opens in January on DU's Center for Community Engagement (CCESL) Puksta page. File the FAFSA so DU's Office of Financial Aid can confirm Pell Grant eligibility. Qualifying applicants are invited to interview with DU staff mentors.
Selection criteria: Interest in social justice and the public good, willingness to reflect critically on experiences and values, and interest in civic engagement. Geographic diversity is also considered.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year civic engagement scholarship of $7,500 per year, funded by the Puksta Foundation. First-year Scholars take one 2-credit CCESL course each quarter and build a community project over four years, with access to retreats, trainings, and project funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible Colorado students admitted to DU who care about a community issue and want to work on it for four years. Prior community-engagement experience is not required; commitment is.
App Required
CWC Leadership Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Spring of senior year after DU admission; see the CWC How to Apply page for current dates ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~15-20 incoming first-year students per cohort. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $6,000 a year based on financial need, stacking with DU merit and need-based aid up to cost of attendance. Incoming CWC Scholars cannot also be incoming Puksta Scholars, so pick one cohort program.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted to DU, then submit the separate CWC Leadership Scholars application. Selected students join a cohort of 15 to 20 and complete a 24-credit Leadership Studies minor.
Selection criteria: Leadership potential, community involvement, fit with the cohort, and financial need.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The Colorado Women's College Leadership Scholars Program provides up to $6,000 per year in scholarship support based on financial need, paired with a cohort experience, a required 24-credit Leadership Studies minor, two annual mountain retreats, and peer plus professional mentorship. Cohort size is 15–20 incoming first-years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming first-years with financial need who want a small, tight leadership cohort: two mountain retreats a year, a peer mentor, a professional mentor, and six classes taken together.
App Required
Pathways Scholarship (Access DU)
📅 Deadline: Access DU 2026 application has closed; check annually for the next program cycle · 📢 Results: Late April for the Access DU program ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$7,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with DU automatic merit and other need-based aid up to cost of attendance. The Pathways Scholarship rewards completing the Access DU pipeline, it's a multi-step commitment, but the payoff is up to $7,500 per year for four years.
📄
How to Apply
As a rising high school junior or senior, apply to the Access DU summer program at DU (free to attend if accepted, with travel stipend available). Complete the 3-day on-campus experience in July successfully. If you then apply and enroll at DU, your $65 application fee is waived AND, based on financial need, you may receive the Pathways Scholarship for up to four years.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; awarded to Access DU completers who enroll at DU and demonstrate financial need.
✎ Essays🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Access DU is a free 3-day summer residential program at DU for rising HS juniors and seniors. Successful participants who later enroll at DU may receive the Pathways Scholarship, up to $7,500 per year, renewable for 4 years, depending on financial need. US citizens, permanent residents, undocumented students, and DACA recipients are all eligible to apply.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving rising high school juniors and seniors, especially first-generation, low-income, rural, or historically underrepresented students, who attend the Access DU summer program, then apply to and enroll at DU, AND demonstrate financial need.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Departmental & Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Departmental Scholarship Application opens each February; returning students file CSS Profile and FAFSA by March 15 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~500+ gift and endowed scholarships awarded annually. winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards generally stack with merit and need-based aid up to cost of attendance. Most are awarded to continuing students (sophomores, juniors, seniors) after they've declared a major and taken coursework in their field. Select departmental scholarships are available for incoming first-year students by department invitation only.
📄
How to Apply
Submit DU's Departmental Scholarship Application (single online form covers all department awards). To be considered for need-based departmental scholarships, also submit CSS Profile, FAFSA, and any requested financial aid documents by the priority deadline. Continuing undergraduates apply each year for awards in their major or area of interest.
Selection criteria: Varies by department and specific scholarship; combinations of academic merit, financial need, major fit, and departmental engagement.
💡
Strategic Detail
DU awards over 500 gift and endowed scholarships a year through academic departments. Most go to students entering their second, third, or fourth year who have taken classes in their major, through one Departmental Scholarship Application that opens each February. A few departments invite incoming first-years to apply.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing DU undergraduates (typically sophomores and above) who have declared a major and built relationships with their department. Over 500 gift and endowed scholarships are awarded annually, meaning many engaged students earn at least one departmental award before graduation.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Path Forward Grant
📅 Deadline: Invitation in winter quarter of first year; FAFSA and CSS Profile by April 15; winter steps by late March Non-Renewable
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
The grant gets added to the following year's need-based aid package. DU may adjust other institutional aid so total funding remains within cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Watch for an invitation email in winter quarter of the first year and register. Meet with an academic advisor before winter and spring registration, register for 12+ credits for spring and fall, meet with a student success coach, and file the FAFSA and CSS Profile by April 15.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; awards depend on completion of program milestones and high demonstrated financial need.
💡
Strategic Detail
An invitation-only program for first-year students moving into their second year. Students who finish every step can receive a need-based Path Forward Grant of up to $2,500 for sophomore year, based on the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Invited first-years with financial need who check every box on time. The money is modest, but it rewards habits that keep students enrolled and on track.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Cherrington Global Scholars
📅 Deadline: Automatic with a DU Partner Program study abroad application; eligibility checked two quarters before departure Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 UpperclassmenJuniors or seniors (90+ credits) with a 3.0+ DU GPA, good academic and conduct standing, at least two full-time quarters at DU, no prior benefited study abroad program, and age 18+ at departure.
✚
Stacking & Combining
A travel stipend, not a scholarship, so it does not reduce your aid package. Separately, on DU Partner Programs your DU merit and need-based aid keep paying during the term abroad.
💡
Strategic Detail
Cherrington Global Scholars puts money toward round-trip international airfare and student visa fees, plus residence permits and airport entry or exit fees not included in the fare, for an approved DU Partner Program. Summer programs are not eligible, and it can be used once.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Juniors and seniors with a 3.0 who choose a DU Partner Program and follow the booking rules. DU sends more than 70% of undergrads abroad, so this is a benefit most students can actually use.
👥 ~Limited number per year for incoming TE students. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
IMPORTANT: If awarded the TE scholarship, the student's DU merit scholarship AND Residence Hall Grant are CANCELLED and replaced with the TE scholarship. However, TE recipients remain eligible for federal, state, and need-based institutional aid (subject to CSS Profile and FAFSA), plus gift and endowed scholarships up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
If your parent works full-time at a Tuition Exchange member institution OTHER than DU, apply through your parent's Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer at their employer for an Import TE scholarship to DU. Apply for DU undergraduate admission in parallel. DU's Import TELO Kelly Graves coordinates eligibility on the DU side.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; verified through both DU admission review and the parent employer's TE Liaison Officer.
💡
Strategic Detail
DU joined the national Tuition Exchange program as a participating member beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. A limited number of TE scholarships are offered to eligible undergraduates for continuous full-time enrollment. Scholarship amounts increase annually to match the stated TE Program amount. Renewable for up to 12 quarters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Dependent children (under age 25) of full-time employees at Tuition Exchange member schools other than DU. The student must also be admitted to DU on academic merit; the TE scholarship covers tuition based on the annual TE program amount.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyidentity based
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Submit with admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tribal_tuition_scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Enrolled members of the Cheyenne & Arapaho of Oklahoma, Northern Cheyenne, or Northern Arapaho tribes
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the standard cost of tuition automatically, no separate application needed. Stacks with federal, state, and other institutional aid up to cost of attendance. Renewable for 12 quarters from initial enrollment or until bachelor's completion.
💡
Strategic Detail
DU provides the standard cost of tuition to admitted students from the Cheyenne & Arapaho of Oklahoma, Northern Cheyenne of Montana, and Northern Arapaho of Wyoming tribes, honoring DU's historical ties and ongoing partnerships with these nations. Awarded automatically with tribal enrollment documentation; no scholarship application needed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted DU students with documented enrollment in the Cheyenne & Arapaho of Oklahoma, Northern Cheyenne of Montana, or Northern Arapaho of Wyoming tribes.
Full RideApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyidentity based
Sand Creek Descendant Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Submit lineage documentation with your admission application ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full_cost_of_attendance_tribal
✔ Stackable
⚠ Descendants of Sand Creek Massacre victims
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the standard cost of tuition, fees, food, housing, and books for eligible descendants, effectively a full-cost-of-attendance award. DU may adjust other institutional aid so total funding stays within cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission and provide documents showing ancestral lineage to Sand Creek Massacre victims, such as tribal enrollment records, birth certificates, census data, or marriage and death certificates. File the FAFSA and CSS Profile so the rest of your aid package can be built around it.
DU honors its historical connection to the Sand Creek Massacre through this distinct, identity-based award covering the standard cost of tuition, fees, food, housing, and books. Renewable for 12 quarters from initial enrollment or until bachelor's completion, whichever comes first.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Verified descendants of Sand Creek Massacre victims who can establish ancestral lineage through tribal or vital records and meet DU's full-time enrollment and academic progress requirements.
Data last verified Oct 4, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who qualifies for the Puksta Scholars Program?
Incoming first-years who are Colorado residents and Pell Grant eligible, admitted to DU, with an interest in social justice. It pays $7,500 a year for four years. No prior community-engagement experience is required.
Can my student do Puksta and CWC Leadership Scholars?
No. Incoming Puksta Scholars can’t also join the Pioneer Leadership Program or the CWC Leadership Scholars Program. If your student qualifies for more than one, compare the money and the time commitment.
What is Access DU, and how does it lead to money?
It’s a free three-day summer program at DU for rising juniors and seniors. Students who complete it get their application fee waived. Based on financial need, they may also receive the Pathways Scholarship of up to $7,500 a year for four years if they enroll.
Is the Cherrington Global Scholars program a scholarship?
Not exactly. It’s a travel stipend toward round-trip airfare and visa fees for juniors and seniors with a 3.0 GPA who study abroad on a DU Partner Program. There’s no separate application, and it doesn’t reduce your aid. On those programs, DU merit and need aid keep paying while your student is abroad.
Can undocumented or DACA students get DU aid?
Yes. They’re considered for merit up to $40,000 a year and the $3,000 Residence Hall Grant. With the CSS Profile they can also be considered for the DU Educational Grant, plus departmental scholarships once enrolled.
We’re in Colorado. What happened to the Colorado Student Grant?
DU says state budget cuts mean it can’t award the Colorado Student Grant after 2025-26. The College Opportunity Fund stipend is still available for Pell-eligible Colorado high school graduates.
University Honors Program at the University of Denver
DU has a University Honors Program, not a separate honors college. Students apply after they’re admitted to DU, and the application doesn’t commit them to enrolling. The program admits over half of its applicants. Since Fall 2025, each incoming cohort is about 150 students, roughly 10% of the class.
How to apply: Five short essays (about 300 words each) and one teacher recommendation.
When: The application opens in late January, with three rounds in February, March, and April. All decisions come before DU’s May 1 deposit deadline.
What Honors sees: Only your student’s GPA and merit award. Honors doesn’t read the rest of the DU application, so the essays carry the decision.
To graduate with University Honors: Take about half of the Common Curriculum in Honors sections, earn Distinction in the major, and finish with a 3.5 GPA.
Honors Program Scholarships
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Preisendanz-Schmid Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Winter/spring of the year before the final academic year; selection occurs annually for Honors seniors Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Typically one Honors senior each year, depending on available endowment funds. winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
A one-time Honors award that supplements existing DU merit and need-based aid, subject to cost-of-attendance limits. Funded by the endowment established by Honors Program alumna Donna M. Schmid.
📄
How to Apply
Remain in good standing in the University Honors Program as a rising senior anticipated to complete all Honors requirements. Submit DU's general scholarship application during the winter or spring before the final academic year to confirm interest and document unmet financial need with the Office of Financial Aid.
Selection criteria: Selection by Honors faculty and staff weighing academic performance in Honors, overall contribution to the program, and unmet financial need.
💡
Strategic Detail
This is the ONE named Honors-specific scholarship at DU. Awardees must be rising seniors anticipated to complete all Honors requirements and have documented unmet need. The scholarship was established by Honors Program alumna Donna M. Schmid (Psychology, '78) in memory of her parents and grandparents.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One exemplary Honors senior each year who demonstrates both strong academic engagement with the Honors Program AND unmet financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Data last verified Oct 4, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Honors itself comes with one named scholarship, and it’s for a single senior. The real money for strong students comes through the DU Merit Scholarship at admission.
Deadline Note (Fall 2027 entrants): The application opens January 22, 2027. Round deadlines are February 9, March 9, and April 18, with recommendations due about a week after each. Students not admitted in these rounds get one more chance after their first fall quarter, with a DU faculty recommendation.
Where High Achievers Actually Find Money at DU
At admission: The DU Merit Scholarship, $15,000 to $40,000 a year.
Every February after enrolling: The Departmental Scholarship Application, covering 500+ awards for students in their major.
Junior or senior year: The Cherrington travel stipend for study abroad on a DU Partner Program.
Senior year: The Preisendanz-Schmid Scholarship for one Honors student with unmet need.
Honors Program FAQs (University of Denver)
Does my student have to commit to DU before applying to Honors?
No. Students only need to be admitted to DU to access the Honors application, and acceptance to Honors isn’t binding.
How competitive is it?
Honors admits over half of applicants. It looks for curiosity and fit more than raw stats: students who want to dig into ideas with classmates, inside and outside class.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not for incoming students. The only Honors scholarship, Preisendanz-Schmid, goes to one rising senior on track to finish Honors who has unmet financial need.
Does my student have to live in Honors housing?
No, but Honors first-years must join a living community. The Honors floors are one option. The Pioneer Leadership Program’s required housing also counts. Commuters can opt out.
Can transfer students join?
Sometimes. Transfers who have already finished most general education requirements may find Honors impractical, so DU asks them to email the Honors office before applying.
DU calls itself the premier private R1 research university in the Rocky Mountain West. Day to day, it feels more like a mid-sized private school: about 5,800 undergrads, a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and most classes under 30 students. Its standout strengths are business, global affairs, and getting students out into the world.
Nationally Known Program: Daniels College of Business. Business is DU’s biggest draw: about 28% of bachelor’s degrees awarded last year were in business. U.S. News places Daniels among the top 100 undergraduate business programs. Finance, accounting, marketing, and real estate students benefit from Denver’s job market right down the road.
Hospitality Management (Fritz Knoebel School): One of the oldest hospitality programs in the country, training industry leaders since 1946. Students run real operations, including a student-run coffee shop and the school’s event venues. Majors must study abroad for at least a quarter and show proficiency in a second language.
International Studies (Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs): Foreign Policy magazine ranks Korbel the 20th best place to earn an undergraduate degree in international studies. Its master’s program is ranked 12th in the world.
Study Abroad: More than 70% of DU undergrads study abroad, and DU ranks 8th nationally for undergraduate study abroad participation (IIE Open Doors). For many families, this is the single most “DU” thing about DU.
Psychology, Computer Science, and Communications: Psychology is one of DU’s most popular majors, at nearly 12% of bachelor’s degrees. Computer science and communication studies each draw about 5%.
Music (Lamont School of Music): An audition-based conservatory-style school inside a university. It offers its own scholarships, but they replace regular merit.
🔗 Official University of Denver Links
Use DU’s official pages below to double-check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and deadlines. They’re the final word on award terms and dates.
Here’s DU in one breath: easier to get into than its price tag suggests, generous with merit, and serious about sending students out into the world. Most admitted students walk away with a merit award between $15,000 and $40,000. Early Decision adds $5,000 a year, and living on campus adds $3,000 more.
The catch is that the sticker price is above $87,000 and the merit number never grows. Families who make DU work usually stack three things: a strong merit award, the CSS Profile filed on time for need-based grants, and one of the extras that only DU offers. That could be Puksta or CWC money, a Cherrington-funded quarter abroad, or, for Colorado and Mountain West families, a Daniels or Boettcher award that closes the gap almost entirely. If your student wants business, hospitality, or a degree that actually crosses borders, DU earns a spot on the list. Just run the Net Price Calculator before anyone signs an Early Decision agreement.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo built CollegeReadyParent after working through college costs with his own daughter. Every guide is checked against the college’s own pages and official data. No paywall, no lead generation, just the numbers families need.
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