University of Colorado Denver Scholarships (2025–2026)

What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

Paying for college doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. At CU Denver, families can piece together tuition help from state programs, automatic awards, and unique scholarships. If you’re a Colorado parent, don’t forget to check the Colorado state aid guide alongside this page. And if you’re comparing schools across the country, our College Scholarships Hub pulls everything into one place.

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Colorado Denver

Expense	Colorado Resident	Non-Resident
Tuition & Fees (12–18 credits)	$10,755	$30,099
Housing & Meals	$17,205	$17,205
Books & Supplies	$1,460	$1,460
Transportation	$1,512	$1,512
Personal Expenses	$1,728	$1,728
Total (before aid)	$29,972	$52,100

Average Net Price: According to College Board, families paid about $16,079 per year after grants and scholarships—no loans included (2025 data). This is what families actually paid out of pocket. Keep in mind some sources vary slightly between ~$15K–$23K depending on methodology.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): CU Denver participates in WUE, which lets students from 14 western states pay 150% of Colorado resident tuition—a major discount off the full non-resident price.

Real Savings Example: Out-of-state total COA is about $52,100. A WUE student pays about $41,780—saving families more than $10,000 each year.

WUE FAQ

Who qualifies? Residents of participating western states (like Arizona, Nevada, Utah, etc.) in eligible majors.

How much can we save? Around $10,000 per year compared to the full out-of-state rate.

Is it automatic? Yes—CU Denver applies the WUE rate automatically if you qualify. No separate application needed.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

CU Denver publishes automatic, GPA-based merit for international undergraduates. For U.S. residents/non-residents, CU Denver does not publish a tiered auto-merit chart; admitted students may be auto-considered for some awards and then apply for more in Scholarship Universe.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility (plain English)	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
International Automatic Merit Scholarships	$5,000–$10,000/yr	New international first-year or transfer admits; awards based on converted GPA at admission evaluation.	No	Yes — up to 4 yrs (FY) / 2 yrs (TR), maintain good standing	Published GPA tiers: 3.00–3.29 → $5,000; 3.30–3.69 → $7,500; 3.70+ → $10,000.
Additional International Merit (stackable)	Up to $8,000/yr	International admits for fall/spring; limited funds.	Yes — International Admissions application (opens Aug 1)	Varies by fund	Strong academic record; can combine with the automatic GPA award (per CU Denver brochure).

Note: CU Denver does not publish a resident/nonresident (domestic) auto-merit tier chart. The university states some scholarships are awarded at admission and that all admits should use Scholarship Universe to find/apply for additional institutional and external awards. Out-of-state students from WUE states automatically receive the WUE tuition rate if eligible (that rate is a tuition benefit, not a scholarship).

Automatic Merit FAQ

Do I need to apply for the international automatic merit? No. It’s awarded during admission review based on GPA; notification appears in the offer of admission. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Are SAT/ACT scores required? Test scores are optional; you can submit them if helpful, but GPA drives the international auto-merit tiers. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Can awards stack? CU Denver notes that international scholarships can be combined with other funds to help meet cost of attendance. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

What about U.S. residents/non-residents? CU Denver indicates some admission-based consideration plus many college/department awards in Scholarship Universe (application window typically Oct 1–Mar 1 for many funds). :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

How does WUE interact with merit? WUE is a tuition rate automatically applied for eligible states/majors; it’s not an academic scholarship. Eligibility and retention rules are published by CU Denver. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

CU Denver does not publish any university-level, freshman-only competitive scholarships (selective awards with extra essays/interviews and limited slots) at this time. Most institutional funds for new first-years are either automatic (e.g., international GPA awards) or routed through the campus scholarship portal after admission.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Why It’s Competitive	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
No CU Denver freshman-only competitive scholarships are publicly listed	—	—	—	—	Use the CU Denver scholarship portal after admission for college/department funds that may require essays or recommendations.

Notes: Highly selective statewide/private programs (e.g., Boettcher, Daniels) can be brought to CU Denver but are external—so they’re not listed as CU Denver competitive awards here. Transfer-targeted programs (e.g., Reisher) are not freshman-only and are covered elsewhere.

Competitive Scholarship FAQ

Where should freshmen look? After you’re admitted, complete your profile and search in CU Denver’s scholarship portal (Scholarship Universe). New awards open throughout the year.

Are there essay-based awards on campus? Yes—primarily college/department donor funds inside the portal. These vary by major and open/close on set cycles.

Can outside awards stack with CU Denver aid? Often yes, up to the total cost of attendance. Read each fund’s rules and your award letter for caps.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

CU Denver has a wide set of “hidden gems” that don’t show up on the automatic or competitive charts but can make a real difference for families. These cover first-generation and identity-based programs, leadership awards, departmental scholarships, ROTC funding, study abroad support, and need-based guarantees.

Scholarship / Program	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
FaM Business Program (First-Gen & Multicultural)	Tuition support + mentoring	Business majors who are both first-generation and multicultural	Yes	Yes	First-gen students in Business who commit to the FaM cohort and mentoring.
Business Dean’s Esteemed Student Scholarship	$4,000 total ($1,000/semester)	Incoming Business freshmen, GPA ≥ 3.5, community service	No	Yes (2 years)	High-achieving Business admits with leadership and service on their résumé.
Risk Management & Insurance (RMI) Scholarships	$200–$3,500/term	Students enrolled in an RMI course	Yes	Reapply each term	Students active in RMI coursework; industry involvement helps.
College of Arts & Media (Voice & A Cappella)	$1,000–$1,200	CAM music majors; ensemble participation required	Yes	No	Committed singers in ensembles (Lark, Ninth Street, MIX).
CAM Scholarship Fund (First-Gen Friendly)	$1,000–$2,000	All CAM majors; preference to first-gen	Yes	One year	CAM students with strong GPAs; first-gen status boosts chances.
Engineering NSF S-STEM	Up to $10,000/yr (2 years)	New engineering freshmen; FAFSA need; GPA ≥ 3.0	Yes	Yes (2 years)	STEM-ready freshmen with need and math/science rigor.
Engineering Donor Scholarships	≈$500–$2,000*	Current CEAS majors; GPA and departmental involvement	Yes	Mostly one year	Students active in engineering orgs or with strong GPAs.
TRIO / McNair Research	Support + stipends	First-gen, low-income, or underrepresented students	Yes	Yes	High-potential students preparing for grad school research.
CU Promise	Covers tuition & books (no loans)	Low-income CO residents; FAFSA required	No	Yes	Pell-eligible CO residents filing FAFSA early.
Colorado Promise	Refundable tax credit (1st 2 years)	CO residents; family income ≤ $90k	No	Yes (2 years)	Families with unmet tuition/fees after aid; credit claimed on taxes.
State — Colorado Student Grant	Up to $5,000/yr	CO residents; FAFSA need; 6+ credits	No	Yes	In-state students with financial need who enroll at least half-time.
Study Abroad & Gilman	$500–$5,000+ (Gilman up to $8k)	Pell-eligible or global program applicants	Yes	No	Students with financial need planning a specific abroad program.
EURēCA! Research Stipends	$500–$5,000	Undergrads with faculty-mentored research projects	Yes	Summer / one-term	Students with clear research plans and faculty mentor support.
Puksta Scholars	$5,000/yr	CO residents with civic engagement projects	Yes	Yes	Service-minded students who design and sustain a community project.
Reisher Scholars	$4,000–$15,000/yr	CO sophomores or transfers; GPA ≥ 3.0; financial need	Yes	Yes	High-need in-state students with strong persistence and service record.
ROTC Scholarships	Full tuition + fees + stipends	Army or AFROTC cadets; GPA, fitness, leadership	Yes	Yes	Strong academic and fitness candidates; STEM majors often favored.

*Dollar amounts marked with an asterisk are estimates based on CU Denver departmental comparables when official figures were not posted. Always confirm in Scholarship Universe or departmental offices. Marching band-specific scholarships are not offered at CU Denver; ensemble and CAM music awards fill that space instead.

Hidden Gems FAQ

Can these stack with WUE or merit? Often yes—many departmental, identity, and need-based programs stack, but total aid cannot exceed your cost of attendance.

Are marching band scholarships available? CU Denver does not sponsor a marching band; music students instead access ensemble scholarships through the College of Arts & Media.

Where do I apply? Most hidden gems live inside Scholarship Universe. Others (FaM, RMI, ROTC, TRIO, EURēCA!) have separate portals—watch deadlines carefully.

Who benefits most? First-gen and multicultural students, ROTC cadets, CAM music majors, engineering freshmen with need, and any student leveraging leadership or service into their application story.

⭐ College Specialties

CU Denver is an R1 university—meaning it’s among a select group nationwide with “very high research activity.” That means students get to learn and work alongside groundbreaking faculty in real-world labs and urban institutions. Our programs shine in public affairs, education, business, engineering, and more—drawing students ready to make a difference in Denver and beyond.

Leading Program Spotlight: The School of Public Affairs offers one of the top graduate public affairs programs in the U.S.—#1 in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, and ranked among the national top 30. This program leads the way in public policy, environmental management, nonprofit leadership, and civic finance.

Other areas where CU Denver stands out:

Social Mobility — #1 in Colorado: CU Denver has consistently ranked the top institution in the state for lifting students into the middle class and beyond.
Education & Human Development (Graduate Ed): Ranked among the top 100 graduate education programs in the nation.
Business (Undergraduate & Online): Among the top 5 programs within Colorado; online business bachelor’s program ranked top 50 nationally.
Engineering & Computing: Computer Science program ranks in the top 10 in Colorado.
Psychology & Economics (CLAS): Psychology ranks top 5 in the Rocky Mountain region; Economics top 5 in Colorado.
School of Public Affairs (Online Criminal Justice MS): Ranked among the top 20 in the nation, and #1 in state & region.
Global Research Designation: CU Denver is officially R1—spotlighting very high research activity and innovation.
Graduate Rankings (National Universities): CU Denver sits in the #240–#250 range nationally among universities, and #135 among public institutions.
Diversity, Faculty, Location: Rated #1 in Colorado by Niche for diversity, best faculty, and great location.

🎖️ Honors & Leadership Programs

CU Denver does not operate a traditional, campus-wide Honors College for freshmen. Instead, students find smaller, high-impact academic communities through departmental honors, leadership cohorts, and nationally recognized scholars programs. These provide priority advising, mentoring, and—most importantly—opportunities to step into research, service, and leadership projects early in college.

What a Typical CU Denver Honors/Scholars Student Looks Like: High-achieving (GPA ~3.5+), first-generation or underrepresented, engaged in civic or campus leadership, and motivated to connect coursework with real-world service or research. Many balance part-time work with their academic commitments.

Perks that Matter: Faculty mentoring, small seminar experiences, priority advising, and funded opportunities for research or service projects. Some departmental programs also open the door to national fellowship advising (e.g., Truman, Fulbright) and research stipends.

Program	Award / Benefit	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
University Honors and Leadership (UHL)	Scholarships vary; access to seminars and leadership curriculum	High-achieving students with strong leadership/service background	Yes — separate application	Yes, with GPA and engagement	Students with GPAs in the 3.5+ range and a documented record of leadership or civic engagement.
Departmental Honors (e.g., Engineering, Psychology, Business)	Notation on transcript; some offer $500–$1,000 awards	Juniors/Seniors in specific majors with GPA ≥ 3.3 and a thesis/project	Yes — via department	One-time recognition	Upper-division students who complete research or a capstone thesis in their major.
National Fellowship Advising	Application prep for Truman, Fulbright, etc.	Students with GPA ≥ 3.5 and strong leadership/service trajectory	Yes — advising signup	N/A	Ambitious juniors and seniors aiming for national fellowships.

Honors & Leadership FAQ

Is there a freshman Honors College? No. CU Denver uses a mix of University Honors and Leadership and departmental programs instead.

Does it add time to a degree? No—departmental honors or UHL requirements are built into existing coursework and can usually be finished within 4 years.

Are there extra scholarships? UHL students often receive program-specific scholarships; departmental honors sometimes include small stipends or research funding.

When should my student apply? For UHL, apply as a high school senior (priority deadlines in early spring). Departmental honors applications open once students reach junior standing.

🔗 Official Links

📎 University of Colorado Denver Homepage
📎 Scholarships & Financial Aid

Final Thoughts

CU Denver may not have the “big name” scholarship packages of some flagship schools, but it offers plenty of smart pathways for families. Between the guaranteed savings of WUE, automatic consideration for certain awards, and a surprisingly wide range of hidden gems for first-gen, leadership, and departmental standouts, there’s a lot here for motivated students to uncover. Pair these scholarships with Colorado’s strong state aid programs and CU Denver’s urban connections, and it can be an affordable, opportunity-rich option right in the heart of downtown Denver.

✅ Last updated: August 26, 2025