University of Denver Scholarships (2025–2026)

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The University of Denver (DU) awards generous merit scholarships to recognize academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement. Top students may qualify for the DU Scholar Program (full tuition) or be nominated for the regional Daniels Fund Scholarship (full ride including housing and meals) if they are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.

All admitted students automatically receive merit scholarships between $20,000–$34,000 per year. DU remains test-optional through 2025–26 and emphasizes holistic review that rewards initiative, service, and leadership.

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Denver

Note: This table includes only direct costs paid to the University of Denver (tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals). Additional indirect costs—such as books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenses—are not included because they are not billed by the university and vary by student. DU estimates these indirect expenses at approximately $4,000–$4,500 per year for planning purposes.

FAQ

Who qualifies for in-state tuition at DU?
No distinction—everyone pays the same rate because DU is private.

How much do most families actually pay?
The federal average net price is about $39,527 per year after scholarships and grants are applied.

Is the CSS Profile required?
Yes. DU requires both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile for institutional and departmental need-based aid.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

All first-year applicants are automatically considered for DU’s admission-based merit scholarships. Amounts below are annual and typically renew for up to 12 quarters (excludes summers) with full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Notes: Early Decision admits receive an additional $5,000 merit scholarship (athletes on athletic aid and music majors are ineligible for this ED bonus). Some tiers include a $3,000 residence hall grant for on-campus housing in the first year. Awards are fixed once offered and typically renew at the same amount each year (see DU policy).

FAQ

How are these awards decided?
DU uses a holistic academic review—course rigor, grades/GPA, and (if submitted) test scores—to place students into the scholarship tiers.

Is test-optional okay for merit?
Yes. Submitting SAT/ACT is optional; scores are only considered if you choose to send them.

Do they superscore?
Yes. If you submit scores, DU will superscore the SAT or ACT by combining your best sub-scores from multiple sittings to create your highest composite.

Can these stack with need-based aid or outside scholarships?
Generally, DU merit can combine with need-based grants and outside/private scholarships up to your billed costs/standard cost of attendance. Departmental awards may be added in later years.

Any priority dates?
Apply by DU’s admission deadlines: Nov 1 (Early Decision I/Early Action); Jan 15 (Early Decision II/Regular Decision) for automatic consideration. Early Decision enrollees receive the additional $5,000 merit bonus.

*Estimate disclaimer: GPA/test bands above are parent-friendly guides based on DU’s tier amounts and selectivity context. DU does not publish official cutoffs; outcomes vary by overall profile and rigor.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships at the University of Denver

The University of Denver primarily awards automatic merit scholarships to incoming first-year students. However, a few programs—both university-sponsored and external—stand out for their prestige or competitive selection. These are the closest DU equivalents to “flagship” scholarships at other universities.

FAQ

• Does DU offer a full-ride scholarship? Not internally. The Daniels Fund is the main full-ride option for DU students, though it’s awarded externally.
• What makes the DU Scholar Awards competitive? They emphasize leadership, service, and campus impact beyond GPA.
• Can these awards stack with need-based aid? Yes — most DU scholarships can be combined with FAFSA or CSS Profile–based aid, up to cost of attendance.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

Outside of the main merit tiers, the University of Denver has several “hidden gem” programs that can save families money. These are usually tied to special circumstances—identity-based aid, ROTC service commitments, or unique DU opportunities like study abroad cost-parity.

Disclaimer: Award ranges for the DU Educational Grant and Elevate Grant are estimates based on typical institutional need-based grant sizes at private universities; actual amounts vary each year by FAFSA/CSS data.

• Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP): Selective residential leadership program; provides networking and access to internal/external awards, but not a fixed scholarship amount.
• The Denver Foundation Community Scholarship: External program for first-gen, economically disadvantaged students in the Denver area; amount varies.

FAQ

Do these hidden gem scholarships require extra applications?
Yes. Most are handled outside the general admission process—through the Study Abroad office, ROTC programs, or the Native American & Indigenous Initiatives office.

Can these awards stack with DU merit?
Generally, yes. They often layer on top of DU’s automatic scholarships, though total aid cannot exceed the standard cost of attendance.

Are these awards renewable?
ROTC and Native American & Indigenous awards can renew with continued eligibility. The Path Forward Grant is one-time, and study abroad funding only applies for the term(s) abroad.

When should families plan for these?
Freshmen should look ahead—ROTC applications open in high school, Native American programs require documentation, and study abroad planning should start early in the first year.

🎖️ Honors College

The University Honors Program at DU is a small, selective community that admits less than half of applicants and enrolls about 6% of each incoming class. Students apply after being admitted to DU, and selection is based on essays, recommendations, and overall academic rigor. It’s designed for high-achieving students who want more intensive coursework and a close-knit academic environment.

Money Matters for Honors Students:
Admission to Honors does not come with a dedicated freshman scholarship. However, Honors admits usually have the same strong profiles that qualify them for DU’s top automatic merit awards (like the Chancellor or Provost Scholarships). For continuing students, there is one named award — the Preisendanz-Schmid Scholarship — given to an exemplary Honors senior with both merit and financial need. Honors students are also well-positioned to win departmental and undergraduate research funding later on.

FAQ

Is admission automatic?
No. Students must apply separately after being admitted to DU. There are three rounds of applications, usually running from February through April.

Does the program add time to a degree?
No. Honors courses count toward DU’s Common Curriculum, so the program does not extend graduation time if students stay on track.

Are there Honors-specific scholarships?
No automatic award for incoming Honors students. Only one small named scholarship (Preisendanz-Schmid) exists for seniors, and many students later tap into research or departmental funding instead.

What are the deadlines?
For Fall 2026 applicants, deadlines were February 11 (Round 1), March 11 (Round 2), and April 8 (Round 3). Similar timelines are expected each year.

⭐ College Specialty

The University of Denver is a private R1 research university in the heart of Denver. Families who choose DU often do so for its unique combination of strong global programs, a nationally ranked business school, and a reputation in international affairs through the Korbel School. These strengths translate into real pipelines for jobs, internships, and graduate study.

• Daniels College of Business: Ranked in the Top 100 undergraduate business programs nationwide by U.S. News (2024); strong ties to Denver’s finance and consulting sectors.
• Study Abroad (Cherrington Global Scholars): One of the few programs in the country that lets students apply their DU tuition and financial aid directly to study abroad at partner universities, making global experience financially accessible.
• Law (Sturm College of Law): While graduate-level, its presence creates undergraduate pathways into legal research and public policy; DU Law is nationally noted for trial advocacy and environmental law.
• R1 Research Classification: As the only private R1 in the Rocky Mountain region, DU offers undergraduates access to faculty-led research across disciplines, from the natural sciences to social policy.

📎 Official Links

• University of Denver — Homepage
• University Honors Program
• Scholarships & Financial Aid (Undergraduate)

Links verified current as of September 24, 2025.

Final Thoughts

The University of Denver combines the opportunities of a private R1 research university with strong automatic merit scholarships and a wide range of hidden-gem programs like study abroad cost-parity, ROTC, and Indigenous scholarships. While it doesn’t have a flagship full-ride for freshmen, families can layer automatic merit with need-based aid, CSS Profile grants, and targeted programs to make DU far more affordable than the sticker price suggests. For students drawn to international affairs, business, or global experiences, DU offers a compelling blend of academics and support that can truly pay off.

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