Preparing leaders for government and nonprofits
Lead. Solve. Change.
Public affairs topics are at the center of almost every national debate.
From education policy to affordable housing, criminal justice reform to energy independence, these issues affect our neighborhoods, our cities and our society as a whole. To move forward and find solutions, the country needs leaders and collaborators with in-depth knowledge and a long-term vision.
Determined to make a difference in your community?
As Colorado’s top school for public affairs, public administration and criminal justice, CU Denver School of Public Affairs is a great place to start.
U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings
#1 Best Public Affairs Program in Colorado (#28 in the nation)
#1 in Environmental Policy and Management in Colorado (#9 in the nation)
#1 in Nonprofit Management in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Local Government in Colorado (#21 in the nation)
#1 in Public Policy Analysis in Colorado (#29 in the nation)
#2 Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in Colorado (#20 in the nation)
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Learn more about our Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration programs.
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Learn more about our Master of Criminal Justice, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Public Policy programs.
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Learn more about our Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs program.
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Learn more about our non-degree, graduate certificate programs.
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Application deadlines
Bachelor's programs: July 31
Master's programs: August 1*
Doctoral program: February 1*
Certificate programs: August 21
*Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration and PhD in Public Affairs programs.
View admission requirements and application instructions
Bachelor's programs: December 31
Master's programs: December 1*
Certificate programs: January 22
*Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration program.
View admission requirements and application instructions
Bachelor's programs: May 27
Master's programs: May 1*
Certificate programs: June 11
*Applications are accepted for the fall term only for the accelerated Master of Public Administration program.
View admission requirements and application instructions
Featured events
Attend our events
We host a robust program of events each year featuring distinguished practitioners, government and nonprofit leaders, media, and others. We hope you'll us!
SPA One Year Masters of Public Administration Overview Webinar
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05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cost/fee: Free During this one-hour webinar, you will learn about our Accelerated (one year) Masters of Public Administration Program. We will discuss course offerings, admission requirements, and more. You will have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the presentation.
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SPA Masters of Criminal Justice Overview Webinar
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12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Cost/fee: Free During this one-hour webinar, you will learn about our Masters of Criminal Justice Program. We will discuss course offerings, admission requirements, and how we prepare you to be a leader and change-maker in your field. You will have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the presentation.
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SPA Master of Public Policy Overview Webinar
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12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Cost/fee: Free During this one-hour webinar, you will learn about our Masters of Public Policy Program. We will discuss course offerings, admission requirements, and how we prepare you to design, analyze, influence, and implement policy in your field. You will have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the presentation.
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Save the Date: First Fridays
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08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Cost/fee: Free Our signature First Fridays with the School of Public Affairs event series covers a wide range of pressing issues and features panelists representing a diversity of viewpoints. The events are held in person and virtually most months during the fall and spring semesters.
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Featured news
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A multi-generational family of alumni reminisces about their shared appreciation of their time at the School of Public Affairs
Aug 21, 2023 byThe School of Public Affairs recently had the honor of sitting down with a unique trio of alumni – Elsa Holguín (MPA '11), her husband Ed Lucero (MPA '98), and her daughter Denise Gomez (MPA '16) – a multi-generational example of the impact of SPA’s programs in the greater community.Full story -
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Six Questions for SPA Alum Kristin Wegner Guilfoyle, Project Leader at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis
Jul 19, 2023Kristin Wegner Guilfoyle works at the intersection of technology, environment, and society. She currently leads networks at the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA), at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).Full story -
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Six Questions for SPA Alum Greg LeBlanc, Assistant Town Manager of Snowmass Village
Jul 7, 2023Greg LeBlanc joined the Town of Snowmass Village in March of 2022 after serving for five years with the City of Grand Junction, Colorado. Prior positions include serving Boulder County, Colorado and the City and County of Denver. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology (Ecology) from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver.Full story -
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Six Questions for SPA Alum Tony Frank, Director of Business Development for PCs for People
Jun 29, 2023Tony Frank is the Director of Business Development for PCs for People. He is based in the Denver office where he develops partnerships with businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, affordable housing organizations, schools, and other community groups to ensure PCs for People is maximizing the impact of providing affordable computers and low-cost internet across Colorado. He holds a Master of Public Administration with a Local Government Policy concentration from the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs.Full story -
-(1).jpg?sfvrsn=92035bb_0 "Melinda Pollack 2 (1) (1)")
Six Questions for SPA Alum Melinda Pollack, Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners
Jun 23, 2023Melinda Pollack, Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners, provides strategic and executional leadership on critical business priorities and leads innovation efforts which will expand Blue Meridian’s work as it evolves. She explores new philanthropic investment opportunities, leads due diligence on potential Blue Meridian investees, and manages relationships with current investees, with a focus on Place Matters. Melinda earned a BA at George Washington University and an MPA from the University of Colorado, Denver.Full story -
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Six Questions for SPA Alum Carol Peeples, Founder and Executive Director of Remerg
Jun 14, 2023Carol was raised in a military family - spending formative years moving between England, Arizona, Mississippi, Turkey, New Jersey, Hawaii, and then Missouri - where her family has its roots. Her educational and career path wandered as well, from a degree in Antiquities and New World Archeology that led from “shovel bum” to managing a bookstore, to undergraduate and graduate degrees in English that led to teaching in Montana, a Native American village in Alaska, and international schools in Pakistan and the Czech Republic. The move to Colorado from Prague was a turning point in Carol’s life, followed by walking into a prison classroom as a GED teacher. Twenty-four years later, Carol’s work remains related to that first prison experience. Carol credits her SPA education for providing her with a public policy lens for her work in re-entry and its role in the public safety sphere.Full story -
Six Questions for SPA Alum Anneliese Steel, Senior Director of Public Affairs for Colorado Concern
Jun 7, 2023Anneliese Steel is the Senior Director of Public Affairs for Colorado Concern, an executive alliance committed to protecting and enhancing the Centennial state's business economy. She manages a robust policy portfolio, including issue research, legislative drafting, lobbying, and public testimony, along with member and media relations. She helped champion the successful passage of $5.3 billion dollars in funding for the 10-Year Transportation Plan, secure over $700 million in property tax relief, achieve substantial occupational licensing reform, and create a new rulemaking transparency website for the state of Colorado.Full story -
School of Public Affairs moves up in U.S. News rankings, maintains position as top public affairs school in Colorado
Apr 25, 2023 byU.S. News & World Report today released its 2024 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, in which the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is ranked number 28 in the nation overall for public affairs programs, alongside Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University – Newark, and Texas A&M University – College Station, up one position from the 2023 rankings.Full story