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Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships
Tuition & Residency
Tuition is the amount a student pays for instruction per semester hour at a college or university. Tuition costs are often listed along with additional fees that all students must pay. These fees cover anything from the student wellness center and AHEC facility operation costs to student support services. Tuition and fees are approved by the University of Colorado Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of Colorado, and may change from those shown here without prior notice. View the latest tuition rates and fees.
Who qualifies for discounted tuition?
Out-of-state students from Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states can attend CU Denver at a discounted tuition rate through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program—saving you more than $11,000 every year compared to the nonresident tuition rate, based on enrollment in 15 credit hours per semester. Admitted students who indicate they're legal residents of a WICHE state on the application for admission, based on their permanent address, are automatically classified as a WUE students. Learn more.
Who qualifies for the resident tuition rate?
- Residents of the following U.S. States and Territories [through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)]: Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federal State of Micronesia, Republic of Palau.
- Members of American Indian Tribes with Historical Ties to Colorado: View the list of eligible tribes and required documentation.
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers: Learn about the required documentation and certification.
- Residents of the following qualifying countries enrolled in the Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy programs: People’s Republic of China and Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan).
- Military-connected students living in Colorado may be able to receive in-state residency for tuition purposes as designated by Federal or State Law. Please review the information on the Veteran and Military Student Services website.
Who qualifies for the non-resident, online tuition rate?
If you reside outside of Colorado, are a degree-seeking student, and are taking courses exclusively online, you are eligible for the non-resident, online tuition rate of 120% of the resident tuition rate, which can be applied to participating main campus courses only and excludes non-degree seeking programs (e.g., graduate certificate programs) and extended study courses. Learn more about residency status.
Financial Aid
CU Denver’s Financial Aid & Scholarships Office provides a wealth of information on how to finance your education. Once you familiarize yourself with important financial aid and scholarships deadlines, be sure to:
Apply for financial aid (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens; learn about financial aid and scholarships resources for undocumented students.)
If interested, find student employment
Scholarships
CU Denver Scholarships
Students who are admitted to CU Denver will be given access to Scholarship Universe, a database of scholarship opportunities for CU Denver students. Students can search the database and apply for scholarships for which they meet the eligibility criteria. Additionally, students may be automatically considered for some scholarships. Learn more about the scholarship process and additional support to help students with their scholarship applications.
School of Public Affairs Scholarships
The School of Public Affairs strives to remove financial barriers to attaining a higher education by awarding scholarships and assistantships valued at more than $500,000 each year. View our scholarship opportunities, listed below, including information on eligibility requirements, deadlines, and amounts awarded. Admitted students who wish to apply for School of Public Affairs scholarships may do so through Scholarship Universe.
Private Scholarships
In addition to scholarships offered through CU Denver and the School of Public Affairs, students may wish to search and apply for private scholarships. Recommended resources include:
Fellowships, Assistantships & Work-Study Positions
In collaboration with its community partners, the School of Public Affairs offers eligible, degree-seeking graduate students the opportunity to participate in the following fellowship programs.