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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
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.