University of Denver is a well-reputed private institution based in Denver, Colorado. It is a mid-sized school with about 12,000 undergraduate students. The admissions are fairly selective with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 71%. Business, Social Sciences, Psychology, International Studies, and Engineering are some of the most sought-after majors. The six-year graduation rate is around 77%, and the DU graduates have a median starting salary of about INR 7,20,000 (around $86,000 median income ten years after graduation).
University of Colorado Boulder is a highly ranked public research university in Boulder, Colorado. It is a large public school with around 30,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are somewhat competitive with a total acceptance rate of roughly 81%. Popular majors are Engineering, Business, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate over six years is approximately 70%, and the CU Boulder graduates earn a median starting salary of approximately INR 6,80,000 (approximately $81,000 median earnings after ten years of graduation).
| University of Denver | University of Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.2 Out of 10 | 5.7 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 501 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1001 QS World University 2026 # 601 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 159 Times Higher Education 2026 # 299 QS World University 2026 # 75 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 181 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 401 for Medicine by Times Higher Education 2022 # 251 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 20 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 46 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -74 PG Programs -47 Doctorate Programs -1 | UG Programs -85 PG Programs -65 |
| Acceptance Rate | 71.0 % | 81.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1160 TOEFL-80 | GMAT-693 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1150 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 44700 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 34128 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 27858 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 39020 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 33946 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26426 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Six months after commencement, 92.1% of undergraduates, 93.5% of master’s students and 95.1% of doctoral students were employed, enrolled in continuing education or in service/military activities. Graduates of the Daniels College of Business and the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science had the highest average salaries among recent graduates, at $96,805 and $87,692, respectively. | Graduate Employability Ranking: #201-250. More than 300 companies hired 805 Business graduates last year with 6.48% beig international students. Prominent companies visiting the campus are Deloitte, EY, Oracle, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, Gusto, RSM, Fortune 100. |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit English language requirements Check program specific requirements | Country Specific Course Work Requirements. |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.2/10 Read 2 reviews | 7.4/10 Read 5 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 201 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 97 for Business by US News 2025 # 601 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 79 for Business by US News 2025 # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 401 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 115/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 54/90TOEFL - 80/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -48000 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -35098 |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) | Mar 5, 2025 (Final Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Jul 30, 2025 (GyanDhan Postgraduate Scholarship Deadline) Aug 1, 2025 (Course Start Date for 2025 Intake) Oct 7, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Dec 2, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Feb 3, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Feb 5, 2026 (Tuition and fee bill payment deadline) Feb 13, 2026 (Enrollment deadline for Health Insurance Selection) |
| ranking | # 186 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 401 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2023 | # 39 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 151 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 351 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 83/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -44700 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -41924 |
| application dates | Nov 1, 2024 (Early Action Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) Jan 15, 2025 (Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) | Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2025 Intake) Nov 15, 2025 (Early Application Deadline For Fall and summer 2025 Intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Regular Application Deadline For Fall and summer 2026 Intake) Mar 15, 2026 (CU Boulder Scholarship Application Deadline) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Denver | University of Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1864 | 1876 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 19:1 |
| Male:Female | 47% Male, 53% Female | 51% Male, 49% Female |
| Location Facts | The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado. | CU Boulder campus is located south of Pearl Street Mall and east of Chautauqua Auditorium. It is ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. The engineering center houses the largest geotechnical centrifuge of the US. Museum of natural history, Mary Rippon Theatre, Macky Auditorium and Memorial Center are major attractions in and around the campus. |
| Library | The university library offers a rich collection of books, journals, primary sources, and media, but beyond the collections, it connects students, faculty, staff, and the broader University community to knowledge. Scholarly information is offered in a variety of formats and the library strives to make access to this knowledge as straightforward as possible for its students. | The university holds 5 libraries: Busineer Library features Course reserves, Earth Sciences and Map Library has National Geologic Map Database, Engineering, Math and Physics Library has vast collection of ANSI, ASTM standards, Waltz Music Library houses music research collection and Norlin Library stacks exclusive Asian studies collection. Total collection of Titles is over 6.8 million, Electronic Books is 1. 3 million and Volumes (print and electronic) is 8.8 million. |
| Campus Life | Students live on campus for their first two years at the university, so the community is constantly infused with new faces, ideas and experiences. Whether you test your wings in a living and learning community, club sports, or any of the student organizations based on campus, you're sure to find a home at the university. With five residence halls, a range of dining options and easy access to the Mile High City, students enjoy a range of facilities. Food options mere steps away from campus range from pizza to Thai and Lebanese, and with the rest of the city a bicycle or train ride away, you'll have the the opportunity to take advantage of Denver's growing and diverse cultural scene. Whether your tastes run toward taco trucks or tasting menus, thrift stores or boutiques, museums or mosh pits, Denver offers excitement and inspiration. Originally designed as an arboretum, the tree-lined campus offers extensive space for outdoor activities. The Newman Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 400 theater, music and dance performances a year, from student plays to internationally touring musicians. Participate in sport and fitness activities at the Ritchie Center, which serves as a venue for many of our club and intramural sports. It also houses the Coors Fitness Center, where swimmers and ice skaters can take advantage of the Olympic-sized pool and the Joy Burns Arena. | University houses numerous organisations like the Hiking Club (longest running student organisation from 1919), KVCU AM-1190 known as Radio 1190, Boulder Freeride (Ski and Snowboard club), CU Cycling Club, Left Right TIM Improv Comedy, Umbrella Improv initiative. The Herd is the largest student alumni group in the US. Campus is known for its eateries with students preferring center for community, St Paddys iand Halloweekend are the biggest party events of the year. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $12612 #Off campus (not with family) - $12612 #Off campus (with family) - $2634 | #Off campus (not with family) - $12428 #On campus - $13998 |
| Famous Alumni | Henry Otley Beyer, father of anthropology and ethnology in the Philippines. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman/CEO of Emirates Airlines | Kristin Davis (Actress), John Fante (Writer), Jared Polis (Governor of Colorado), Jack Collom (Poet),Albert Allen Bartlett (Professor), Scott Jurek (Public Speaker), Michael Grab (Photographer), Bill Bower (Pilot), Kimbal Musk (Philanthropist), Chief Niwot (Tribal Leader), Larry Sellers (Actor), Evans Woollen III (Architect), Phil Plait (Astronomer). |
| City Life | From sunny weather to winter sports, beautiful architecture to extensive parks, high-tech startups to farm-to-table restaurants, the city offers something for everyone. It offers great music too, including concerts at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater, an outdoor venue built of rock. This explains why it is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Denver has convenient public transportation, including bus, rail, and light rail. It is a top-five cycling city, with more than 196 on-street bike lanes. Denver also offers car, bike, and electric scooter rentals. Denver has more than 200 parks within the city, including nearby City Park, home to 330 acres of green spaces and the Denver Zoo. There are also more than 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains. Denver grows fresh produce throughout the city, including at the Colorado Convention Center’s Blue Bear Farm. | Located at the foothills of Rocky Mountain, Boulder is the municipality of Colorado. The city is prominently known for its art, health, well-being, quality of life and education. Surrounded by thousands of acres of recreational spaces and parks, events like Polar Bear Plunge, Naked Pumpkin Run, Boulder Cruiser Ride are eye catching. USA Rugby is headquartered in the city. Unemployment rate of the county is 9.2% as of June 2020 but there was a rise of 3% in non-farm payroll jobs past year mainly contributed by business service sector, leisure and hospitality. |
| Weather |
University of Denver vs University of Colorado Boulder
Subject Strength & International Rankings (2025/2026)
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) has a much more powerful international position than the University of Denver (DU). CU Boulder is ranked 299 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, whereas DU is much lower, placed in the 1001–1200 range. The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings place CU Boulder at 143, far ahead of DU at 601–800. In the US News Global Rankings 2026, CU Boulder is ranked 107 while DU is ranked 1117. CU Boulder is specifically known for its environmental sciences, physics, aerospace engineering, and earth sciences programs, while DU is most famous for international relations, business, and law.
General Information
The University of Denver, which was established in 1864, is a private research university with approximately 12,000 students. It focuses on liberal arts, business, and law, and has the highly regarded Josef Korbel School of International Studies.
The University of Colorado Boulder, founded in 1876, is a public flagship research university with over 36,000 students. It is a member of the University of Colorado system and is renowned internationally for its space sciences, engineering, and environmental sustainability research.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
CU Boulder's acceptance rate is 81%, so it is generally open, although some of its engineering and science programs are more competitive.
DU is a bit more selective with an acceptance rate of 71%, especially competitive in business, law, and international relations programs.
Research Impact & Facilities
CU Boulder is an R1 research university with state-of-the-art research institutions, including collaborations with NASA, NOAA, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Its research profile is specifically robust in space, energy, and climate sciences.
DU, though smaller in size, has impressive research strengths in international studies, public policy, business, and social sciences, reinforced through strong faculty-student interaction and targeted research centers.
Cost & Financial Aid
As a public institution, CU Boulder charges lower in-state tuition, but out-of-state and international students pay more. DU, being a private school, has higher overall tuition but offers comprehensive merit- and need-based scholarships that can heavily discount the price for eligible students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
CU Boulder graduates are in great demand in tech, aerospace, energy, and research-intensive sectors, and are strongly connected to national labs and corporations.
DU graduates have a strong reputation in business, law, and international diplomacy, and many of its graduates go on to become leaders in policy, global institutions, and corporate leadership.
