The University of Denver was initially founded in 1864 as Colorado Seminary by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The seminary was established to re-educate the city’s growing population of young adults that had been displaced by the Civil War. Initially, the university only offered classes in theology and literature, but it quickly grew to include courses in sciences, mathematics, and modern languages. In 1880, the school changed its name to University of Denver and began awarding degrees in a variety of disciplines. By 1893, it had grown to offer courses in law, engineering, pharmacy and dentistry.
In 1910, DU moved to its current location on the south side of Denver and opened a new campus with an impressive library and several state-of-the-art buildings. The following decades saw further expansion as DU began offering graduate programs in business administration (1917), education (1918) and social work (1920). In 1925 DU became a member of the Association of American Universities – an elite group of research institutions – making it one of only two universities in Colorado at that time to receive this prestigious honor. Check LOCALCOLLEGEEXPLORER for a list of community colleges in Indiana.
In 1945 DU purchased its first computer – a UNIVAC I – making it one of the earliest universities with access to computing technology. Since then DU has continued to invest heavily in technology infrastructure resulting in one of the best IT systems among universities today. Over time DU has also expanded its academic offerings with new departments such as computer science (founded 1965), psychology (1966), communication studies (1970) and media studies (2003). Today DU enrolls over 11,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world while continuing to uphold its long tradition of academic excellence through teaching, research and service initiatives.
University of Denver, as one of the top colleges ranked by major educational institutions, has impressed us by its high selectivity and student friendly application process during admissions. The following tables detail 2018 class profile, including total applications received, average high school GPA, SAT scores/ACT scores, and acceptance rates of University of Denver. To learn more about GPA, SAT and ACT scores information, please follow the links below. If you want to find even more about University of Denver, such as tuition fees and scholarships, you can click the link after tables to visit the school’s official website.
Official website: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/ud_university-of-denver.html
Admissions Stats
The University of Denver is a highly competitive school, with an overall acceptance rate of 56%. The admissions process is selective, with the average admitted student having a GPA of 3.7 and an SAT score between 1140 and 1330. The university also has a holistic approach to admissions, taking into consideration extracurricular activities, community service, leadership experiences, and work experience. Additionally, the university requires two letters of recommendation from teachers or counselors who can speak to the student’s academic performance and potential.
In addition to these requirements, the University of Denver also looks for applicants who demonstrate interest in the school by visiting campus or attending events. The school has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. In 2020, nearly one-third of students enrolled were from underrepresented minority groups such as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous American/Alaskan Native and Pacific Islander/Hawaiian Native students. Furthermore, more than 20% of enrolled students are international citizens coming from more than 60 countries around the world.
Fall 2022 Selectivity
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2022 acceptance rate | 72% |
| Early decision acceptance rate | N/A |
| Early action acceptance rate | 87% |
| Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students) | 64% |
Fall 2022 Applications, Acceptances & Enrollments
| Applicants | 9,337 |
| Female applicants | 4,989 |
| Male applicants | 4,348 |
| Applicants accepted | 6,683 |
| Female applicants accepted | 3,828 |
| Male applicants accepted | 2,855 |
| Freshman enrollment | 1,226 |
| Female freshman enrollment | 668 |
| Male freshman enrollment | 558 |
| Early decision applicants | N/A |
| Early decision applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early decision applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Early action applicants | 3,113 |
| Early action applicants accepted | 2,694 |
| Early action applicants enrolled | 567 |
| Total enrolled incoming freshmen who were accepted under early acceptance or early action | 46% |
Fall 2022 Wait List
| School has a wait list | Yes |
| Applicants placed on wait list | 1,144 |
| Students accepting place on wait list | 523 |
| Students accepted from wait list | 12 |
Fall 2022 High School Rank
| Freshman students submitting high school class standing | 50% |
Fall 2022 High School GPA
| Freshman students submitting high school GPA | 85% |
| Average high school GPA | 3.7 |
| High school GPA 25th-75th percentile range | 3.5-4 |
Fall 2022 Freshman SAT Scores
| Freshman students submitting SAT scores | 50% |
| SAT Critical Reading average score | 596 |
| SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range | 540-650 |
| SAT Math average score | 610 |
| SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range: | 560-680 |
| SAT Writing average score | 581 |
| SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range | 530-640 |
| SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman ACT Scores
| Freshman students submitting ACT scores | 73% |
| Average ACT Composite score | 27 |
| ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range | 25-30 |
| ACT English 25th-75th percentile range | 24-31 |
| ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range | 24-29 |