Admissions Overview
From DU
At the University of Denver, you’ll be part of a culture that enriches every member of the DU community and advances the greater good. Our students are diversely talented and find many ways to contribute outside of academia, whether it’s through sports, the arts, community service, employment or student government.
Overall, our committee takes a holistic approach in considering a number of factors when shaping our class each year. While academic success is the main factor in our admission decisions, we value your essays and letters of recommendation, as well as your extracurricular activities. These help us learn how you can make a difference during your time at DU and how you’ll impact our community. DU has been test-optional since 2019.
You can apply to the University of Denver using the Common App at commonapp.org. You have the full support of the DU admission office. We’ll help to ensure the process is smooth so you can focus on your future.
DU offers both binding and non-binding options for both of our deadlines – Regular Decision and Early Action are non-binding, while Early Decision I and Early Decision II are both binding decisions that offer additional perks to applicants.
If you are considering applying Early Decision, DU Early Decision incentives include:
- Additional $5,000 annual merit scholarship
- DU meets full demonstrated need of top performers
- Earlier admission and financial aid notifications
- Stronger consideration for admission
Is Denver test-optional?
University of Denver is test-optional, which means that it does not require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores. That means that some students will submit their test scores and others will not. If you choose not to submit your ACT or SAT score, the admissions officers will weigh your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and interviews more heavily. If you are not sure whether you should submit your standardized test scores, our guide on submitting scores to test-optional schools can help.
What SAT/ACT score do you need to get into University of Denver?
Colleges use standardized tests like the SAT and ACT as one of many factors to determine their admissions decisions. A high score on one of these tests does not guarantee admission to a college, and a low score does not guarantee rejection. However, the majority of accepted applicants to University of Denver receive between a 28 and a 32 on their ACT, or a 1175 and a 1360 on their SAT.
Regular Decision
Early Decision I
Early Decision II
Early Action
What is the application deadline at Denver?
Students must apply by January 15 to enroll at Denver during the fall semester. Remember that college applications involve many pieces, including essays, a transcript, letters of recommendation, and more. Be sure to start your application as soon as you can to make sure you have enough time to make it as compelling as possible.
At Denver students also have the opportunity to apply Early Decision. In order to take advantage of this option, you’ll have to have your application in by November 1.
You can also choose to apply Early Decision II, with a later deadline of January 15.
And if you’re considering applying Early Action at Denver, remember that the deadline is November 1.
Should I apply Regular or Early Decision to Denver?
Applying to Denver with Early Decision can be a great decision if you are 100% sure you want to go there. You’ll find out your admissions decision earlier than other students, and some data shows that you may help your admissions chances. However, you should keep in mind that Early Decision is binding. If you do get into the school, you won’t be able to change your mind later. If there is any doubt in your mind, you should apply Early Action or Regular Decision instead.
Read more: All you need to know about Early Action vs Early Decision
Should I apply Early Action at Denver?
Early Action is a great option for students who want to hear back from a college before the Regular Decision admissions are released. At some colleges, applying Early Action can also help your admissions chances. However, this varies on a college-by-college basis, so it will not always give you a boost.
Be on the lookout for Single Choice Early Action or Restricted Early Action options. These are not the same as Early Action, and although they can be great options for some students, they are not a good fit for everyone. If you’re considering applying for Single Choice Early Action or Restricted Early Action, be sure to read the college’s admissions website carefully. Make sure that these restrictions fit with your college admissions plan.
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