University of Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

DU, The University of Denver
CW221 / Wikimedia Commons

The University of Denver is a private research university with an acceptance rate of 59%. Located about seven miles from downtown Denver, the University of Denver's main campus offers students easy access to both outdoor activities and an urban center. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, DU was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. DU offers over 100 undergraduate degree programs and 120 graduate degree programs. In athletics, the University of Denver Pioneers compete primarily in the NCAA Division I Summit League. Winter sports such as skiing and hockey are particularly strong at DU.

Considering applying to University of Denver? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of Denver had an acceptance rate of 59%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 59 students were admitted, making DU's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 21,028
Percent Admitted 59%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 11%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2019-20 admissions cycle, University of Denver adopted a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to DU may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 55% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 590 670
Math 580 680
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Denver's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to University of Denver scored between 590 and 670, while 25% scored below 590 and 25% scored above 670. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 580 and 680, while 25% scored below 580 and 25% scored above 680. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1350 or higher is competitive for University of Denver.

Requirements

University of Denver does not require SAT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, note that DU participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. University of Denver does not require the essay portion of the SAT or SAT Subject tests.

Students who are recruited athletes, home-schooled students, and those who attend high schools that do not provide letter grades will still be required to submit SAT or ACT scores. In addition, applicants to the 6-year Bachelor/JD Program are required to submit standardized test scores.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2019-20 admissions cycle, University of Denver adopted a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 55% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 25 33
Math 24 29
Composite 26 31

This admissions data tells us that most of DU's admitted students fall within the top 18% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to University of Denver received a composite ACT score between 26 and 31, while 25% scored above 31 and 25% scored below 26.

Requirements

Note that University of Denver does not require ACT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, University of Denver participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. DU does not require the ACT writing section.

Students who are recruited athletes, home-schooled students, and those who attend high schools that do not provide letter grades will still be required to submit SAT or ACT scores. In addition, applicants to the 6-year Bachelor/JD Program are required to submit standardized test scores.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of University of Denver's incoming class had high school GPAs between 3.6 and 4.0. 25% had a GPA above 4.0, and 25% had a GPA below 3.6. These results suggest that most successful applicants to University of Denver have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Denver Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Denver Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Denver. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of Denver, which accepts just over half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, DU also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of University of Denver's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most admitted students had high school GPAs of "A-" or higher, a combined SAT score of 1100 or higher, and an ACT composite score of 22 or better. Since University of Denver is test optional, grades are more important than test scores in the admissions process.

If You Like University of Denver, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Denver Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/university-of-denver-du-admissions-787254. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 26). University of Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-denver-du-admissions-787254 Grove, Allen. "University of Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-denver-du-admissions-787254 (accessed March 29, 2024).