University of Colorado Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Aerial view of campus with a green field in the foreground and skyscrapers in the background
An aerial view of the Denver campus.

Courtesy of University of Colorado Denver 

University of Colorado Denver is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 64%. Located in Denver, UCD is one of the three institutions that make up the University of Colorado system. The university offers over 100 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs through its eight schools and colleges. The most popular undergraduate programs are biology, psychology, music, fine arts, and architecture. Campus life is active, and students can participate in more than 120 clubs and organizations, ranging from academic clubs, to honor societies, to performing arts groups. The university has many athletic facilities but does not compete in an NAIA or NCAA conference.

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

Acceptance Rate

During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, University of Colorado Denver had an acceptance rate of 64%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 64 students were admitted, making UCD's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2017-18)
Number of Applicants 11,315
Percent Admitted 64%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 24%

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Colorado Denver requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 80% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 510 610
Math 510 600
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Colorado 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 UCD scored between 510 and 610, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 610. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 510 and 600, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 600. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1210 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at University of Colorado Denver.

Requirements

University of Colorado Denver does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that UCD participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of Colorado Denver requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 35% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 20 26
Math 19 26
Composite 21 26

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Colorado Denver's admitted students fall within the top 42% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UCD received a composite ACT score between 21 and 26, while 25% scored above 26 and 25% scored below 21.

Requirements

The University of Colorado Denver does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, UCD superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2018, the average high school GPA of University of Colorado Denver's incoming freshmen class was 3.49, and over 51% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.5 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UCD have primarily high B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Colorado Denver Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Colorado 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 Colorado 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

The University of Colorado Denver, which accepts over half of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions pool with above average grades and test scores. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average range, you have a strong chance of being accepted. The University of Colorado Denver generally admits applicants with a cumulative weighted high school GPA between 3.23 and 3.93, a minimum ACT score between 21 to 27, and a minimum SAT score between 1070 and 1260. The university also wants to see that applicants have completed a college preparatory curriculum that includes four years of English and math; three years of natural sciences and social studies; one year of a single foreign language; and two years of academic electives.

Note that admission standards and application procedures are not the same for all programs at the university. Admission to the music program requires an audition, and programs in architecture, business administration, film and television, engineering, and nursing have tougher admission standards and/or additional admission requirements.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent applicants who were admitted. You can see that the great majority had an ACT composite score of 19 or higher, a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of 1000 or better, and a high school GPA of 2.5 (a "C+" / "B-") or higher.

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

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

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Grove, Allen. "University of Colorado Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/university-colorado-denver-gpa-sat-act-786331. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). University of Colorado Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-colorado-denver-gpa-sat-act-786331 Grove, Allen. "University of Colorado Denver: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-colorado-denver-gpa-sat-act-786331 (accessed March 28, 2024).