Cost to Attend DU

Graduate Financial Aid

As you plan for your graduate education at DU, it's critical to make sure your program is the right financial investment for you and your professional goals. To help you navigate the cost of attending graduate school, we make the tuition and fees of a DU education clear, ensuring you understand all direct and indirect expenses and are empowered to take advantage of available financial resources.

How Do I Find My Graduate School Cost of Attendance?

Once you are admitted to DU and apply for financial aid, you'll receive your financial aid offer, which includes a cost of attendance (COA). The  tuition and fees components of your COA are calculated using the average enrollment of students in your particular program, while housing, meals, and transportation are based on estimates provided by the state of Colorado.  To comply with federal regulations, DU will not make changes student budgets based on discretionary expenses. However, adjustments to your COA may be requested for specified reasons outlined on the budget adjustment form. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and do not guarantee additional financial aid.

The COA on your financial aid offer serves two purposes:

  1. to give you an estimate of your program cost at DU for one year, and
  2. to set a limit on the amount of financial aid you can receive during the academic year.

Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, each student's COA will be evaluated after the first week of each term and adjusted, if necessary, to ensure that cost amounts and indirect cost allowances reflect their actual enrollment. 

Federal regulations require us to set a limit on the amount of aid you can receive.  Your total aid—including scholarships, assistantships/fellowships, loans, work-study, and other resources (such as AmeriCorps and employer-paid tuition benefits)—cannot exceed the cost of attendance listed on your financial aid offer. 

Unless otherwise noted on your financial aid offer, your cost of attendance will not include costs for the summer term. A separate financial aid application will be made available in the spring for students who plan to enroll in the summer term. 

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Estimate Your Out-of-Pocket Costs

To help you calculate your out-of-pocket costs after your financial aid is applied, complete an estimated billing worksheet. Make sure to have your most recent financial aid offer to ensure you get an accurate estimate.

Estimate Your Bill

Cost of Attendance Examples

These are just a few cost of attendance examples for graduate students. Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the cost of attendance used in your financial aid offer will be based the average enrollment of students in your program. 

Social Work Student

Sample Cost of Attendance

Enrolled 13 credits per quarter

Figures are based on estimated expenses for 3 quarters (fall, winter and spring) for a new student enrolled in the Graduate School of Social Work on-campus master's program for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Billable Costs:
(Billed by DU)		 Tuition
   13 credits per quarter		 $52,260
  Fees $1281
  Health Insurance $4,400
  Subtotal $57,941
Non-Billable Costs: Books (Course materials, supplies, & equipment) $1,000
  Housing $12,807
  Food $4,635
  Transportation $1,383
  Personal Expenses $1,782
  Loan Fees $154
  Total Cost of Attendance $79,702

Engineering Student

Sample Cost of Attendance

Enrolled in 8 credit per quarter

Figures are based on estimated expenses for 3 quarters (fall, winter and spring) for a new student enrolled part-time in a Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science master's program for the 2026-2027 academic year .

Billable Costs:
(Billed by DU)		 Tuition
   8 credits per quarter		 $41,232
  Fees $1,281
  Health Insurance $4,400
  Subtotal $46,913
Non-Billable Costs: Books (Course materials, supplies, & equipment) $1,000
  Housing $12,807
  Food $4,635
  Transportation $1,383
  Personal Expenses $1,782
  Loan Fees $154
  Total Cost of Attendance $68,674

Online Student

Sample Cost of Attendance

Online Student

Figures are based on estimated expenses for 4 quarters (fall, winter, spring and summer) for a new student enrolled one class each term in the College of Professional Studies online master's program for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Billable Costs:
(Billed by DU)		 Tuition
   one class per quarter		 $13,056
  Fees $96
  Subtotal $13,152
Non-Billable Costs: Books (Course materials, supplies, & equipment) $667
  Housing $12,807
  Food $4,635
  Transportation $1,383
  Personal Expenses $1,782
  Loan Fees $154
  Total Cost of Attendance $34,580

Law Student

Sample Cost of Attendance

Enrolled in 15 credits per semester

Figures are based on estimated expenses for 2 semesters (fall and spring) for a student enrolled full-time in the Sturm College of Law JD program for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Billable Costs:
(Billed by DU)		 Tuition
   15 credits per semester		 $63,390
  Fees $1,226
  Health Insurance $4,400
  Subtotal $69,016
Non-Billable Costs: Books (Course materials, supplies, & equipment $1,000
  Housing $12,807
  Food $4,635
  Transportation $1,383
  Personal Expenses $1,782
  Loan Fees $198
  Total Cost of Attendance $90,821

Billable vs. Non Billable Costs

Cost of attendance is made up of both billable and non-billable costs.

Billable Costs

Billable costs, also referred to as Direct Costs, are charges that appear on your DU bill, which you receive each quarter or semester you're enrolled. These include tuition, fees, and health insurance (if enrolled in the DU plan).

All financial aid you receive, including student loans, first pay toward your bill, so you pay less than the full amount of billable costs listed for your program once your aid is applied.

Non-Billable Costs

Non-billable costs, also referred to as Indirect Costs, do not appear on your bill. Instead, these are estimated expenses associated with attending graduate school, such as books, off-campus housing, meals, and transportation. 

Many full-time graduate students choose to borrow student loans to help pay for these additional expenses. Please remember the total amount of your financial aid can't exceed the cost of attendance listed on your aid offer.

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How is the Cost of Attendance Calculated?

Most students will see the following items included in their cost of attendance:

  • Tuition: The tuition amount listed on your financial aid offer is based on the average enrollment of students in your program. The amount you actually pay, however, depends on the number of credits you take each quarter or semester. 
    • Please note: Although your COA assumes a certain number of credits per term, you may request adjustments using the Enrollment Adjustment form described in the next section.
    • For federal student aid eligibility, four credits per quarter/semester, is required
  • Fees: DU charges all graduate students a technology fee of $8 per credit and may also charge a student activity fee of $14. Your bill itemizes the specific fees for your program. Review fees for the upcoming academic year.
  • Health Insurance: Many full-time graduate students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the DU Student Health Insurance Program. If covered by another plan, you can waive participation in this plan.
  • Books (Course materials, supplies, and equipment): This is an estimate of the cost of books and supplies for a typical student in your program. DU does not bill you directly for books or supplies.
  • Housing & Meals: This is an estimate of the cost of off-campus housing and food in the University of Denver area, determined by the recommended guidelines published by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Your actual housing and food expenses may differ. 
  • Transportation: This is an estimate of the cost of traveling to and from campus or other transportation needs related to your graduate program. Unless you buy a DU parking permit, you are not billed directly for transportation expenses.
  • Personal Expenses: This is an estimate of other day-to-day costs, such as clothing, haircuts, entertainment, etc. Money spent on these items may vary from student to student.
  • Loan Fees: There is an origination fee for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, which is taken out of the loan before DU receives the funds. The cost listed for loan fees is the average fee for students who borrowed these loans last year—actual fees depend on the amount borrowed.
photo of student studying

Enrollment Adjustments for Graduate Students

The cost of attendance is calculated based on the average enrollment for students in the program. Your financial aid offer will reflect the number of credits used to determine both your cost of attendance and your financial aid eligibility.

We will verify your enrollment at the time of disbursement and again at the end of the 100% add/drop period each term, and make any necessary adjustments to your cost of attendance so that it aligns with your actual enrollment. Enrollment changes that require an adjustment to your cost of attendance will be processed at the time of disbursement. Adjustments that occur after disbursement will be made at the end of the 100% add/drop period, and any resulting balance will be billed by the University.

To request a revision to your cost of attendance, complete the Enrollment Adjustment form and indicate your intended enrollment in the "Standard Enrollment Adjustment" or "Dual-Degree Enrollment" sections if you will be enrolled in both semester- and quarter-based credits.

Contact

 

Financial Aid