Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Financial Aid

What is the cost of attendance?

Every student who applies for financial aid is assigned a cost of attendance (COA). This COA—sometimes referred to as a "student budget"—serves two purposes:

  1. to give you an estimate of the cost to attend DU for one year, and
  2. to set a limit on the amount of financial aid you can receive during the academic year (which federal regulations require us to do).

This means your actual expenses may be different from what's listed on your financial aid offer, and the total amount of your aid—including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study—can't exceed your total cost of attendance.
 

Direct Costs vs. Indirect Costs

Components in the cost of a college education are divided into two categories: the direct costs that are billed by the University, and the indirect costs of living in/near Denver. When we calculate eligibility for financial aid, we account for both types of costs.

Direct Costs (Billed by DU): Indirect Costs (Paid by the Student):
  • Off-campus housing and food
  • Books and supplies
  • Transportation
  • Personal expenses

 

photo of students studying

Cost of Attendance Examples

2023-2024 Academic Year

These figures are based on estimated expenses for a student enrolled in the fall, winter and spring quarters of the 2023-2024 academic year.

For all traditional undergraduate programs, tuition is $1,612 per credit. However, students enrolled between 12-18 credits in a quarter are charged a flat rate of $19,344.

  • Full-Time Student Living On Campus
    Direct Costs: Tuition $58,032
      Fees $1,308
      Housing & Food $17,049
      Subtotal $76,389
    Indirect Costs: Books $1,000
      Transportation* $1,536
      Personal Expenses $1,611
      Loan Fees** $78
      Cost of Attendance $80,614

    *DU will add an additional transportation allowance of $674 for students who are not Colorado residents.

    **A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $78 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

  • Full-Time Student Living at Home
    Direct Costs: Tuition $58,032
      Fees $1,308
      Subtotal $59,340
    Indirect Costs: Housing & Food $9,792
      Books $1,000
      Transportation $1,536
      Personal Expenses $1,440
      Loan Fees* $78
      Cost of Attendance $73,186

    *A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $78 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

student using a tablet

Estimate Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

Use our worksheet to get an idea of what you may have to pay each quarter of the 2023-2024 academic year after your financial aid has been applied to your student account. (Note: You'll need to have your 2023-2024 financial aid offer to complete this worksheet.)

> Estimated First-Year Cost Worksheet
For prospective, first-year students who do not yet know their housing assignment or meal plan choice.

photo of student studying

Cost of Attendance Examples

2022-2023 Academic Year

These figures are based on estimated expenses for a student enrolled in the fall, winter and spring quarters of the 2022-2023 academic year.

For all traditional undergraduate programs, tuition is $1,535 per credit. However, students enrolled between 12-18 credits in a quarter are charged a flat rate of $18,420.

  • Full-Time Student Living On Campus
    Direct Costs: Tuition $55,260
      Fees $1,179
      Housing & Meals $15,470
      Subtotal $71,909
    Indirect Costs: Books $1,000
      Transportation* $1,536
      Personal Expenses $1,521
      Loan Fees** $70
      Cost of Attendance $76,036

    *DU will add an additional transportation allowance of $501 for students who are not Colorado residents.

    **A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $70 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

  • Full-Time Student Living Off Campus
    Direct Costs: Tuition $55,260
      Fees $1,179
      Subtotal $56,439
    Indirect Costs: Housing & Meals $15,290
      Books $1,000
      Transportation* $1,536
      Personal Expenses $1,521
      Loan Fees** $70
      Cost of Attendance $75,856

    *DU will add an additional transportation allowance of $501 for students who are not Colorado residents.

    **A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $70 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

  • Full-Time Student Living at Home
    Direct Costs: Tuition $55,260
      Fees $1,179
      Subtotal $56,439
    Indirect Costs: Housing & Meals $4,923
      Books $1,000
      Transportation $1,536
      Personal Expenses $1,368
      Loan Fees* $70
      Cost of Attendance $65,336

    *A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $70 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

  • Working Professional in the Bachelor's Completion Program
    Direct Costs: Tuition (2 classes per quarter) $16,440
      Fees $96
      Subtotal $16,536
    Indirect Costs: Books $500
      Housing & Meals $15,290
      Transportation $1,665
      Personal Expenses $1,521
      Health Insurance* $3,450
      Loan Fees** $70
      Cost of Attendance $36,085

    *Health Insurance is a direct cost if you don't waive the insurance offered through DU.

    **A 1.057% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The $70 listed above is the average fee for undergraduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

red chairs on campus

Tuition and Fees

2023-24 Tuition Rates:

  • For all traditional undergraduate programs, tuition is $1,612 per credit. However, students enrolled between 12-18 credits in a quarter are charged a flat rate of $19,344.
  • The tuition rate for students enrolled in the University College Bachelor's Completion program will be announced in early 2023.

2022-23 Tuition Rates:

  • For all traditional undergraduate programs, tuition is $1,535 per credit. However, students enrolled between 12-18 credits in a quarter are charged a flat rate of $18,420.
  • For students enrolled in the University College Bachelor's Completion, tuition is $719 per credit.

 

Student Fees:

These are the most common fees assessed to undergraduate students. Some courses may have additional fees not listed here, and a late registration fee is assessed to most students who have not registered by the first day of classes. For more information about billing and tuition payments, visit the Bursar's Office website.

Annual Fees
Fee Amount When Fee is Assessed
Technology Fee $4/credit Every quarter
Health Insurance* $1,810 Fall and spring quarters only
Health & Counseling Fee** (2022-23) $225 Every quarter
Health & Counseling Fee** (2023-24) $233 Every quarter
Activity Fee - 6-11 credit hours $53 Every quarter
Activity Fee - 12+ credit hours (2022-23) $106 Every quarter
Activity Fee - 12+ credit hours (2023-24) $155 Every quarter
RTD College Pass $43 Every quarter
Korbel School of International Studies Student Fee $30 Every quarter
Lamont School of Music Student Fee $95 Every quarter
English Language Center Program Fee $30 Every quarter
Agency Sponsored Student Fee $150 Every quarter

*Most students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. You may waive participation in this program if you are covered under another insurance plan.

**The health and counseling fee is automatically assessed each term to students registered in six or more credits and covers many services provided at the Health & Counseling Center. This fee is mandatory for undergraduate students.

aerial view of campus

82% of financial aid for undergraduate students is in the form of scholarships and grants

Affordability

Additional Cost of Attendance Notes

  • If you apply for aid, your financial aid offer will itemize the costs that make up your individual student budget (which vary annually).
  • Federal regulations require us to set a limit on the amount of aid you can receive. This means your total aid—including scholarships, grants, loans, work-study and other resources (such as AmeriCorps and employer-paid tuition benefits)—cannot exceed your cost of attendance.
  • The budgets above do not include costs for the summer quarter. Eligibility for financial aid for the summer is limited; if you need financial aid for the summer, you must complete a separate application in the spring.
  • To be fair and to stay in compliance with federal regulations, we cannot change student budgets based on discretionary expenses. We may, however, be able to make adjustments to your cost of attendance for reasons outlined on the Budget Adjustment Form. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and do not guarantee additional financial aid.
  • Direct costs are determined by the University of Denver. For indirect costs, we use our own research and the recommended guidelines published by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Most figures change slightly every year.

Contact

 

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