Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much it will cost a student to live and attend school for a nine-month academic year. The estimate includes both direct (how much is billed by the university) and indirect costs (how much it costs to live in/near Denver). 

Direct CostsIndirect Costs
  • Tuition and fees
  • On-campus housing and meal plans
  • Books & supplies (if charged to bill)
  • CU Health Plan (only if covered by university health plan)
  • Off-campus housing and food
  • Books & supplies (if not charged to bill)
  • Transportation
  • Allowance for medical/dental expenses
  • Allowance for personal expenses

The University of Colorado Denver uses COA figures to calculate your financial aid eligibility. Actual costs may differ from the information found under Undergraduate Tuition & Fees or Graduate Tuition & Fees. Overall, your total COA will depend on your program, coursework, residency and enrollment status, and personal spending choices. If you do not receive financial aid, you can still use the same tuition and fees information to estimate your costs.

The total amount of financial aid offered to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance at the University of Colorado Denver for that aid year. Financial aid offers (e.g., loans, work study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of attendance. Additional information on scholarships can be found here.  

In addition to the estimated COA Calculator, CU Denver offers a Net Price Calculator, designed to offer individual undergraduate student/family estimates of the net price to attend CU Denver.

2025-2026 Estimated Costs/Budget

Undergraduate Tables:

Undergraduate - Colorado Resident 

 

On Campus Full-Time

On Campus Half-Time

Off Campus Full-Time

Off Campus Half-Time

With Parent Full-Time

With Parent Half-Time

Tuition$9,672 $4,836$9,672$4,836$9,672$4,836
Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF)($2,784)($1,392)($2,784)($1,392)($2,784)($1,392)
General Fees$1,082.10$541.55$1,082.10$541.55$1,082.10$541.55
Food and Housing$17,204.80$17,204.80$17,658$17,658$12,213$12,213
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,629$1,629
Total$29,971.90$25,208.35$30,425.10$25,661.55$24,881.10$20,117.55

 

Undergraduate - Non-Resident 

 

On Campus Full-Time

On Campus Half-Time

Off Campus Full-Time

Off Campus Half-Time

With Parent Full-Time

With Parent Half-Time

Tuition$29,016 $14,508$29,016 $14,508$29,016 $14,508
General Fees$1083.10$541.55$1083.10$541.55$1083.10$541.55
Food and Housing$17,204.80$17,204.80$17,658$17,658$12,213$12,213
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1512$1512$1512$1512$1512$1512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728
Total$52,099.90$36,272.35$52,553.10$36,725.55$47,009.10$31,181.55



Undergraduate - Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

 

On Campus Full-Time

On Campus Half-Time

Off Campus Full-Time

Off Campus Half-Time

With Parent Full-Time

With Parent Half-Time

Tuition$18,696$9,348$18,696$9,348$18,696$9,348
General Fees$1,083.10$541.55$1,083.10$541.55$1,083.10$541.55
Food and Housing$17,204.80$17,204.80$17,658$17,658$12,213$12,213
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,629$1,629
Total$41,779.90

$31,112.35

$42,233.10$31,565.55$36,689.10$26,021.55

 

Graduate Tables:

Graduate School Tuition by School or College

School or College

Resident (& WRGP)

Non-Resident

Out-of-State, Online Only

WUE

College of Architecture & Planning$557$1,489$668.40

$836

College of Arts & Media$557$1,489$668.40$836
Business School$772$1,640$926.40$1,096
School of Education & Human Development$480$1,489$576$720
College of Engineering, Design & Computing$734$1,615$880.80$1,051
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences$480$1,489$576$720
School of Public Affairs$634$1,489$760.80$951

 

Graduate - Colorado Resident and Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)

 

On Campus/Off Campus Full-Time

On Campus/Off Campus Half-Time

Tuition and FeesSee ChartSee Chart
Food and Housing$17,204.80$17,204.80
Loan Fees$216$108
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728
Total$22,120.80$21,282.80

 

What is Cost of Attendance?

Cost of Attendance (COA) consists of the following components:

Cost of Attendance Appeal

If you have expenses that are not taken into account in the standard budget, you may submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal form (see Forms). Your budget will be reviewed and your financial aid eligibility will be re-evaluated.

Unusual expenses could include a variety of items:

  • High medical/dental costs not covered by insurance.
  • Costs of equipment or supplies required for a specific class.
  • Disability related expenses not covered by other programs.
  • Dependent childcare expenses incurred during periods of university attendance.
  • Purchase of a computer or computer-related equipment or upgrades.
  • Actual tuition and/or course fees that are higher than the average.

Students with expenses not included in the standard estimated COA may appeal to increase their COA.

Bursar's Office

Student Billing

CU Denver

Student Commons Building

1201 Larimer Street

#5123

Denver, CO 80204

Fax: 303-315-1805


Bursar@ucdenver.edu

303-315-1800

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