Funding and Financial Aid
Learn about costs, financial aid resources, and other funding opportunities.
Funding your graduate education is important consider when choosing a graduate program. Master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as non-degree options such as certificates and courses, are significant investments in your future. These pages will help you understand CU Denver’s costs, financial aid resources, and other funding opportunities to help you make an informed decision.
Tuition
At CU Denver, tuition levels are set by the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The base cost of tuition is fixed, but the exact amount you pay can depend on your resident status, number of credit hours you take, and by per-course rates that can vary depending on program. You should anticipate the rate of tuition to increase by 3% to 5% each year.
Fees
Fees allow the university, specific schools and colleges, and the Auraria Campus to provide various services and operational costs that support students. Like tuition, fees are approved by the Board of Regents and are subject to change. Students are assessed appropriate fees based on several factors.
Non-tuition expenses
In addition to tuition and fees, graduate education entails expenses such as rent, food, transportation, textbooks, and more. Your non-tuition expenses will vary depending on your choices of lifestyle.
- Laptop
- Subscription services (streaming, home internet/Wi-Fi)
- Laundry
- Cell phone service
- Personal care products
- Prescription medications
- Car insurance, registration, and maintenance
- Gas
- Loan or other debt payments (car, credit card, mortgage, student, and/or private loan payments)
- Recreation and entertainment (movie, concert, and/or sports tickets)
- Clothing
- Travel
- Emergency or unanticipated expenses
- Pets
- Moving
- Holiday gifts
- Preparatory course or exam fees
To view on-campus rates at Lynx Crossing and City Heights, please visit their respective webpages.
To get a sense of local rent costs, visit CU Denver’s Off-Campus Housing and Roommate Database, a webpage offered in partnership with Apartments.com.
Graduate students can choose to live either on campus in CU Denver/Auraria Campus housing, or off-campus in an apartment, house, or other arrangement, alone or with roommates. Choose the housing option that best fits your needs, preferences, and budget.
CU Denver is conveniently located downtown near multiple light rail stations, bus stops, parking garages, and protected bike lanes. If you anticipate taking public transportation to class, consider purchasing an RTD CollegePass, which provides unlimited rides on bus and rail for a fixed cost. Downtown Denver has many protected bike lanes for cyclists, and CU Denver offers bike racks and a bicycle repair station. The Auraria Campus has several parking lots with hourly and daily fees. Students can purchase discounted parking permits for the semester. Rates depend on specific lots and frequency of parking.
Health insurance requirements vary based on whether you are an international student on a J-1 or F-1 visa.
For CU Denver domestic students not on F-1 or J-1 visas: There is no student health insurance requirement, nor is there an insurance plan offered by CU Denver. If you would like health insurance coverage during your time as a student, you should find and enroll in it on your own, or have it through a parent, spouse, or employer. Visit Health First Colorado to see if you qualify for Medicaid, and Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, to research other plans.
For CU Denver international students on F-1 or J-1 visas: There is a student health insurance requirement, and you are required to enroll in the CU International Student Health Insurance Plan. If you have comparable health insurance, you may qualify to waive our student health insurance plan. Visit the International Student and Scholar Services website to learn more.
CU Denver and the Auraria Campus offer varied dining options. You can purchase a meal plan and/or prepare your own meals. View meal plan options here and be sure to research the cost of groceries and dining out in Denver.
Most courses will require books or other materials that can vary in price. Our Tivoli Station Bookstore is likely to have the books you need. You might also check the Auraria Library or Denver Public Library locations to see if the books you need are available for free (with a library card).
As you estimate costs of your education, don’t forget additional expenses that may require attention, such as common expenses listed below:
Estimating your cost of attendance
The sum of your tuition, fees, and non-tuition expenses articulated above makes up your estimated cost of attendance. Review our Bursar Office’s Graduate Tuition & Fees page for the most up-to-date tuition costs and fee amounts.
International students on F-1/J-1 visas: Visit our International Admissions webpages to learn more about your estimated cost of attendance for I-20 and visa purposes.
Explore types of aid
Graduate education is a significant investment, and CU Denver can help connect you with resources for financial support, from loans and scholarships to assistantships and external funding. Visit this page to learn more.
