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).

Example of direct and indirect costs associated with attending CU 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.

2026-2027 Estimated Costs/Budget
 

Undergraduate Tables:

Undergraduate - Colorado Resident
 On Campus Full-TimeOn Campus Half-TimeOff Campus Full-TimeOff Campus Half-Time
Tuition$12,792.00 $6,396.00$12,792.00$6,396.00
Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF)($2,784)($1,392)($2,784)($1,392)
General Fees$1,125.74$562.87$1,125.74$562.87
Food and Housing$18,740$18,740$17,442$17,442
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728
Total$34,723.74$28,378.87$33,425.74$27,080.87
Undergraduate - Non-Resident
 On Campus Full-TimeOn Campus Half-TimeOff Campus Full-TimeOff Campus Half-Time
Tuition$29,880$14,940$29,880$14,940
General Fees$1,125.74$562.87$1,125.74$562.87
Food and Housing$18,740$18,740$17,442$17,442
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1512$1512$1512$1512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728
Total$54,595.74$38,314.87$53,297.74$37,016.87
Undergraduate - Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
 On Campus Full-TimeOn Campus Half-TimeOff Campus Full-TimeOff Campus Half-Time
Tuition$16,800$8,400$16,800$8,400
General Fees$1,125.74$562.87$1,125.74$562.87
Food and Housing$18,740$18,740$17,442$17,442
Loan Fees$96$48$96$48
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728
Total$41,515.74$31,774.87$40,487.74$30,476.87

 

Graduate Tables:

Graduate School Tuition by School or College
School or CollegeResident (& WRGP)Non-ResidentOut-of-State, Online OnlyWUE
College of Architecture & Planning

$576

$1,534

$691.20

$864

College of Arts & Media

$576

$1,534

$691.20

$864

Business School

$795

$1,685

$954.00

$1,192.5

School of Education & Human Development

$496

$1,534

$595.20

$744

College of Engineering, Design & Computing

$756

$1,660

$907.20

$1,134

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

$496

$1,534

$595.20

$744

School of Public Affairs

$656

$1,534

$787.20

$984

Graduate - Colorado Resident and Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
 On Campus Full-TimeOn Campus Half-TimeOff Campus Full-TimeOff Campus Half-Time
Tuition and FeesSee ChartSee ChartSee ChartSee Chart
Food and Housing$18,740.00$18,740.00$17,442$17,442
Loan Fees$216$108$216$108
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730
Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
Personal Expenses$1,782$1,782$1,782$1,782
Total$22,120.80$21,282.80$22,574.00$21,736.00

    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$12,456.00 $6,228.00$12,456.00$6,228.00$12,456.00$6,228.00
    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$32,754.90$26,600.35$33,208.10$27,053.55$27,664.10$21,509.55
    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 Full-TimeOn Campus Half-TimeOff Campus Full-TimeOff Campus Half-Time
    Tuition and FeesSee ChartSee ChartSee ChartSee Chart
    Food and Housing$17,204.80$17,204.80$17,658$17,658
    Loan Fees$216$108$216$108
    Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment$1,460$730$1,460$730
    Transportation$1,512$1,512$1,512$1,512
    Personal Expenses$1,728$1,728$1,728$1,728
    Total$22,120.80$21,282.80$22,574.00$21,736.00

     

What is Cost of Attendance?

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

    Tuition and fees are determined by the University of Colorado Board of Regents.

    This figure is based on how much a typical full-time student would need to spend on books, course materials, supplies, and equipment in order to complete an average credit load.

    The estimated housing and food figures vary based on living situation (e.g., in a University residence hall or at home with family). You can find detailed information on housing and meal plans options and the costs.

    This figure is based on the cost of using public transportation for a typical student. The University of Colorado Denver does not include a personal vehicle in its estimated cost figure.

    The figures for this category include things like toiletries, laundry, and clothing.

    This figure is paid to the lender for the processing of each loan you receive. It is a percentage of the loan amount, which will reduce the amount of money you receive to pay for your educational expenses. You are required to pay the full amount of the loan including the fee.

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.