Tuition & Fees
Bursar Customer Service Office Hours
The Bursar office staff is available by phone at 303-315-1800, and by email at Bursar@ucdenver.edu from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Our office is located on the 5th floor of the Student Commons Bldg.
When a student begins researching higher education institutions, tuition is often the first stop. Undergraduate tuition costs differ for in-state students – students with Colorado residency – and out-of-state students – those attending CU Denver from outside Colorado. Tuition and fees are based largely on the classes you take, which school or college offers your classes, and your resident status. You must understand your residency status because it impacts more than just tuition rates.
Tuition is the amount a student pays for instruction per course at a college or university. Tuition costs are often listed along with additional fees that all students must pay. These fees cover anything from the student wellness center and AHEC facility operation costs to student support services.
Tuition and fees are approved by the University of Colorado Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of Colorado, and may change from those shown here without prior notice. Where appropriate, the rates reflect the College Opportunity Fund discounted rate.
The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a stipend offered to eligible Colorado residents attending a public college/university or a participating private institution in Colorado. It isn’t considered financial aid and doesn’t figure into any financial aid packages offered by the college or university. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition and is paid directly to your institution on a per-credit-hour basis. This means that you will not receive a check in the amount of the COF, rather, you will see a deduction on your tuition bill. The credit-hour amount is set annually by the Colorado General Assembly. Please check the official State College Opportunity Fund website for the current amount.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Your main cost of attending college is tuition and fees. Our tuition rates are calculated by credit hour and your cost per credit hour is based on which school or college you attend and your residency status.
Graduate Student Tuition
Graduate students, like undergraduate students, are charged both tuition and fees. Tuition is charged per credit hour and is calculated based on the rate per credit hour determined by each school or college and residency status.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
Estimate your cost to attend CU Denver for a semester or academic year. Use the Cost of Attendance Calculator to view direct costs, such as tuition, and indirect costs, including books and personal expenses.
Tuition Appeals
Students who must withdraw from classes due to circumstances beyond their control, such as a medical condition or family death, may be eligible to file a tuition appeal. Review the guidelines, process, and deadlines before applying.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Out-of-state students from WUE-participating states may qualify for a tuition discount of up to $11,000. The discount is available for undergraduate programs and applies only to on-campus courses.
Billing Calendars
Bills, payments, tuition, and fees are all part of attending college. Stay on track by understanding the billing cycle and key deadlines. The semester billing calendar outlines important dates from the start of the semester through the final payment.
Additional Tuition and Fee Information
- Enrollment in a qualifying fully-online degree
- Out-of-state address for the following:
- Mailing
- Home
- Local
- Enrollment in only online course
- Tuition will be billed as “Nonresident”.
- All online registered students will have their registration reviewed by the Registrar’s Office
- The review can take up to 30 business days.
- Registrars will determine that all criteria above are met.
- The next billing statement will reflect the change in tuition to the non-resident online tuition rate.
Tuition is charged by course at the resident rate for non-degree undergraduate students who are Colorado residents, and at the standard non-resident undergraduate rate for non-degree undergraduate students who have not established in-state residency. Tuition is assessed by course at the international non-resident rate for non-degree undergraduate students based on VISA permit status.
Tuition is charged by course at the resident rate for non-degree graduate students who are Colorado residents, and at the standard non-resident graduate rate for non-degree graduate students who have not established in-state residency. Tuition is assessed by course at the international non-resident rate for non-degree graduate students based on VISA permit status. Please note that non-degree graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses (Not COF Eligible) are subject to undergraduate rates based on the school administering the course.
Tuition for courses taken for no credit (NC) is the same as for courses taken for credit.
Fractional credit is regarded as 1 hour in assessing tuition and fee charges.
Students are subject to full student fees when enrolled in a mix of online or remote courses, and one or more in-person or hybrid course.
Students enrolled in a mix of online and remote courses are assessed the Student Services Fee and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Fee.
Extended Studies online and remote courses are assessed Student Services Fee, Mental Health and Wellbeing Fee, Student Information System (SIS), and Information Technology fees.
All new degree-seeking students will be subject to the one-time New Student Fee. The International Student fee will be assessed to students dependent on their visa status.
Students enrolled in Continuing Education courses off-campus are only assessed the Information Technology and Student Information System (SIS) Fee(s). However, students enrolled in courses taught on campus or concurrently enrolled in both Continuing Education and Denver main campus courses located on campus are subject to full student fees.
Beginning in Fall 2021, the “Out-of-State, Online-Only (OOSOO)” tuition rate is being eliminated for new students and replaced by the “Nonresident Online” tuition rate, as described below. Students enrolled before Fall 2021 assigned the “out-of-state online only” residency exception as their most recent tuition residency will continue to receive this discounted tuition until completion of the degree provided that all criteria for that residency continue to be met:
“Non-Resident Online” Tuition Rate:
If you are not a resident of the state of Colorado and are only taking online courses, you may be eligible for the Non-resident, online tuition rate offered through the University of Colorado Denver. The rate of 120% applied to main campus courses only and excludes non-degree-seeking programs and extended study courses.
Audits will run regularly to ensure that students with the Nonresident Online tuition exception continue to meet these criteria. Students who no longer meet the eligibility criteria will receive an email informing them that they no longer qualify for the Non-resident online tuition rate. If this happens during an academic term, the change in residency will come into effect the following term. Students who have lost this tuition exception will be ineligible to reapply for the exception through completion of their current degree level (bachelors, masters, etc.).
Billing Process:
If registered for an online-only program and you live outside of Colorado, please, note the following:
NOTE: Upon registration, you will be charged at the “non-resident” rate. Your account will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar, and the correct rate will be applied to your account before the first due date of any given semester.
Students enrolled in only online and/or remote courses may choose to opt-in to the Wellness Center Fee and Auraria Campus Fee.
*Please note that once a student opts in to the the Wellness Center and Auraria Campus Fee, neither charge will be reversed for the duration of that term.
For more information, please visit the following: https://www.ucdenver.edu/student-finances/billing-payments/billing-faq#ac-tuition-fees-faqs-0
For more information about the Non-Resident online tuition rate please, contact the Office of the Registrar via phone at: 303-315-5969 or via email: residency@ucdenver.edu
For additional questions please visit: Tuition and Financial Aid | CU Online - University of Colorado