International Student Tuition & Scholarships
Cost & scholarship options
The costs listed below are an estimate of the minimum financial commitment you and your family can expect as a full-time student. These estimates do not include travel to or from Denver, and they assume a moderate lifestyle with expenses shared with a roommate. These figures are based on estimated expenses for a student enrolled in the fall, winter and spring quarters of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Estimated Cost of Attendance (2025-2026)
| | Per Quarter | Per Year (3 Quarters) |
|---|
| Tuition (12-18 credit hours) | $20,616 | $61,848 |
| Student Fees | $466 | $1,398 |
| Housing | $3,806 | $11,420 |
| Food/Meals | $2,391 | $7,173 |
| Health Insurance | $1,256 | $3,770 |
| Direct Costs Subtotal | $28,536 | $85,609 |
| Books & Supplies | $333 | $1,000 |
| Personal Expenses | $576 | $1,728 |
| Transportation | $467 | $1,402 |
| Indirect Costs Subtotal | $1,376 | $4,130 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS | $29,912 | $89,739 |
Please note: Direct costs are billed to the student by the University. Indirect costs are not billed to the student by the University but are estimates of amounts paid to outside companies during the course of the year.
We do not offer any need-based aid to international students but are proud to offer generous merit scholarships to students with strong academic profiles. However, very few of these scholarships will cover the full cost of a DU education. We are also “need-aware” and consider the ability of a family to afford DU when finalizing admission decisions for students.
Costs
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Additional quarters
At the University of Denver, the typical academic year includes fall, winter and spring quarters, or about nine months. Our tuition estimates assume that you are only studying during these quarters.
However, we do offer classes in the summer quarter. If you want to stay in the United States and take classes during the summer, you will need to factor extra expenses into your calculation. Expenses for the summer should roughly equal those for one quarter of study during the traditional academic year.
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Expenses for families
U.S. immigration laws will allow you to bring your spouse and children with you to Denver while you study here at DU. However, this does mean that you will need to verify that you can pay for the living expenses of your family while they are here. Typically, this additional expense is approximately $4,000-$5,000 per dependent (spouse and each child), per academic year (9 months).
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Health Insurance
We require all DU students to have health insurance. You can choose either to join the University of Denver Student Health Insurance Plan, or you can provide proof that you have health insurance from another source.
See the Health and Counseling Center website for details on what qualifies as adequate health coverage for DU students.
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Purchasing a laptop
It is very important that each DU student has access to their own computer. If you do not already have a laptop, you will need to purchase one to meet the DU laptop requirement.
The average cost of a new laptop is around $1,000, so you should factor this in to your expenses for your time here. See information on pricing, recommended specifications and purchase options on the Information Technology website.
Scholarships & Financing Your Education
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Applying for scholarships
When you submit your application to DU, you will automatically be considered for merit scholarships for international students. There is no additional application to fill out.
Most of these scholarships are renewable; please note that none of them will cover the full cost of a DU education (with rare exceptions).
Sending DU your SAT or ACT scores and your class rank information with your application can help you to be as competitive as possible for merit assistance.
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Types of scholarships
There are three primary types of merit scholarships available to international students.
- Merit-based: $10,000 to $31,000 per year for first year students, $5,000 to $21,000 per year for transfer students
- Music Activity Scholarship
To be eligible, you must submit an audition to the Lamont School of Music. Visit the Lamont School of Music website for more details. - Athletic Activity Grant
Applicants who plan to participate in NCAA athletics can be considered for these scholarships. Contact the Denver Pioneers athletics staff for more details.
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Employment
International students may work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week when classes are in session and up to 37.5 hours per week during vacation periods. However, these positions are very limited.
After nine months of enrollment, students may apply through International Student and Scholar Services for a permit to work off campus. These opportunities are also very limited. Dependents of students holding an F-1 visa may not work under any circumstances.
