University of Denver Recognized in 2022 Rankings From The Princeton Review

The University of Denver is recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the best universities in the country in its annual Best 387 Colleges list. This is the 30th edition of the rankings, and results are based on surveys completed by more than 140,000 students from across the country. The surveys are conducted independently by The Princeton Review.

The University of Denver received an 83 rating for “Academics.” This category takes into consideration the percentage of students graduating in four years, class sizes, student-faculty ratio and students’ assessments of their professors. This is an area where the University traditionally excels.

DU received a 91 for “interesting professors” and a 94 for “professor accessibility.” As students noted, “Teachers usually allow students to dictate speed and amount of discussion on a topic as the class allows and take a vested interest in each student’s success. They ‘care more about how you do in the long run than how you may perform in individual classes.’” Another student commented, “The face-to-face time you get with them is a big reason why I feel so connected to my school.”

DU also performs well in the “Quality of Life” rating, receiving a score of 91. This category measures how happy students are with their lives outside the classroom by assessing their overall happiness; the beauty, safety, and location of the campus; the comfort of residence halls; the quality of food; the ease of getting around campus; and the quality of the school’s relationship with the local community. More than 90% of first-year students live on campus, and nearly half of all undergraduate students live in the residence halls. The Princeton Review stated, “The residential living communities and programs get high marks.” One student responded by saying, “There is never a dull moment on campus. Everyone is so active, and there is so much going on that you almost feel bad if you’re not doing anything.”

“The world-class learning University of Denver students enjoy in the classroom is complimented, deepened, and applied during experiences outside the classroom,” DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner says. “The moment a first-year student arrives on campus, they design their DU experience—tailored to their interests and aspirations. From clubs, sports, mentoring, career training, internships, special events and so much more, the DU 4D Experience connects students’ intellectual growth with promoting well-being and pursuing careers, as well as building the strength of character that will serve them over a lifetime.”

The Princeton Review also ranks colleges for their selectivity around admissions and financial aid support. The University of Denver received a 77 rating for “Admissions Selectivity.” This rating takes into consideration class rank, standardized test scores, high school GPA, and the percentage of students who come from out-of-state. In terms of financial aid, DU received a score of 87. This rating is based on school-reported data on the percentage of students who were determined to have need and received aid, the percentage of need met for those students, and the percentage of students whose need was fully met.

The University of Denver received an 85 rating for “Return on Investment,” which takes into consideration starting and mid-career salaries and the academic and financial aid ratings. Students commented, “Networking here ‘happens almost without effort; it is ingrained in every aspect of most classes and activities’ and there is a ‘good connection with [the] Denver business community.’ DU has ‘basically every resource on campus for advising, counseling, health and assistance with school work.’” The survey data and high ratings also resulted in DU’s inclusion  on the list of the top-200 “Best Value Colleges.”

The Princeton Review normally includes several rankings that highlight different ways in which schools stand out. Because of COVID-19 limitations to on-campus offerings, The Princeton Review created “Great Lists” that recognize those schools that have frequently appeared on these lists in the past. The University of Denver made the list of top 24 schools for having a “Great College Library” and the top 26 list for “Great College City.” Selection for the lists was based on historical appearances on the list, the numerical rank when included in previous lists, and the overall consistency of positive feedback from students.

To view the complete rankings by The Princeton Review, please click here.