Denver sits 5,280 feet, or one mile, above sea level. The city receives more than 300 days of sunshine each year and is close to the Rocky Mountains, making it a convenient base for skiing and other mountain activities during academic breaks.
If you are considering undergraduate study in the Denver area, we have prepared this list of relatively affordable colleges and universities for domestic and international students. Tuition varies by residency, program, course load, and academic year, so review each school’s official fees page carefully.
Affordable Schools in Denver for International Students
1. University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver is a public urban research university. CU Denver traces its roots to a 1912 extension program and was officially founded as an independent institution in 1973. It is part of the University of Colorado System and is based on the downtown Auraria Campus.
CU Denver offers more than 100 degree programs across seven schools and colleges. Each year, its undergraduate students are awarded more than $30 million in scholarships and grant packages. About 72% of full-time undergraduate students with financial need who apply for aid receive a need-based scholarship or grant award.
2. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Located in nearby Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design was founded in 1963 as the Rocky Mountain School of Art. The institution adopted its current name in 1983. It offers programs focused on art, design, education, technology, and business through its Lakewood campus and online.
RMCAD offers online and on-campus study options in fields such as animation, art education, and graphic design. New incoming students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale are automatically considered for the Academic Achievement Scholarship; no separate scholarship application is required.
3. Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public university in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1965, MSU Denver serves about 17,000 students. It offers more than 100 majors and minors, as well as certificate options.
MSU Denver’s academic programs are organized across six colleges and schools, including the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, and the School of Education.
4. Regis University
Regis University is a private Jesuit Catholic university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1877, the institution enrolls 5,754 students and has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Regis University is organized into three academic units: Regis College, the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, and the Anderson College of Business and Computing. It offers more than 130 academic programs online and at two campuses in the Denver metro area.
In the article above, we have listed several relatively affordable colleges and universities in and near Denver, Colorado. The quoted amounts are undergraduate estimates or published program costs, as labeled. Tuition may vary by residency, program, course load, and academic year. For the most current information, contact the admissions or financial aid office of your school of choice.
Hopefully, this article on affordable schools in the Denver area was insightful. If you are interested in studying in the United States, feel free to check out our Study in the USA page and the Available Programs for International Students.
