College Highlight

University of Denver

From the Fiske Guide to Colleges

The only major midsized private university between Tulsa and the West Coast. DU's campus in residential Denver is pleasant, and brochures tout Rocky Mountain landscapes and healthy lifestyles. Senior faculty teach all core courses. A haven for skiing enthusiasts and business majors, DU has become more selective in recent years.

The oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, the University of Denver is where former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice earned her B.A. in political science at age 19 and later returned for a Ph.D. in international studies. Her mentor was Soviet specialist Josef Korbel, father of former secretary of state Madeleine Albright. Thus, it's not surprising that DU boasts strong programs in political science, international studies, and public affairs. Many students, however, opt for DU's business program, and the campus location offers ample opportunities for networking, skiing, and taking in the beautiful Colorado landscape. A freshman says, "DU students share a sense of adventure, risk-taking, and spending time doing what one values."

DU's 125-acre main campus is located in a comfortable residential neighborhood only eight miles from downtown Denver and an hour east of major ski areas. Architectural styles vary and materials include brick, limestone, Colorado sandstone, and copper. Nearby Mount Evans (14,265 feet) is home to the world's loftiest observatory, a DU facility available to both professors and students. A new facility for the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science recently opened, serving as a hub for interdisciplinary, STEM-related research and scholarship.

Under the general education requirements, undergraduate students choose from a series of courses from the Common Curriculum that emphasize writing and rhetoric, language, analytical inquiry, and scientific inquiry. "At first I thought, 'Who wants to take these science, art, and English classes?'" explains a business major. "But now that I've completed the core, I feel better about myself and my world knowledge." University rules stipulate that all core courses must be taught by senior faculty. Core courses are supplemented by a First-Year Seminar (limited to 20 students) and an advanced seminar, which serves as a capstone to the curriculum model.

DU is known for its business school—especially the Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. Preprofessional programs are feeders for graduate schools in business, international studies, engineering, and the arts, and undergrads can opt for a five-year program toward a master's degree in business, education, international studies, public policy, or several other fields. A six-year program is available for those pursuing a degree in law. Finance, psychology, biological sciences, international studies, and marketing are some of the most popular majors, and music, chemistry, and computer science have solid reputations.
 
"We have a funky mix of really preppy East Coasters and Midwesterners mixed in with all the laid-back outdoorsy people," says one student. Thirty-three percent of undergraduates are from Colorado, and 8 percent arrive from other countries. African Americans account for 2 percent of the student body, Asian Americans 4 percent, and Hispanics 10 percent. Students report that political organizations are active on campus and cite the environment and social justice as issues of particular concern. As one of the few private colleges in the West, DU is also among the most expensive in the region. A majority of undergrads do receive merit scholarships, which average $16,702, and 215 athletic scholarships are also available. "Students have relatively expensive hobbies like skiing, backpacking, and traveling," observes a senior. "I think individuals from low-income backgrounds have a hard time fitting in."
 

Students unite when the powerhouse DU hockey team, national champions in 2017, skates out onto the ice, especially against archrival Colorado College. The Pioneers co-ed ski team has won five national championships in the last 10 years. Other competitive Division I programs include men's lacrosse and soccer, men's and women's swimming and tennis, and women's gymnastics and volleyball. Intramural and club sports are varied and popular; more than a quarter of students take part. Each February, academics are put aside for the three-day Winter Carnival. Top administrators, professors, and students all pack off to Keystone, Winter Park, or another ski area to catch some fresh powder and see who can ski the fastest, skate the best, or build the most artistic ice sculptures.

Students like the University of Denver for its modest size, its friendly atmosphere, and the flexibility afforded by the (sometimes stressful) quarter system. As the school pushes for a more ethnically diverse student body and improves its curriculum and facilities, the University of Denver is striving to become better known for its intellectual rigor than for its gorgeous setting in the Rocky Mountains.