When a student begins researching higher education institutions, tuition is often the first stop. Undergraduate tuition costs are different for in-state students – students who have Colorado residency – and out-of-state students – those attending CU Denver from outside of Colorado. Tuition and fees are based largely on the classes you take, and which school or college is offering your classes, as well as your resident status. It is important that you 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 other facility maintenance costs to technology upgrades and transportation expenses.

All tuition and fee rates are established by the Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of Colorado, in accordance with legislation enacted annually by the Colorado General Assembly. The Regents set tuition rates and fees at a budget retreat each spring for the coming fall, spring and summer terms, but reserve the right to change rates at any time. Rates for the current year are available online to assist prospective students in anticipating costs. Please refer to the Tuition and Fees site in July for new rates.

College Opportunity Fund (COF)

The College Opportunity Fund (COF), created by the State of Colorado Legislature, provides a stipend to eligible undergraduate students paying in-state tuition. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition for eligible undergraduate students who attend a public Colorado institution or a participating private institution. Eligible undergraduate students must be admitted and enrolled at a participating institution to use the stipend for eligible undergraduate classes. 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 stipend is paid to the institution on a per-credit-hour basis, and the credit-hour amount is set annually by the General Assembly. Please check the official state College Opportunity Fund website for the current amount. For more information about COF and CU Denver please refer to our website.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is the standard method of issuing student account refunds to CU Denver students with credit balances. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up for direct deposit well in advance of any anticipated student account refunds, and may do so online via the UCDAccess portal. 

In your "Student Center", select "Student Account"

1. Go to "Direct Deposit Student Refunds"
2. Follow the instructions and input your banking information.

Drop Charge

Beginning the second Tuesday of the fall and spring terms until census date, a $100 drop transaction charge will be assessed each time a student drops a course. Please refer to the academic calendar for exact dates. This includes student initiated drops done in order to change sections within a course. Section changes done for an administrative purpose through the deans’ offices will be exempted from drop charges. If a student withdraws, dropping all classes, a drop charge will be assessed for each course.

Past Due Tuition and Fees

Past due student accounts will be assessed a one-time per semester late charge and a monthly service charge for every month the balance remains unpaid. After the semester of the past due debt, student accounts are referred to Student Debt Management. An overdue student account may be referred to a third party collection agency and reported to one or more credit bureau reporting services; the student explicitly authorizes University of Colorado Denver to release personal and financial information under those circumstances. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the student agrees to reimburse the University of Colorado Denver for the fees of any collection agency, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 40% of the debt, and all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, the University may incur in such collection efforts. In addition, while the student maintains a past due balance with the University of Colorado Denver, a hold will be placed on the student record preventing any future registration, as well as the release of official transcripts and diplomas.

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 23-5-115, in the event of a default on an amount owed to University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Denver may certify to the Colorado Department of Revenue information regarding persons with past due accounts. The Colorado Department of Revenue may then disburse funds to University of Colorado Denver in satisfaction of that debt from tax refund amounts owed to the individual, if any.

Students who owe a past due debt to the university in excess of $1500.00 may be administratively dropped from any future terms if the past due amount is not paid in full or set up on a payment plan. The drop will occur the Friday prior to the first day of classes of the next term. For more information, please see the Bursar’s Administrative Withdrawal Policy

Tuition Appeals

Students are responsible for abiding by the published deadlines. Tuition is not refundable when students drop or withdraw from courses after the published deadlines. If circumstances beyond the student’s control have made the late drop or withdraw necessary, the student may file a tuition appeal.

Instructions and forms for submitting a tuition appeal are available here.