University of Denver

Overview

The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university located in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, DU gives students a unique brand of holistic education which allows them to explore the world through experiential and interdisciplinary learning. The university’s mission is to be a great private university dedicated to the public good. On the other hand, its mission is to promote learning among students and building a sustainable common good through local and global partnerships.

At DU, there are over 100 undergraduate and 120 graduate degree programs to choose from. These are taught across 10 schools and colleges: law, business, education, social work, international studies, professional psychology, natural sciences and mathematics, engineering and computer science and arts, humanities, and social sciences. DU also offers students the opportunity to study abroad in 55 countries through the Cherrington Global Scholars program.

On March 5, 1864, John Evans signed the charter for the Colorado Seminary. The seminary closed due to financial problems and later reopened as the University of Denver. In 1886, DU conferred a degree for the first time to female graduates and, in the 1900s, to African American graduates. In 1890, construction began at the University Park Campus, where the university is currently located. In the 1960s, civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. visited the DU campus where he spoke about integration and the Vietnam War. In 2012, DU was the venue for the debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Notable alumni from DU include former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; figure skater and Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan; and former chairman of the Molson Coors Brewing Company Peter Hanson Coors.

DU has figured within the top 80 universities in the US. It is also one of the top graduate schools in the US that fields Peace Corps volunteers. Globally, it has received placement within the top 400 to 700 ranges from the Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings.

The university’s plan, dubbed Impact 2025, rests on four transformative directions. First, DU aims for students to become equipped for the 21st century. Second, it wants to strengthen discovery and collaboration for its faculty members. Third, DU intends to engage with diverse communities in Denver and the Rocky Mountain West. Fourth, it will organize itself into an engaging and inclusive community known as One DU.

Infrastructure-wise, DU is looking at adding a mountain campus at the historic Beaver Village Lodge in Winter Park, Colorado. The university hopes to bring a student mountain experience and an outdoor leadership program as part of the project.

You can also learn more about the educational performance of University of Denver in our ranking of US universities & colleges.