DU vs. FLC

Deciding between University of Denver and Fort Lewis College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Denver
Fort Lewis College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DU Denver, CO
  • FLC Durango, CO
  • Setting
  • DU Large City
  • FLC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • DU 12,813
  • FLC 3,544
  • Type
  • DU Private 4 Year
  • FLC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DU #86
  • FLC #758
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DU -
  • FLC -
  • Status
  • DU Non-profit
  • FLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DU
  • FLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DU $61,398
  • FLC $9,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DU $61,398
  • FLC $21,526
  • Room & Board
  • DU $17,759
  • FLC $13,680
  • Average Net Price
  • DU $45,451
  • FLC $17,114
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DU $33,955
  • FLC $6,610
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DU 99%
  • FLC 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DU 18,786
  • FLC 4,986
  • Admitted
  • DU 14,618
  • FLC 3,854
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DU 77.8%
  • FLC 77.3%
  • Enrolled
  • DU 9.1%
  • FLC 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DU 1330
  • FLC 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • DU 30
  • FLC 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • DU 3.72
  • FLC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DU A-
  • FLC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • DU Very High
  • FLC Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • DU
  • FLC
  • ACT Range
  • DU 28/33
  • FLC 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • DU 1240/1410
  • FLC 1010/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DU Test optional
  • FLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DU Jan 15, 2027
  • FLC Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DU 9:1
  • FLC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DU
    • Business (42%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • FLC
    • Business (27%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DU 78%
  • FLC 37%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DU $63,400
  • FLC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DU 72%
  • FLC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DU $23,699
  • FLC $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DU $245
  • FLC $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DU 40%
  • FLC 46%
  • % Women
  • DU 60%
  • FLC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DU Medium
  • FLC High
  • HBCU
  • DU No
  • FLC No
  • % White
  • DU 67%
  • FLC 52%
  • % Asian
  • DU 4%
  • FLC 1%
  • % Black
  • DU 2%
  • FLC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • DU 10%
  • FLC 11%
  • % Native American
  • DU 0%
  • FLC 25%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DU 0%
  • FLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DU 4%
  • FLC 7%
  • % International
  • DU 9%
  • FLC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DU 3%
  • FLC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DU 30%
  • FLC 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DU 67%
  • FLC 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DU Yes
  • FLC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DU No
  • FLC No
  • Meal Plan
  • DU Yes
  • FLC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DU Yes
  • FLC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DU No
  • FLC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Denver in Denver, CO with Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Denver is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (12,813 students vs. 3,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Denver is located in Denver, CO (Large City setting); Fort Lewis College is in Durango, CO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Denver is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fort Lewis College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Denver 9:1; Fort Lewis College 14:1.

DU vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DU or FLC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fort Lewis College than DU ($17,114 vs. $45,451).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Lewis College are 23% lower than at University of Denver ($13,680 vs. $17,759).
  • University of Denver is 516.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FLC (about $51,440 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $9,958.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 185.2% higher at DU than at Fort Lewis College (about $39,872 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $21,526.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Denver than at Fort Lewis College (99% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 413.7% larger than aid received by Fort Lewis College students ($33,955 vs. $6,610).

DU vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DU or FLC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FLC and DU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Denver (1330) is 220 points higher than at FLC (1110).
  • Incoming DU students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 22 at FLC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Denver 1240/1410; Fort Lewis College 1010/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Denver 28/33; Fort Lewis College 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DU - Test optional; FLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DU Jan 15, 2027; FLC Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at FLC (3.3).
  • DU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than FLC (77.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.1% at DU vs. 19.5% at FLC.

DU vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DU and FLC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Denver's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Fort Lewis College's (37%).
  • Graduates from University of Denver earn a median of about $24,400 more per year than FLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,400 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fort Lewis College graduates have a $4,199 lower median loan debt than DU graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,699).
  • Among borrowers, FLC graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DU graduates ($201 vs. $245).
  • More DU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.