DU vs. USAFA

Deciding between University of Denver and United States Air Force Academy? 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
United States Air Force Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DU Denver, CO
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Setting
  • DU Large City
  • USAFA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • DU 12,813
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Type
  • DU Private 4 Year
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DU #86
  • USAFA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DU -
  • USAFA -
  • Status
  • DU Non-profit
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DU
  • USAFA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DU $61,398
  • USAFA $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DU $61,398
  • USAFA $0
  • Room & Board
  • DU $17,759
  • USAFA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • DU $45,451
  • USAFA -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DU $33,955
  • USAFA $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DU 99%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DU 18,786
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Admitted
  • DU 14,618
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DU 77.8%
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Enrolled
  • DU 9.1%
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DU 1330
  • USAFA 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • DU 30
  • USAFA 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • DU 3.72
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DU A-
  • USAFA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DU Very High
  • USAFA Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • DU
  • USAFA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • DU 28/33
  • USAFA 26/33
  • SAT Range
  • DU 1240/1410
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DU Test optional
  • USAFA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • DU Jan 15, 2027
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DU 9:1
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DU
    • Business (42%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DU 78%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DU $63,400
  • USAFA N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DU 72%
  • USAFA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DU $23,699
  • USAFA N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DU $245
  • USAFA N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DU 40%
  • USAFA 70%
  • % Women
  • DU 60%
  • USAFA 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DU Medium
  • USAFA -
  • HBCU
  • DU No
  • USAFA No
  • % White
  • DU 67%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Asian
  • DU 4%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Black
  • DU 2%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • DU 10%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Native American
  • DU 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DU 0%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DU 4%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % International
  • DU 9%
  • USAFA 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DU 3%
  • USAFA 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DU 30%
  • USAFA 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DU 67%
  • USAFA 91%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Denver in Denver, CO with United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Denver is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (12,813 students vs. 4,114 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Denver is located in Denver, CO (Large City setting); United States Air Force Academy is in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting).
  • University of Denver is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Denver 9:1; United States Air Force Academy 7:1.

DU vs. USAFA Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between University of Denver and USAFA ($61,398.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between DU and United States Air Force Academy ($61,398.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Denver than at United States Air Force Academy (99% vs. 0%).

DU vs. USAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DU or USAFA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USAFA and DU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 10 points higher than at DU (1330).
  • Incoming DU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 29 at USAFA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Denver 1240/1410; United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Denver 28/33; United States Air Force Academy 26/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DU - Test optional; USAFA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DU Jan 15, 2027; USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman USAFA students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at DU (3.72).
  • DU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.1% at DU vs. 78.5% at USAFA.

DU vs. USAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DU and USAFA? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Denver's six-year graduation rate is 78%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for USAFA.
  • Graduates from University of Denver have median earnings of about $63,400 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for USAFA.

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.