DU vs. UW

Should I go to University of Denver or University of Wyoming? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DU or UW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Denver vs. University of Wyoming comparison
University of Denver University of Wyoming College 3 College 4
University of Denver University of Wyoming
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Overview

DU UW
Location Denver, CO Laramie, WY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,734 11,100
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #82 #331
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website du.edu uwyo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

DU UW
Tuition (In State) $55,260 $4,800
Tuition (Out of State) $55,260 $19,950
Room & Board $15,470 $11,610
Avg Net Price $42,423 $12,819
Avg Grant Aid $30,954 $8,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

DU UW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,342 5,797
Admitted 15,024 5,564
Acceptance Rate 77.7% 96%
Enrolled % 10.9% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 28/32 21/28
SAT Range 1220/1400 1040/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Aug 10, 2025

Academics

DU UW
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

DU UW
Graduation Rate 78% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $63,400 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,699 $18,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $191

Diversity

DU UW
% Men 38% 46%
% Women 62% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 76%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 10% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 9% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

DU UW
% In-State 25% 56%
% Out-of-State 71% 40%

Campus

DU UW
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Denver is larger than than UW based on total student enrollment (13,734 students vs. 11,100 students)

DU vs. UW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DU or UW?

  • University of Denver is 1,051.2% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($55,260.00 vs. $4,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 177% higher at DU than University of Wyoming ($55,260.00 vs. $19,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than DU ($12,819 vs. $42,423)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wyoming are 33.2% lower than costs at University of Denver ($11,610 vs. $15,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than University of Wyoming (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 246.2% larger than aid received University of Wyoming ($30,954 vs. $8,942)

DU vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DU or UW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW or DU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Denver (1249) is 127 points higher than at UW (1122)
  • Incoming DU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at UW (25)
  • Accepted freshman DU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UW (3.53)
  • UW has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than DU (77.7%)

DU vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DU or UW? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UW and DU.

  • The graduation rate at DU is higher than University of Wyoming (78% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of Denver earn on average $12,000 more per year than UW graduates after ten years. ($63,400 vs. $51,400)
  • University of Wyoming students graduate with a $5,199 lower median federal student loan debt than DU graduates. ($18,500 vs. $23,699)
  • UW graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than DU graduates. ($191 vs. $245)
  • More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/