All 8 Universities in Denver | Rankings & Reviews 2024

Universities in Denver, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in Denver, USA

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Denver
  • 10 Apr, 2024: Publication of QS World University Rankings By Subject (Business & Management Studies). University of Colorado Denver with highest ranking among universities in Denver ranked #601.
  • 06 Mar, 2024: Scimago Institutions Rankings updated with University of Colorado Denver ranked highest among 2 listed universities in Denver.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: Urap published most recent results of URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance. Includes 2 universities from Denver.
  • 05 Dec, 2023: Latest QS World University Rankings: Sustainability from British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK. 2 universities from Denver appear in this ranking.

Known as the Mile High City due to being quite literally one mile above sea level, Denver is the state of Colorado’s capital.

Denver offers its locals a stable and dynamic job market, incomparable outdoor experiences, and a host of nightlife options concentrated around the Lower Downtown area.

Those studying in Denver have plenty of universities to choose from, including multiple research universities, and institutions with tuition fees lower than $20,000.


Rankings of universities in Denver, USA 2024

  • #79 
  • #351 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #214 
  • #214 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #110 
  • #721 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 17 more rankings of University of Colorado Denver and subject specific rankings for 6 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (based on 467 student ratings)
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  • #114 
  • #501 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #127 
  • #128 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #137 
  • #901 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 16 more rankings of University of Denver and subject specific rankings for 6 subjects

  • #479 
  • #493 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #260 
  • #260 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]
  • #363 
  • #370 
Kiplinger's Best College Values
[Published 31 July, 2019]
Show 4 more rankings of Regis University and subject specific rankings for 2 subjects


#4
USA

University of Colorado System

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  • #22 
  • #33 
Reuters Most Innovative Universities
[Published 23 October, 2019]
  • #133 
  • #429 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#5
USA

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

  • #1444 
  • #8903 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

  • #776 
  • #600 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #727 
  • #750 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #810 
  • #841 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 1 more rankings of Metropolitan State University of Denver and subject specific rankings for 3 subjects

#7
USA

Aspen University

Student satisfaction: 5.0 / 5.0 (based on 49 student ratings)

#8
USA

Denver School of Nursing


Highest subject rankings of universities in Denver

Public Administration GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#48 
University of Colorado Denver
Nursing & Health Care Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#74 
University of Colorado Denver
Law US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#78 
University of Denver
Education US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#100 
University of Denver
Social Sciences NTU Rankings by Subject
#101 
University of Colorado Denver
Engineering US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#126 
University of Colorado Denver
Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#204 
University of Denver
Mathematics NTU Rankings by Subject
#351 
University of Denver

Student Opinions About Studying in Denver

“It can be a little slow getting around the city by bus, so I would recommend anybody thinking about moving to Denver to try to find an apartment located near a light rail stop, because they’re a much more efficient way of commuting than the buses.”

“Something I didn’t expect before moving to Denver is that there’s a period of adaptation that your body has to go through because of Denver’s high altitude and lack of oxygen, which means you can feel fatigued all the time, or cause issues for people with respiratory problems.”

“There is always something to do here, especially for young and active people thanks to all the outdoor options that Denver and Colorado offer. There’s much more than that though, you can also enjoy shows in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, or visit unusual landmarks like the Stanley Hotel, the hotel from Stephen King’s bestseller, The Shining. Most universities in the area have clubs for doing these activities together, so it’s a great way to meet people.”

Denver Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • Denver attracts many major corporations like Cisco Systems, Fidelity Investments, IBM, and BASF, among many more. Apart from skilled tech-related positions, the city sees a lot of employment opportunities from the likes of restaurants and bars, which are more likely to fulfil the demand for part-time positions. Denver residents tend to agree that if your CV is well-presented, it shouldn't be too long before you get a call.

  • Outdoor activities are one of Denver’s strong points. You can enjoy hiking and biking at Red Rocks Park, go birdwatching at the National Wildlife Refuge, or even white water rafting at Clear Creek just 30 minutes outside the city. There are many groups to join for people looking for some company while they experience the outdoors Denver has to offer.

  • Denver is known as a melting pot of different cultures, with a large international population. This helps many newcomers from foreign countries to feel that they can blend in more easily.

CONS

  • The average rental price in Denver for a 2-bedroom apartment is roughly $1,975, which is on the higher end of the spectrum compared with the rest of the country. Some of the more affordable neighbourhoods in Denver include Park Hill, Stapleton, and Capitol Hill.

  • Denver’s public transport system, RTD, is one of the most expensive public transport services in the country. As a silver lining, students enrolled in participating colleges and universities are entitled to the CollegePass, a student travel discount card which gives free access to local, regional and airport routes.

  • Denver has serious traffic issues at certain times of the day, making it challenging to get where you need to be without waiting in jams. If at all possible, it’s recommendable to select your neighbourhood close to where you expect to be working or studying.


6 out of 8 Universities in Denver Ranked in at least one ranking

23 Different Rankings list Universities in Denver (16 institution and 7 subject rankings)

8 Global Rankings rank Universities in Denver Among TOP 200

Population: 716000

Elevation: 1609 m. above sea level

Time: GMT -7

District/province: Colorado, Denver County

Living costs for students in Denver:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 91* (9% cheaper than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 82* (18% cheaper than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 84* (16% cheaper than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in Denver

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FAQ

University of Colorado Denver ranks #1 in Denver in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Denver University of Colorado Denver is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 28 rankings where University of Colorado Denver is listed.

University of Colorado Denver is ranked best in Denver for Business (Public Administration). See all rankings for the University of Colorado Denver.

University of Colorado Denver is ranked best in Denver for Medicine & Health (Nursing & Health Care). See all rankings for the University of Colorado Denver.

University of Denver is ranked best in Denver for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Denver.

University of Denver is ranked best in Denver for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Denver.

University of Colorado Denver is ranked best in Denver for Social Studies & Humanities (Social Sciences). See all rankings for the University of Colorado Denver.

University of Colorado Denver is ranked best in Denver for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the University of Colorado Denver.

University of Denver is ranked best in Denver for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the University of Denver.

University of Denver is ranked best in Denver for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the University of Denver.

Ranking publishers

British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Thomson Reuters

Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities:

Patent Volume 33% Patent Citations 34% Industry Article Citation Impact 11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11%

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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