The only major midsized private university between Tulsa and the West Coast. DU’s campus in residential Denver is pleasant, and admissions brochures shamelessly tout Rocky Mountain landscapes and healthy lifestyles. Senior faculty teach all core courses. A haven for skiing enthusiasts and business majors, DU has become much more selective in recent years.

The oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, the University of Denver is where former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earned her B.A. in political science at age 19 and later returned for a Ph.D. in international studies. Her mentor was Soviet specialist Josef Korbel, father of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Thus, it’s not surprising that DU boasts strong programs in political science, international studies, and public affairs. Many students, however, opt for DU’s business program, and the campus location offers ample opportunities for networking, skiing, and taking in the beautiful Colorado landscape. A freshman says, “DU students share a sense of adventure, risk-taking, and spending time doing what one values.”

DU’s 125-acre main campus is located in a comfortable residential neighborhood only eight miles from downtown Denver and an hour east of major ski areas. Architectural styles vary and materials include brick, limestone, Colorado sandstone, and copper. Nearby Mount Evans (14,265 feet) is home to the world’s loftiest observatory, a DU facility available to both professors and students. The Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science serves as a hub for interdisciplinary, STEM-related research and scholarship. The 500-bed Dimond Family Residential Village for first-year students opened in 2020.

Under the general education requirements, undergraduate students choose from a series of courses from the Common Curriculum that emphasize writing and rhetoric, language, analytical inquiry, and scientific inquiry. “At first I thought, ‘Who wants to take these science, art, and English classes?’” explains a business major. “But now that I’ve completed the core, I feel better about myself and my world knowledge.” University rules stipulate that all core courses must be taught by senior faculty. Core courses are supplemented by a First-Year Seminar (limited to 20 students) and an advanced seminar, which serves as a capstone to the curriculum model.

DU is known for its business school-especially the Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. Music, chemistry, engineering, and computer science have solid reputations. Finance, psychology, international studies, and marketing are the most popular majors. Several dual-degree programs allow undergraduates to earn a bachelor’s degree and an advanced degree from Denver’s graduate schools in business, education, the arts, international studies, social work, and law.

Since DU operates on a quarter system, classes move quickly and the workload can get intense. “I personally enjoy how rigorous the quarter system can be, because you are constantly learning something new,” says an art history major. Students say small class sizes-61 percent have fewer than 20 students-make for a collaborative environment with plenty of support from faculty. “Professors are always open to deep intellectual discussion,” says a molecular biology major. DU is also recognized for its strong academic support services. A psychology major says, “The Learning Effectiveness Program has been amazing and given me the accommodations and resources I need to succeed.”

DU’s Honors Program draws about 350 students who take a sequence of honors courses and complete a thesis or final project. Funded undergraduate research opportunities are widely available. All juniors and seniors have the chance to study abroad at no additional cost; 73 percent of Pioneers go abroad, and they say the 150 available programs are an integral part of the DU experience. “DU fosters a global perspective in which students understand their role in and responsibility to the global community,” says a psychology major.

“We have a funky mix of really preppy East Coasters and Midwesterners mixed in with all the laid-back outdoorsy people,” says one student. Twenty-nine percent of undergraduates are from Colorado, and 7 percent arrive from other countries. African Americans account for 2 percent of the student body, Asian Americans 4 percent, Hispanics 12 percent, and multiracial students 5 percent. Students report that political organizations are active on campus and cite the environment and social justice as issues of particular concern. As one of the few private colleges in the West, DU, founded in 1864, is also among the most expensive in the region. More than half of undergrads do receive merit scholarships, which average $20,300, and 207 athletic scholarships are also available. “Students have relatively expensive hobbies like skiing, backpacking, and traveling,” observes a senior. “I think individuals from low-income backgrounds have a hard time fitting in.”

About half of all undergrads reside on campus; students are required to spend their first two years in the residence halls. “Each residence hall has a leadership development team that plans programming events just for that residence,” explains a student. Students praise the five living/learning communities open to first-years: “Being able to come onto campus and already have a structured and supportive group of people who shared a similar interest was incredibly helpful,” a senior recalls. Most juniors and seniors opt for the decent quarters found within walking distance. Campus dining receives mixed reviews for taste and variety, but students report that dietary restrictions are easily accommodated. Campus police are said to be helpful, and a junior comments, “All leaders of student organizations receive training to reduce instances of sexual assault on campus and become better supporters of survivors.”

Social life is divided between on-campus activities and off-campus diversions. Twenty-five percent of the men and 28 percent of the women belong to a fraternity or sorority, respectively. “Greek organizations are present but not overwhelming,” says an international studies major. A classmate adds, “There is more of a bar scene around DU than a party scene, I have found.” Students make regular trips into the city, made easy by free access to the nearby light rail. One student cheers, “Campus is minutes from downtown Denver, where there is great shopping, festivals, events, concerts, phenomenal restaurants, and, for students over 21, one of the best microbrewery scenes.” With consistently beautiful, sunny weather and great skiing, hiking, and camping less than an hour away in the Rockies, many DU students head for the hills on weekends, often on low-cost trips organized by the Alpine Club. Students also explore Estes Park, Mount Evans, and Echo Lake.

Students unite when the powerhouse DU hockey team skates out onto the ice, especially against archrival Colorado College. The Pioneers co-ed ski team has won three national championships in recent years. Other competitive Division I programs include men’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer. Intramural and club sports are varied and popular; more than a quarter of students take part. Each February, academics are put aside for the three-day Winter Carnival. Top administrators, professors, and students all pack off to Keystone, Winter Park, or another ski area to catch some fresh powder and see who can ski the fastest, skate the best, or build the most artistic ice sculptures.

Students like the University of Denver for its modest size, its friendly atmosphere, and the flexibility afforded by the albeit sometimes stressful quarter system. As the school pushes for a more ethnically diverse student body and improves its curriculum and facilities, the University of Denver is striving to become better known for its intellectual rigor than for its gorgeous setting in the Rocky Mountains.

-Fiske Guide