CU Denver vs. CCD

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or Community College of Denver? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver or CCD 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 Colorado Denver vs. Community College of Denver comparison
University of Colorado Denver Community College of Denver College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver Community College of Denver
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Overview

CU Denver CCD
Location Denver, CO Denver, CO
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 23,409 7,715
Type Public 4 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking #391
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu ccd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Denver CCD
Tuition (In State) $9,096 $3,941
Tuition (Out of State) $27,288 $16,175
Room & Board $14,920 $14,579
Avg Net Price $15,303 $9,526
Avg Grant Aid $8,079 $8,670
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 72%

Admission

CU Denver CCD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,569 -
Admitted 11,336 -
Acceptance Rate 77.8% Open
Enrolled % 14.4% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.46 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Moderate Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 980/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

CU Denver CCD
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (43%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Business (5%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Legal Professions (4%)

Outcomes

CU Denver CCD
Graduation Rate 40% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $35,000
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 25%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $12,750
Median Loan Payment $219 $131

Diversity

CU Denver CCD
% Men 14% 13%
% Women 26% 20%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 38%
% Black 5% 13%
% Hispanic 19% 25%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

CU Denver CCD
% In-State 85% 97%
% Out-of-State 13% 3%

Campus

CU Denver CCD
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Denver is larger than than CCD based on total student enrollment (23,409 students vs. 7,715 students)

CU Denver vs. CCD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or CCD?

  • University of Colorado Denver is 130.8% more expensive to attend than CCD for in-state tuition ($9,096.00 vs. $3,941.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.7% higher at CU Denver than Community College of Denver ($27,288.00 vs. $16,175.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Community College of Denver than CU Denver ($9,526 vs. $15,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Community College of Denver are 2.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($14,579 vs. $14,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than Community College of Denver (86% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Denver students is 7.3% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($8,670 vs. $8,079)

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

CU Denver vs. CCD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Denver or CCD? 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 CCD and CU Denver.

  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $33,200 more per year than CCD graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $35,000)
  • Community College of Denver students graduate with a $8,440 lower median federal student loan debt than CU Denver graduates. ($12,750 vs. $21,190)
  • CCD graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than CU Denver graduates. ($131 vs. $219)
  • More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCD students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 25%)

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