Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
University of Denver: The Hymnal 1940 and The Hymnal 1982
Photo: Pbritti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

University of Denver

  • LocationDenver, CO
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 13,387 students
Official website

University of Denver is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

FOCUS, a Catholic campus outreach, lists the University of Denver as a campus it serves. The university describes itself as non-denominational.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of University of Denver, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miOur Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church: 1.0 mi1Most Precious Blood Catholic Church: 1.1 mi2Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church: 1.2 mi3Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church: 1.2 mi4Saint Louis Catholic Church: 1.9 mi5St. Andrew Avelino Seminario: 2.0 mi6University of Denver (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 2200 South Logan Street, Denver
  2. Most Precious Blood Catholic Church — 1.1 mi · 3959 East Iliff Avenue, Denver
  3. Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 1201 South Elizabeth Street, Denver
  4. Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 2375 East Arizona Avenue, Denver
  5. Saint Louis Catholic Church — 1.9 mi · 3310 South Sherman Street, Englewood
  6. St. Andrew Avelino Seminario — 2.0 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (FOCUS is the only Catholic student outreach found for this campus.)
    Sources (2)
    1. University of Denver - FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-denver · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “HOME | CAMPUSES | University of Denver”
      FOCUS has a campus page for the University of Denver.
    2. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Pittsburg State University University of DenverEast Tennessee State University”
      FOCUS lists the University of Denver among the campuses it serves.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • FOCUS lists the University of Denver as a campus it serves.
    Sources (2)
    1. University of Denver - FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-denver · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “HOME | CAMPUSES | University of Denver”
      FOCUS has a campus page for the University of Denver.
    2. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Pittsburg State University University of DenverEast Tennessee State University”
      FOCUS lists the University of Denver among the campuses it serves.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

1 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 1 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
    A Catholic campus outreach that lists the University of Denver as a campus it serves.

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. University of Denver - FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-denver · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “HOME | CAMPUSES | University of Denver”
    FOCUS has a campus page for the University of Denver.
  2. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Pittsburg State University University of DenverEast Tennessee State University”
    FOCUS lists the University of Denver among the campuses it serves.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
89 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.89%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,355 · ACT 30.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.9 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,940

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division I · The Summit League
SettingCity
ROTCArmy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member9 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
6,415
Total students13,387
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$36,131
Cost of attendance (per year)$78,476
Median federal debt at graduation$21,844
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
76%
First-year retention89%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$71,155
Admission rate78%
Students receiving Pell grants14%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1240–1410ACT 28–33
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1355
SAT reading & writing640–710
SAT math600–700
ACT composite28–33
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 58 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Denver

The Most Reverend James R. Golka, Archbishop of Denver

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: archden.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is University of Denver a Catholic college?
No. University of Denver is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by FOCUS.

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