The University of Colorado Denver was established in 1912 as an extension of the University of Colorado Boulder, initially offering evening classes for working adults in downtown Denver. It attained full university status and became an independent institution in 1973, emerging as Colorado's premier public urban research university. In 2004, it merged with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (now part of the separate CU Anschutz Medical Campus), and since then has focused on accessible, career-oriented education, research with real-world impact, and serving diverse urban populations through its location in the heart of Denver.
CU Denver's main campus is located on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, Colorado, sharing the site with two other institutions (Metropolitan State University of Denver and Community College of Denver) in a vibrant urban setting covering about 126 acres. The campus features modern buildings, the Student Commons, extensive public transportation access, proximity to Denver's central business district, cultural venues, and outdoor spaces. It is primarily a commuter campus with some nearby housing options, offering flexibility for working students, and benefits from its central location with easy access to internships, professional networks, and city amenities.
CU Denver is a public research university and one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system, governed by the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The current Chancellor is Kenneth Christensen, who serves as the chief executive officer. The administration includes a Provost and deans across its schools and colleges, with strong ties to the broader CU system for funding, policy, and resources. It operates as part of Colorado's public higher education network, supported by state funding, tuition, research grants, and an endowment contribution from the system.
CU Denver is organized into seven schools and colleges, including Business, Education, Engineering, Design and Computing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Public Affairs, and Architecture and Planning, offering more than 100 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional programs with a strong emphasis on urban issues, sustainability, business, engineering, public health, and interdisciplinary research. As an R1 research institution, it excels in areas like cybersecurity, K-12 education, smart infrastructure, and health-related fields, with many programs ranked highly in Colorado and nationally. It consistently ranks as #1 in Colorado for social mobility (U.S. News & World Report 2026), #232 in National Universities (U.S. News 2026), and appears in global rankings such as QS 851-900 and Times Higher Education 351–400 band.
CU Denver enrolls about 14,000–15,000 students (around 70% undergraduate and 30% graduate/professional as of recent data), with a highly diverse community reflecting Denver's urban population and a significant commuter focus. Student life emphasizes flexibility and real-world engagement through the Office of Student Life and Campus Community, offering hundreds of clubs and organizations, leadership opportunities, student government, media, cultural events, sports and recreation, and community service. The urban setting provides access to Denver's vibrant arts, music, outdoor activities (near the Rockies), internships, and professional networking, with strong support for wellbeing, career services, and inclusivity in a collaborative, opportunity-rich environment.
Professors at University of Colorado Denver
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