Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of Denver reports a middle 50% SAT of 1160 to 1360 (enrolled, Fall 2025 only 25% of the class submitted a score). We use 1260 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1160 to 1360 (enrolled, Fall 2025 only 25% of the class submitted a score) |
| Acceptance rate | 85.4% (Fall 2025, 16,637 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional (private) |
| Type | Private university |
Source: DU official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Just a quarter of DU's enrolled class submitted an SAT score, so this range is not representative of the full incoming class.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | 1340 to 1460 | 58.0% |
| University of Colorado Boulder | 1300 to 1450 | Not reported |
| Colorado College | 1240 to 1440 | 18.5% |
| University of Denver | 1160 to 1360 | 85.4% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Colorado Colleges.
Colorado has no state SAT-cutoff scholarship: the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend every resident student gets is not test-tied, so score-tied money comes down to a handful of named, competitive awards, and even those have mostly moved away from a hard SAT cutoff.
Daniels Scholarship Program: Tuition, fees, room, board, books and a laptop at partner schools; a fixed annual award elsewhere, renewable all 4 years if the student stays eligible.
Boettcher Scholarship: $20,000/year for 4 years, covering tuition and most costs at a partner Colorado college or university.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Colorado SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | Tennessee | 1160 to 1360 |
| Seattle University | Washington | 1160 to 1360 |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | Minnesota | 1180 to 1340 |
| Iowa State University | Iowa | 1153 to 1360 |
A score that is competitive at DU lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Colorado colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1160 to 1360. A score at or above 1360 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1160 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. DU lists its policy as: Test-optional (private). A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
85.4% (Fall 2025, 16,637 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for DU? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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