Commitment to Diversity and Equity - Graduate Programs

CU Denver is committed to diversity and equity in the recruitment and retention of students. We actively seek persons from underrepresented populations, which include, but are not limited to, underrepresented ethnic groups, disabled persons, and those students who are economically disadvantaged, from rural areas, or first-in-family college graduates.

Application Fee Waivers

Applicants may be eligible for an Application Fee Waiver if they meet one of the following criteria and are able to provide documentation:

  • Members/participant in a federally-funded program (McNair, MARC U-STAR, IMSD, Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Bridges to the Doctorate, PREP, RISE, TRiO, IPERT, ENDURE, Cientifico Latino Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative, or Sally Cassanova).
  • Veteran or military.
  • Registered member of a federally recognized American Indian/Native American tribe.
  • CU Denver Alumnus (completed a degree at CU Denver; only applicable to CU Denver graduate program applications).
  • Fulbright Scholarship recipients.
  • An individual with a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
  • Participants of our summer research programs (see complete list here).
  • An individual who met a Graduate School representative at an event and submitted a Request for Information Form.
  • Waivers for other reasons may be considered.

Note: Application fee waivers cannot be applied to applications that have already been paid. Requests for waivers must be submitted at least 1 week before the final application deadline.

Contact graduateadmissions@ucdenver.edu if you have questions or are ready to apply your application fee waiver.

CU Denver Graduate Program Statistics

CU Denver works to create welcoming and respectful learning environments where a culture of inclusion can flourish. At CU Denver, we honor our diversity of experiences and perspectives in the committed belief that they enrich the educational experience for all. Recent enrollment data of graduate students in all programs at CU Denver, broken down by race and ethnicity.

See the data visualizations


Support Services and Resources

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 101

Basic overview of important considerations related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity is home to student services, programs, and resources developed to enhance diversity university-wide and foster a culture of equity and inclusion among all faculty, staff, students, and the community.

Center for Identity and Inclusion

The University of Colorado Denver Center for Identity & Inclusion (CII) consists of American Indian Student Services (AISS), Asian American Student Services (AASS), Black Student Services (BSS) and Latinx Student Services (LSS). CII provides vital links to the culturally rich and diverse community surrounding CU Denver.

Office of Inclusion and Outreach

The Office of Inclusion and Outreach at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has a mission to promote and support a diverse community that acknowledges values, fosters, and benefits from the unique qualities, rich histories, and wide variety of cultural values and beliefs that mirror and fulfill the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus mission of education, healthcare, research, and community service.

Women and Gender Center

The Women & Gender Center (WGC) at CU Denver is committed to advancing issues of gender equity and supporting the gender-focused needs of students, faculty, and staff on the Auraria campus. Their mission is to address gender inequities and foster a campus community that values inclusion, social justice, equity, and respect for everyone regardless of background and experience.  They are committed to enacting intersectional feminism in their programming by exploring gender as it overlaps and interacts with the multiple identities that people inhabit across their lifespans. They serve all members of the CU Denver community, regardless of gender identity.

Undocumented Student Services

Our university remains committed to providing access to all qualified students, including students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) programs.  ASSET, DACA, Mixed Family Status​ and undocumented students are valuable members of our student body whom we strive to ensure are safe and respected on our campus. We are pleased to provide a variety of services, support, and information for students, faculty, and staff to help undocumented students succeed at CU Denver and CU Anschutz

Disability Resources

Our university supports a diverse student body and doesn't discriminate against persons with disabilities in admissions policies and procedures nor educational programs, services and activities.​

The Office of Disability Resources and Services maintains disability-related records, determines eligibility and develops plans to provide academic accommodations for students. We encourage academically-qualified students with disabilities to utilize all the appropriate accommodations available to them.