A day at Rocky Mountain National Park, two tickets to the Denver Art Museum, or a tank of gas—all things you can spend $50 on when you save that amount on an application to CU Denver during Colorado Free Application Days.
Between Tuesday, Oct. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 20, Colorado residents can apply to CU Denver and the $50 application fee will be waived when using this code: FreeAppDayCO. Colorado Free Application Days is an initiative led by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to ensure all Colorado residents have equitable access to higher education.
CU Denver is committed to creating an inclusive and just environment for all learners at all stages of life, and Colorado Free Application Days is another opportunity to fulfill the goal of being an equity-serving institution and university for life. From the built-in support systems designed with students top of mind to our location in the heart of downtown Denver, there are several reasons to choose CU Denver as part of your educational journey.
Ricky Lippincott applied to CU Denver because of the many programs and services the university offers to students to help them succeed. The opportunity to work alongside prominent researchers in his field is what appealed to Francisco Gallegos, who earned his master’s in culturally and linguistically diverse education. Cybelle Richeson originally applied to CU Denver expecting to transfer to a larger university after her first two years, but grew to value the connections to people and downtown Denver, so she continued on and graduated in May 2022.
“I think coming to CU Denver was one of the most valuable decisions I could have made for myself and my career,” Richeson said. “Through my time at CU Denver, I’ve learned how to make money, manage it, and run a profitable business.” Richeson now serves as a budget analyst at CU Denver.
Who qualifies for Colorado Free Application Days?
All Colorado residents—first-time first-years, transfer students, returning students, and applicants seeking a second bachelor’s degree—qualify for Colorado Free Application Days.
How does it work?
Submit your online application and your personal statement (if required) between Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 and other documents can be submitted at any time afterward. Use the code FreeAppDayCO for the $50 waiver.
How do I apply?
You can apply to CU Denver during Colorado Free Application Days two ways:
- Apply through Milo’s App: On the application page titled Welcome, enter FreeAppDayCO in the
application fee waiver code box. As long as you submit between Oct. 18–20, 2022, and you are a Colorado resident, you will see the payment waived in your application portal within 24 hours.
- Apply through the Common App (first-time, first-year applicants only): Within the University of Colorado Denver Member Questions section, answer these two questions like this:
Do you intend to use a school-specific fee waiver? Answer: Yes.
Please provide your University of Colorado Denver fee waiver code here. Answer: FreeAppDayCO. Your fee will be waived as long as you submit your completed Common App and Member Questions between Oct. 18–20, 2022.
What is the FAFSA?
The process of receiving financial aid starts with submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and you can fill out your FAFSA now, even before you apply to CU Denver. The FAFSA is the standardized application developed by the U.S. Department of Education and is open as of October 1, 2022. Financial aid is awarded based on need, which is determined in part by annual income. Learn more about the FAFSA.
Do I need to submit test scores like the SAT, ACT, or GRE?
You offer more than a score, which is why CU Denver is test-optional and does not require test scores for admission consideration. Other factors that are considered for admission decisions include number and mix of academic courses, work experiences, and volunteer or leadership duties.
Celebrating Transfer Students
Coinciding with Colorado Free Application Days, CU Denver is also celebrating our transfer student population as part of National Transfer Student Week, which is a nationwide initiative aiming to bring awareness to the journey of transfer students. Half the undergraduate student population at CU Denver are transfer students, becoming Lynx after studying at various community colleges and other four-year institutions in and outside of Colorado.
From Monday, Oct. 17 through Friday, Oct. 21, transfer students can celebrate life as a Lynx through several events, including a Transfer Student Reception, Swag Swap, and Involvement Fair. Prospective students interested in transferring to CU Denver can also engage in conversations about their pathway options and sign up for campus tours.