Graduate Admissions
Applying to the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business
Daniels’ programs are designed to prepare you for a lifetime of personal and professional success. We’ve assembled extraordinary resources to deliver on that mission: challenge-driven education, business-savvy faculty and a vibrant network of alumni.
At Daniels, we offer 4 MBAs and 7 specialized master’s degrees, tailored to different experience levels, specialties and career aspirations. If you have questions, contact our Admissions office at 303-871-4212.
Program Start Dates
Programs with fall start dates begin in September. Spring start dates begin in March.
- The Denver MBA: Fall
- Part-time Professional MBA: Fall and Spring
- Executive MBA: Fall and Spring
- Online MBA (MBA@Denver): January, March, June and September
- Master of Accountancy/Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics: Fall and Spring
- Master of Science in Applied Quantitative Finance: Fall and Spring
- Master of Science in Business Analytics: Fall and Spring
- Master of Science in Management: Fall and Spring
- Master of Science in Marketing: Fall
- Master of Science in Real Estate and the Built Environment: Fall and Spring
Admissions Team Coffee Consults
While we always welcome students to come to campus for a consult, graduate admissions team members are also available to meet over coffee at various spots in Denver. Schedule a meeting with your admissions counselor at a location that works for you.
Application Deadlines for Master’s Programs
We encourage applicants to submit a strong, completed application as early as possible to secure a place in our programs. Once we’ve received your online application, required materials and application fee, we may extend an offer to complete a required admissions interview. Our goal is a smooth and responsive admissions process, and candidates should expect an admissions decision within 2 to 3 weeks of completing their interviews.
Fall Quarter 2023
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Upcoming Deadline for Spring Quarter 2024
October 15, 2023
Next deadline: December 5, 2023
Upcoming Deadline for Fall Quarter 2024
October 15, 2023
Next deadline: February 1, 2024
Scholarship consideration
Candidates that indicate interest in merit-based awards in the application are automatically considered for scholarships and graduate assistantships at the time of admission. There is no separate application.
Graduate Certificates, PhD and Continuing Education
Daniels Graduate Certificates and the Executive PhD program have separate application processes and different deadlines than the master’s programs. Also, students can take up to 6 graduate courses without being admitted to a degree program.
- Learn more about applying to a certificate program.
- Learn more about applying to the Executive PhD program.
- Learn about nondegree continuing education courses.
Application Process
MBA Degrees
Requirements | Denver MBA (full-time) | Professional MBA (part-time) | Executive MBA (part-time) | MBA@Denver (online) |
Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required |
GMAT or GRE (GRE Code for All Programs: 4842) | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-43 | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-07 | Test waived
| Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-91 |
Essays | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Work Experience | Required 2 years of professional work experience (3 years is preferred) | Required 2 years of professional work experience (3 years is preferred) | Required Minimum of 10 years of professional work experience | Required 2 years of professional work experience (3 years is preferred) |
Professional Resume | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (no page limit) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) |
Recommendations | Not Required | Not Required | Required (2 professional references) | Not Required |
Admissions Interview | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) |
Application Fee | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) |
Specialized Master’s Degrees (Part 1)
Requirements | Master of Accountancy | MS Applied Quantitative Finance | MS Business Analytics | MS Digital Leadership |
Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required |
GMAT or GRE (GRE Code for All Programs: 4842) | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-82 | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-04 | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-47 | Optional* GMAT code: TBD |
Essays | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Work Experience | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Required 2 years of professional work experience (3 years is preferred) |
Professional Resume | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) |
Recommendations | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
Admissions Interview | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) |
Application Fee | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) |
Specialized Master’s Degrees (Part 2)
Requirements | MS Management | MS Marketing | MS Real Estate |
Transcripts | Required | Required | Required |
GMAT or GRE (GRE Code for All Programs: 4842) | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-31 | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-65 | Optional* GMAT code: MZR-GT-58 |
Essays | Required | Required | Required |
Work Experience | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
Professional Resume | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) | Required (limit 2 pages, 1 page is preferred) |
Recommendations | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
Admissions Interview | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) | By invitation only (on-campus or online) |
Application Fee | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) | $100 (non-refundable) |
*The Daniels College of Business is a GMAT/GRE-optional institution. If you determine that your application will be stronger with GMAT or GRE scores, please submit them when you apply. More Information below.
Additional Application Information and Resources
Transcripts
We require either a scanned copy or a downloaded version of your transcripts in PDF format from every college or university where you have attempted or received college credit. Transcripts must include:
- Student name
- Institution name
- Dates of attendance
- Course names, numbers, credits, grades received for courses taken
- Degree title and conferral date, if a degree has been earned
Applicants may submit unofficial or official documents for review; however, accepted candidates must submit official documents to complete their student records.
Applicants with foreign credentials must also submit proof of the degree earned (for example, a diploma or certificate). If a transcript and/or proof of degree is not issued by an institution in English, it must be accompanied by a certified English translation. For candidates educated in India, we require individual mark sheets.
GMAT/GRE
The Daniels College of Business is a GMAT/GRE-optional institution, meaning each candidate must determine whether one of these exams will support their candidacy and merit.
Daniels takes a holistic approach to reviewing every application. We examine your resumes, essays and transcripts to discern the narrative of where you have been, where you are and where you want to be. If you feel that GMAT or GRE scores will support your candidacy, we encourage you to include them with your application.
Essays
Essays are assessed for clarity, organization, conciseness and grammar. Through the essays, you can communicate what you hope to achieve at Daniels and how you will contribute to the Daniels community. Take advantage of the third optional open-topic essay to let us know what sets you apart from other applicants.
Essay Prompts
Essay 1 (required): Briefly discuss your career objectives post-graduate school. How will your professional experience, combined with our degree program, help you to achieve these goals? What are your alternative career paths? (350 words)
Essay 2 (required): Please address one or more of the Daniels College of Business’s core values (listed below). How you choose to address one of these concepts is completely up to you. You might leverage your personal experiences, explore your goals through one of these themes or expand upon your individual focus for your graduate student experience.
Daniels values:
• Culture of innovation and engagement
• Learn through doing
• Interact with integrity
• Diversity and inclusion as a source of strength
• Global action and influence
Essay 3 (optional): Is there anything else that we should know as we evaluate your application? If you feel your credentials and essays represent you fairly, please don’t feel obligated to submit another essay. (250 words)
Executive MBA Essay Prompts
Essay 1 (required): Briefly outline your primary objectives for pursuing an MBA as an experienced professional. How will the Executive MBA program, combined with your professional experience, help you achieve your goals? (350-450 words)
Essay 2 (required): Provide an example of an ethical dilemma you’ve encountered in your professional or personal life. Ethical dilemmas are often complex, and involve making decisions in an environment where no single solution exists. What factors did you consider, what action did you ultimately take, and what did you learn? (350-450 words)
Essay 3 (optional): You are more than what appears on your resume. What interests and activities outside of your career add meaning to your life, or to the lives of others?
Work Experience
We don’t require work experience for specialized master’s degrees.
However, MBA degrees require a minimum of 2 years of full-time professional, military or volunteer work experience. The Executive MBA requires 10 years of work experience, with at least 8 in a progressively responsible management role. Though we don’t prefer any particular type of work experience, wo do consider the overall tenure and scope of your professional history, so please address any gaps in your resume or optional essay.
Professional Resume
We require a resume of all applicants to demonstrate your professional experience. For more information, see our sample resume templates.
Application Fee
Candidates are required to submit a $100 application fee.
As a way of honoring our valued community members and those who serve our country, past and present, we offer application fee waivers to the following individuals:
- University of Denver alumni and current students
- Current University of Denver employees
- Current and former members of the U.S. military
- Current and former members of Peace Corps
- Current and former members of AmeriCorps
- Current and former members of Teach for America
- Current and former members of the McNair Scholars program
- Fulbright Scholars
- Master’s Academic Achievement Pathway students
Pathway for Current Undergraduates
In recognition of academic achievement, the Master’s Academic Achievement Pathway (MAAP) offers current undergraduates who hold and maintain a cumulative 3.0+ GPA at a regionally accredited institution a path a customized path to a master’s degree. We will waive your application fee, and if you meet the MAAP criteria and are accepted to the master’s degree you apply to, you will receive a minimum $15,000 scholarship. Learn more about the MAAP process.
Current University of Denver undergraduates can enroll in one of our 4+1 dual degree programs and begin taking graduate courses while they finish their bachelor’s degree.
Enrollment Deposit
If you’re accepted into a Daniels MBA program or specialized master’s degree, a $1,500 enrollment deposit is due to reserve your seat. This deposit is nonrefundable and is credited toward your first tuition payment.
Daniels offers deposit reductions to University of Denver staff, faculty, current students and alumni, as well as current and former members of the U.S. military.
Student Profiles
Daniels Newsroom
Daniels Grad ‘Pays It Back’ With Executive PhD
Daniels Students Intern All Over the World
Daniels MBA Students Travel Across the Globe This Summer
Daniels Grad Lands Residency With Opera Colorado
Computer Science Grad Branches Out with Master’s in Management
DU Field Notes: The Most Instagrammable Spots in Denver
Accounting and Finance Class Studies ESG in Romania
How to Move from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset
