U.S. News & World Report Reveals 2025 College Rankings | University of Denver

The University of Denver again ranked among the top colleges in the country in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings. Today, the publication released its latest list of the nation’s Best Colleges, with DU earning a tie for 121st place on the National Universities list—three spots higher than the previous year.

Every year, U.S. News & World Report analysts and editors compile more than 80 lists of Best Colleges rankings, highlighting colleges and universities that excel in areas like value, teaching, veterans’ needs and academic disciplines like business, computer science, engineering, nursing, economics, psychology and more.

DU makes great strides as a top college for veterans

This year, DU’s spot in the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings for best colleges for veterans jumped 91 places, with the University now tied for 79th.

“It’s amazing to see the support that our chancellor and the University provide to our student veterans,” says Damon Vine, director of Veteran Services at DU. “We hope by providing additional resources, like the Student Veterans Association and the Veterans and Military Resources Lounge, that we can help attract more military-affiliated students to the University of Denver.”

DU is proud to offer a variety of programs for the more than 500 student veterans and military-affiliated students on campus, including the Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project through the Sturm College of Law, The Sturm Center from the Graduate School of Professional Psychology and the Veterans’ Peer-to-Peer Network mentoring program. 

The University’s Student Veterans Association (SVA) hosts an annual fitness competition event, the Hero Games, a day of team-building activities meant to strengthen the DU student veterans community and raise money for SVA. The organization also hosts an annual Ruck for a Clause holiday event.

DU’s support for veterans doesn’t stop there. The University participates in the Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program, with all undergraduate programs and graduate schools participating in the financial support program for all qualified GI Bill® users.

Vine says the veteran community at DU is strong—and getting stronger.

“In the lounge, our veterans have found each other,” Vine says. “And I hear them exchange phone numbers all the time. I hear them say, ‘Oh yeah, I face that issue. This is a good resource, either on campus or off campus, for you.’”

Undergraduate business program makes the top 100

This year, DU cracked the top 100 in best undergraduate business programs and is now tied for 94th place. 

The Daniels College of Business offers not only rigorous coursework in the traditional disciplines but also hands-on learning opportunities in corporate advising, portfolio management, event management, business analytics consulting and advertising creative strategy.

“We’re proud to offer our students a high-touch, truly transformative education—on our beautiful Denver campus and through our well-respected study abroad programs,” says Naomi Boyd, dean of the Daniels College of Business. “Our dedicated faculty who partner with the local, national and international business community engage students at Daniels in meaningful ways to build the skills that position them to innovate, solve problems and succeed.”

Other USNWR rankings

• #45 in Undergraduate Teaching Programs
• #79 in Undergraduate Psychology Programs

More top rankings for DU

DU’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies is ranked the 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations by Foreign Policy magazine. Korbel’s undergraduate degree program was ranked 20th in the United States. 

“It is hard to overstate how remarkable these rankings are given the formidable competition,” says Fritz Mayer, dean of the Korbel School. “Such glowing recognition by those who know international affairs programs best is a wonderful testament to the excellence of our faculty, the strength of our programs, the quality of our staff, and the accomplishments of our students and alumni.” 

Last month, DU earned the top rank in the category, “Their Students Love These Colleges,” by Princeton Review. The 2025 annual rankings are based on a survey of 168,000 college students from institutions across the country. In addition to this top ranking, DU also made the top 25 in eight other categories: 

#7 Best College Library 

#13 College City Gets High Marks 

#15 Best-Run Colleges 

#18 Best Health Services 

#21 LGBTQ-Friendly 

#22 Town-Gown Relations Are Great 

#23 Happiest Students 

#24 Most Beautiful Campus