The University of Denver promises high-quality educational experiences, which contributes to its steadily rising cost of attendance that increases year after year. With this promise, the majority of students should expect to have a wide range of resources and opportunities to build their path to success.
This approach to the university journey is very prominent for first-generation students, who are not only creating their own path of success but also paving the way for their families. Since 2020, 54% of the undergraduate population in the United States is considered to be first-generation students. With many of their parents not having obtained a bachelor’s degree, they are learning their way around college with no guidance.
Emily Lin, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student reminiscences about her experience as a first-generation student at the University of Denver kindly. She has an appreciation for the accessible resources from the university that open possibilities for her future.
“It gives you more opportunities to do what you want to do rather than follow a pathway to what your parents [have] been doing… Because I am a First Gen, I really get to choose my path,” Lin said.
With Lin navigating the college experience as a first-generation student, she would take the initiative to find out about any resources that could help her throughout her journey.
“I got to know that there are more resources than I thought there were. Because usually, I would stick to the library… I didn’t know there was a Writing Center and there [were] math tutors and STEM help,” Lin said.
As first-generation students explore what is accessible to them at the University of Denver, First@DU is one of the places to go. This is an office where students can join cohort programs or community activities to build support networks, navigate the college environment and achieve academic success. Dr. Angela K.VanDijk, who serves as the Senior Director of First@DU. shared insights into student participation within the First@DU office.
“There are over 950 first-generation undergraduate students at DU… [last year] over half of those students participated in at least one First@DU initiative, and over a third participated in two or more,” Dr. VanDijik said.
Through these initiatives, students build a sense of confidence and belonging on campus while also managing the financial and academic challenges that many face.
“It’s hard to meet new people and find common connections,” Lin said.
For Lin, some of the challenges she has encountered in her university journey include finding community as she is both a first-generation and out-of-state student, and she has found that those two combined make it more difficult to build a sense of belonging at DU. Another challenge that the fourth-year student mentioned was DU’s high cost of attendance.
“When I applied here and looked at tuition it was something I worried about… If I did not have scholarships or the financial aid I have now, I wouldn’t be attending DU,” Lin said.
On Oct. 15, 2024, students and faculty members received an email from the Office of the Provost concerning the undergraduate tuition rising by three percent starting in the fall of 2025. Undergraduate students should expect tuition to rise by $1,718 per credit hour with the promise of the university continuing to provide top-quality learning experiences. John Gudvangen, Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment and Director of Financial Aid, shared insights about what it takes to make education attainable for all students.
“DU grants and scholarships account for 80% of all the undergraduate financial aid that students receive. That’s a very large commitment to helping families with affordability with much less help from federal, state and outside private resources”, Gudvangen said.
Students at DU rely on their FAFSA and College Board CSS Profile applications to receive their financial aid packages from the university. More than 65% of first-generation students rely on financial aid services, like FAFSA, to access higher education.
According to Gudvangen, over 88% of first-year students’ financial needs were met for the 2024-2025 academic year. However, concerns do arise with the potential possibility of these financial resources ceasing.
“We’re keeping a close eye on what might change at the federal level. At this time we don’t expect undergraduate federal aid to decline,” Gudvangen said.
However, the University’s reassurances do little to settle the nerves of students, especially those like Lin who do not know if obtaining a graduate degree is feasible.
“Cost is going to be something I am going to worry about… financial burden wasn’t something I had to worry about [with] FAFSA,” Lin said.
With the deadline for the 2025-25 financial aid checklist nearing, it is important to know what resources are available. Take a look at DU’s Forms and Resources to understand what you need to apply for financial aid. With any sudden change that can be detrimental to a student’s access to their education, the Financial Aid Appeals is the place to go.
