Master of Urban and Regional Planning Admissions

Are you passionate about helping plan and build vibrant, sustainable cities? Do you want to help protect the environment and prepare resilient, successful regions? Are you inspired to help people help themselves and promote equitable, healthy communities? The Master of Urban and Regional Planning at CU Denver explores these important topics and offers a hands-on, real-world-oriented experience that uses Colorado as our classroom and engages students with top planning/design professionals and the community.

Visit Us!


Each year, we host in-person and virtual information sessions to give you an opportunity to learn more about our programs, get a tour of our facilities and labs, and help you visualize yourself as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning student. Attend an info session, meet with our advisors and program faculty, and get to know current students.

Application Information


Students eligible for admission to this program must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before they will be able to begin this program. An official conferred degree transcript is required by the university. For additional information, please see Graduate School Policies and Procedures.

Students considering applying to the program should:
  • Have at least a 3.00 undergraduate grade point average
  • Have a demonstrated passion for urban and regional planning (although any prior field of undergraduate study is acceptable)
  • Be drawn to at least one of our three Pillars—Healthy Communities, Equitable Urbanism, and Regional Sustainability
  • Be excited about what our program has to offer
  • Be enthusiastic about going to graduate school in downtown Denver and experiencing Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West
  • Contribute to the diversity of our student body by having backgrounds and experiences that give the applicant a unique perspective on urban and regional planning.

Application Deadlines


Spring 2025

Applications Open:
May 1

Applications Close:
September 15 for International Applicants
October 15 for Domestic Applicants

Note: We will not be accepting late application submissions.

Fall 2025

Applications Open:
August 1

Applications Close:
December 15 for International Applicants
January 15 for Domestic Applicants

Note: Late applications will be accepted through May 1 and will be reviewed on a space-available basis and are not eligible for scholarships.

Application Requirements


  • Online application
  • Application fee ($50 for domestic applicants, $75 for international applicants)
  • A 2-3 page (double-spaced) statement of purpose in which you discuss the following:
    • Your interest in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program
    • The planning topics or areas of interest about which you are particularly passionate
    • Your special strengths and the aspects of your values/personal beliefs, background, and/or experiences that you believe will enable you to make a unique contribution to the Planning Program
    • ​How the Planning Program will further your career plans and the contributions you hope to make after graduation
  • A resume that documents your educational and professional background
  • A sample of your academic writing, approximately 3-5 pages (double-spaced) long. The paper should demonstrate your writing skills as well as your ability for critical analysis. (A professional project you individually completed may be submitted instead of an academic paper. However, like the paper, this project should demonstrate your abilities in intellectual writing and analytic thought). Include a note explaining why you selected the particular paper or project for submission.
  • Three letters of recommendation. At least one of these should be from an academic reference. You will enter their contact information into your application and they will receive an email from CU Denver with a link to upload their letter directly to your application.
  • Transcript(s):
    • Domestic transcripts: Transcripts from each institution you have attended, except for study abroad courses, should be sent to the following:
      • Electronic Transcripts: cap-admissions@ucdenver.edu
      • Mailing Address:
        College of Architecture and Planning
        University of Colorado Denver
        Campus Box 126
        P.O. Box 173364
        Denver, CO 80217-3364
    • International transcripts: An International Credential Evaluation Report is required for any applicant who attended one or more academic institution(s) located outside the United States. All international credentials from the academic institution(s) located outside the United States will need to be verified for authenticity and evaluated by CU Denver or an external evaluation provider (ECE or WES). If you have questions about international transcript reviews, please contact our International Admissions office at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu or visit their website for more information: CU Denver International Admissions Office.
      • Applicants for the Fall 2024 term will have the option of choosing: CU Denver to authenticate and evaluate your credentials in-house. ECE or WES to authenticate and provide a credential evaluation report directly to CU Denver. (Applicant will pay the cost of the evaluation fee.
      • Students who are admitted and enrolled in the program will be required to subsequently submit official college transcripts to the International Admissions office at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu.

Did You Know?

In-State Tuition is available to Western state residents.

CAP has WICHE-WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program) status. This means that students who are residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States are granted in-state tuition.

Learn more about WICHE-WRGP for Graduate Students >>

Meet Our Alumni

Annelies van Vonno headshot
Annelies van Vonno (MURP ’20) focused her Master of Urban and Regional Planning capstone project on sustainable and community-oriented creative placemaking to reduce auto travel and improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety near the Meow Wolf Denver site. Today, the West Colfax Business Improvement District and the Colorado Department of Transportation are bringing van Vonno’s project to life.

Contact Us!

Want to learn more about our Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, have questions about applying to our program, and/or want to visit us on campus? Meet our Academic Advising and Admissions Team.
Profile Picture Name Contact Information
_VRC1891

Jodi Stock

Manager of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment
for Graduate Programs

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building

1250 14th Street

2000

Denver, CO 80202


303-315-1000

CMS Login