Master of Urban and Regional Planning Admissions

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.

• 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 Requirements

• Online application
• Application fee ($50 for domestic applicants, $75 for international applicants)
• Personal Statement: The University of Colorado Denver’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program seeks applicants who have demonstrated academic excellence.  It is just as important to us, however, to have applicants who are passionate about urban and regional planning, bring a unique perspective, and who will enrich the program through their active engagement. 

  • Please provide a 2-3 page (double-spaced) statement of interest in which you discuss:

    • your interest in the CU Denver MURP 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 CU Denver MURP Program
    • how the CU Denver MURP Program will further your career plans and the contributions you hope to make after graduation
• Resume: A resume that documents your educational and professional background
• Letters of Recommendation: Two academic or professional letters of recommendation, but three are preferred. At least one of these should be from an academic reference. The letters should speak to your time management, work ethic, professionalism, ability to work with others, and writing and speaking, among other things.  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:
• 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 [email protected] or visit their website for more information: CU Denver International Admissions Office.
• Applicants for the Fall 2026 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.
• In order for your application to be considered on time, all application materials, including letters of recommendation and transcripts must be received by the application deadline. 
• Students who are admitted and enrolled in the program will be required to subsequently submit official college transcripts to the International Admissions office at [email protected].

Mailing Address:
College of Architecture and Planning
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 126
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

• Electronic Transcripts: [email protected]