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Music & Entertainment Industry Studies • Denver, Colorado
Quick Take
CU Denver's MEIS is one of the country's few fully contemporary-focused music departments, offering Music Performance, Singer/Songwriter, Music Business, and Recording Arts tracks in the heart of Denver's live music scene. Billboard-ranked top music business school four consecutive years. Audition and non-audition tracks available; six pro recording studios; faculty are working industry professionals.
CU Denver at a Glance
| Program | |
| School / Division | University of Colorado Denver Music & Entertainment Industry Studies |
| Setting | public |
| Reliigous Affliation | none |
| Program Size | medium |
| Genres / Styles | electronic, hip-hop, popular |
| Primary Instrument | bass, drums, electronic instruments, guitar, keyboard, piano, voice |
| Areas of Study | engineering/technology, music business/industry, performance, songwriting |
| Degrees Offered | Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master’s |
| Musical Selectivity | selective |
| NASM Accreditation | no |
| Admissions | |
| Academic Selectivity | accessible |
| Average GPA | 3.5 |
| Application Deadline | Jan 1 (early audition track) | Apr 15 (regular audition track) | rolling (non-audition track) |
| Auditions | |
| Audition | depends on track |
| Audition Competitiveness | moderately competitive |
| Audition Window | Dec–Apr |
| Prescreening | is not required |
| Location | |
| City / State | Denver, Colorado |
Always confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the CU Denver website
.
Program Overview
The music program at CU Denver is medium in size and a .
Music Genre/Style Strengths
CU Denver supports the following musical genres/styles: electronic, hip-hop, popular. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the CU Denver website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at CU Denver can pursue study across a range of instruments, including bass, drums, electronic instruments, guitar, keyboard, piano, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the CU Denver website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at CU Denver
Students at CU Denver can pursue degrees focused on engineering/technology, music business/industry, performance, songwriting. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the CU Denver website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at CU Denver is selective. Academically, it is accessible, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.5. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for CU Denver is Jan 1 (early audition track) | Apr 15 (regular audition track) | rolling (non-audition track) of each year.
Visit the CU Denver website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition depends on track at CU Denver, and the school's auditions are considered to be moderately competitive. The audition window is Dec–Apr of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the CU Denver website for more specific information on auditions.
Location and Music Scene
CU Denver sits on the Auraria Campus in the heart of downtown Denver, steps from Coors Field and the 16th Street Mall, embedded in one of the most active live music scenes in the American West — a city with hundreds of venues, a thriving DIY community, and enough industry infrastructure to keep students working before they graduate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CU Denver hard to get into?
Admission to CU Denver is considered selective for music and accessible academically. At most schools, the audition carries significant weight. Admitted students need to demonstrate performance ability and artistic potential in addition to meeting academic requirements.
Do I need a prescreening video to audition at CU Denver?
A prescreening video or portfolio submission at CU Denver.
Prescreening requirements vary significantly from school to school, and sometimes by instrument or area of study, so it's worth checking directly with the admissions office to confirm what's expected for your specific application.
What instruments can I study at CU Denver?
supports study across a wide range of instruments, including bass, drums, electronic instruments, guitar, keyboard, piano, voice. Students typically study privately with a faculty member on their primary instrument while also participating in ensembles and collaborative performance opportunities.
Instrument availability and faculty depth can vary. If you play something less common, it's worth reaching out to the department directly to confirm faculty availability before you apply.
What GPA do I need for CU Denver?
Admitted students at CU Denver have an average GPA of 3.5. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some admitted students come in above it, some below, depending on the strength of the overall application and, especially, the audition.
Music programs tend to weigh audition performance heavily, which means a particularly strong musical candidate may be admitted even if their GPA is below the typical range. The reverse is also true. Academic strength alone won't compensate for a weak audition.
What is the application deadline for CU Denver?
The application deadline for CU Denver is Jan 1 (early audition track) | Apr 15 (regular audition track) | rolling (non-audition track), with live auditions typically held Dec–Apr. These dates can shift year to year, so it's important to verify directly with the admissions office well in advance.
Music school deadlines often arrive earlier than general college application deadlines, and audition slots can fill up quickly, especially at competitive programs. Getting your application in early is rarely a bad idea.
Information on this page is updated periodically. Always confirm details directly with the school's admissions office.
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