Admission

We welcome anyone passionate about books and publishing to apply for our four-week, intensive program. To be considered, you'll need to submit official transcripts from any college or university you have attended, a current resume, a personal statement, letters of recommendation (one required, two preferred) and an application fee of $65.

Early acceptance can be submitted up until February 7, 2025. The general application deadline for 2025 is March 24, 2025.  The final submission deadline is May 1, 2025. If accepted, you'll need to make a $1,000 deposit to hold your place in the program.

Our program features hands-on workshops and a diverse range of lectures with professionals in the publishing industry. We also create special sessions and field trips intended to give all our students an insider's view of the workings of the world of book publishing.

magazines on display

Learn more about how you can benefit from attending the Denver Publishing Institute

Why DPI?

4,000+ graduates from our program

250+ executives from every area of the business have presented

1976 first cohort of students completed the program

Costs

Please note:  All costs listed were for the 2024 program.  We will update the website with 2025 costs as soon as they are available.  

Tuition (and additional fees) for the 2024 program were $5,028.  The Publishing Institute may be taken for six quarter hours of graduate credit at no extra cost.

If students select to attend the Denver Publishing Institute in person, they are required to eat lunch in the dining hall on weekdays and to attend some special events. The cost for the required meal plan for 2024 was $495. Students attending in person who elect to stay on campus stay in a residence hall. Single rooms are clustered in suites with a central kitchen, living room and bathroom. Housing is optional, and the cost for 2024 was $1,808.

Scholarships

DPI offers four different scholarships to accepted applicants. Please submit a Denver Publishing Institute Scholarship application along with your general application through the online application system. Priority will be given to those applying for early acceptance.

  • DPI Community Scholarship

    Thanks to the generosity of countless alumni and friends, we will be able to offer multiple scholarships for students from historically underrepresented groups to the Denver Publishing Institute via the DPI Community Scholarship.

  • Binc Bookseller Scholarship

    Sponsored by the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, Sourcebooks and the Denver Publishing Institute, the Binc scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, housing, meal plan, and up to $2000 for travel expenses and lost wages for an applicant currently working in a bookstore.

  • The Carolyn Kroll Reidy Memorial Scholarship

    We are honored to be selected by Simon & Schuster as a program recipient for The Carolyn Kroll Reidy Memorial Scholarship. Beginning in 2021, one applicant to the Denver Publishing Institute will be awarded a full scholarship covering tuition, room and board. This scholarship is specifically intended for candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the publishing industry, and the recipient will be chosen based on financial need and academic merit.

  • General DPI Scholarship

    The Denver Publishing Institute also has a modest general scholarship fund. The awards are made on the basis of financial need to students accepted to the program and usually cover only a portion of tuition.

campus

Financial Aid

Because students in the Denver Publishing Institute program are non-degree seeking, federally-funded financial aid—including loans—is not available. If you need financing for the program, you may consider applying for a private education loan through a bank or credit union.

Not all lenders offer education loans to students in non-degree seeking programs. When shopping for a loan, be sure to ask the lender if their product is available to non-degree seeking students before submitting an application for the loan.

Although the amount you'll be billed for this program is $5,028, you can apply for a private loan for up to $7,806.  This number includes the cost of tuition and fees, as well as some indirect costs that are not charged by DU. Additional information about what cost of attendance means is on the financial aid website.

  • Direct, Indirect, and Total Costs

    Direct, Indirect, and Total Costs

    • Tuition $5,004
    • Fees $24

    Subtotal: $5,028

    Indirect Costs: (not billed by DU)

    • Books $111
    • Housing & Meals $2,303
    • Personal Expenses $179
    • Transportation $185

    Total Cost of Attendance: $7,806

    On your application, the loan period should be 7/14/24-8/9/24.

     

  • Loan Questions

    You can learn more about private loans through the DU Financial Aid website.

    You may also contact the University of Denver Financial Aid office by phone at (303) 871-4020, or by email at finaid@du.edu.

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General FAQ

  • What is considered an official transcript?

    In order for a transcript to be considered official, it must arrive in an envelope sealed and stamped with the registrar/school's official stamp. International transcripts must contain the official seal(s) of the school and be sent from the institution's records or registrar's office in the original language of instruction. Non-English transcripts need to be submitted with notarized or certified translations. We require an official transcript from all institutions from which 1 or more credits were earned, including summer community college programs and study abroad schools/organizations.

  • Where do I send my general application, transcript(s) and scholarship applications?

    All application materials should be submitted through the online application. You can upload your personal statement and resume at the time of applying or you can log into your application at a later date and upload them. When you apply, you'll need to submit your recommenders' email addresses. Upon submission of your application, your recommenders will be contacted via email in 1–3 business days with instructions on how to upload their letters.

    Official transcripts can be sent from your institution's registrar office to the following address:

    Office of Graduate Education
    Mary Reed Building
    Room 5
    2199 S. University Blvd.
    Denver, CO 80208

    You may send the transcripts yourself, but they must remain in a sealed envelope with your institution's official stamp across the seal.

    Please submit the Publishing Institute Scholarship Application in the online application system. It will be available in the online system once you have completed the main application.

     

  • Do I need to send in transcripts from my study abroad courses?

    Additional study abroad transcripts might not be needed if the title, credit hours and grades received from the study abroad institution are posted on the home university's transcript. For the review process, you can submit the transcript from your home university even if these items are not listed; however, if you are admitted you may be asked to supply a transcript from the study abroad institution depending on what course information is listed on the home transcript. The Office of Graduate Education will notify you if additional transcripts are necessary.

  • How can my recommenders submit their letters of recommendation and what should the letters include?

    The references page of your application provides the opportunity to create an invitation for your references (recommenders). If you click the hyperlinked "Add Recommender", you are directed to a form whereby you can enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders along with your decision to waive the right to access the reference(s) or recommendation(s). The form is then submitted to the University of Denver's Office of Graduate Education which will then send an invitation via email to your recommenders requesting the completion of an evaluation form and optional submission of a letter of recommendation.

    Our preferred method for receiving letters of recommendation is through our online system. However, if your recommender strongly prefers to mail a hard copy, it should be written on letterhead, be in a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal, and mailed to:

    Office of Graduate Education
    University of Denver
    Mary Reed Building
    Room 5
    2199 S. University Blvd.
    Denver, CO 80208

    The most effective recommendation letters will address how well suited you are for publishing. Not every recommender is familiar with the industry, but hopefully they can address some of the following topics:

    • Your interest level for publishing and the world of books.
    • Your experience with publishing, if any.
    • Your experience with editing/copy editing, if any.
    • Your readiness/enthusiasm to start a new career.
    • Any other qualifications, experiences, etc.

     

  • What should my personal statement include?

    Write no more than two pages (double spaced) to explain why you are considering a career in publishing and what personal characteristics, interests and aspirations have led you to this choice.

  • Can I check the status of my application online?

    You may check your application status via the online application web portal. You will need to enter the email address and password that you created when you began your application.

  • Do I need to take the GRE?

    No, the Publishing Institute does not consider GRE scores.

  • When will I be notified if I am accepted and when do I need to accept the admission offer?

    If applications are completed on or before the early acceptance deadline (February 9), applicants will be notified of the Admissions Review Committee's decision on a rolling basis, and no later than February 29. Completed applications received by the general acceptance deadline (March 25) will be reviewed and applicants will be notified by April 14.

    Early acceptance applicants will need to accept the admissions offer and submit an admissions deposit of $1000 on or before March 22, 2024. General admissions applicants will need to accept the admissions offer and submit the admissions deposit on or before May 1, 2024.

  • Can I defer my admission?

    Deferral requests may be submitted to the Publishing Institute Associate Director Jennifer Conder at jennifer.conder@du.edu.

    Submit the following items to request a deferral:

    1. $1000 admissions deposit. This payment is non-refundable. The admissions deposit can be paid online with a credit card, directly from your checking or savings account or by submitting a check or money order. Checks should be made out to the University of Denver.
    2. A written statement outlining the reasons for requesting a deferral, which must also include the following statement:
      "I understand that this payment is non-refundable if I fail to enroll in the term agreed upon. Regardless of the reason for not enrolling, my deposit will be forfeited."
    3. The Deferral Request Form.

    You can request a one-year deferral to the summer 2025 program. If your deferral is granted, you are expected to enroll in the summer 2025 Publishing Institute.

    Scholarships for the Publishing Institute will not transfer to the term of deferred admission.

     

  • How many students attend the program? Can I complete the program on a part-time basis?

    The Publishing Institute accepts 95 students to the program each summer. You'll need to complete the program as a full-time student for the duration of the four-week class.

  • Can I reapply for the program and reuse items from my previous application?

    Transcripts and letters of recommendation will be held on file for 12 months following the initial date of application. However you will need to submit a new personal statement, resume and $65 application fee. Please contact the Office of Graduate Education for more details.

    Phone 303-871-2706

    E-mail: gradinfo@du.edu

FAQ for International Students

  • Do international students need to send in official transcripts?

    For the review process, unofficial transcripts are allowed. If you are admitted and you enroll in the Publishing Institute, we'll ask you to provide an official transcript. If your university issues only one official transcript, the Office of Graduate Education will request a letter from the school confirming this is the case. Once you arrive on campus, we'll make arrangements for the Office of Graduate Education to view your official transcript and return it to you.

  • How do I get my international transcript translated into English?

    We can only accept English translations of your transcripts that are generated by your school or by a certified translator. Non-English transcripts can be unofficial, but need to be submitted with certified translations. WES, ECE or IERF credential evaluations are not classified as English translations. The University of Denver's Office of International Admissions will evaluate all international transcripts and degree certificates.

  • When do I need to submit the Financial Verification form and the Sevis form?

    It is helpful if you submit the complete financial verification and immigration-related forms while completing the application process. If accepted and you choose to enroll at the Publishing Institute, you must submit these documents as soon as possible so our Office of International Admissions can process your I-20.

  • Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS?

    If you are a graduate applicant whose native language is not English or if you have been educated in countries where English is not the native language, regardless of your citizenship status, you will need to submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language TEsting System (IELTS). We can't process your application until the required TOEFL or IELTS score is received. The TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date.

    You may be exempted from English proficiency test requirements if by the time of enrollment you have earned a post-secondary degree from a formally-recognized/accredited university where the entire language of instruction and examination is English. If you have attended an English-medium university for all years of study toward the degree program, you may not be required to submit your TOEFL/IELTS scores.

    The minimum TOEFL score accepted by the University of Denver Publishing Institute is 570 (paper-based) or 88 (internet-based). The minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5

    The University of Denver's institutional code for the TOEFL is 4842.

     

Contact

Denver Publishing Institute

For questions on general information and inquiries about the Publishing Institute including the admissions process and scholarships, please contact us here:

DU Office of Graduate Education

For questions about application materials and application status, contact the Office of Graduate Education.