University of Denver - Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science

What University of Denver - Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science does

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science is an academic department within the University of Denver, a private university located in Denver, Colorado. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in computer science, applied data science and AI, cybersecurity, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and biomedical engineering, serving approximately 575 undergraduates and an undisclosed graduate cohort. Programs are delivered on-campus, online, and in hybrid formats, with tuition priced at $859 per credit hour for the Applied Data Science and AI program (36-48 credits, totaling $30,924-$41,232). The school also operates specialized research facilities including the Innovation Labs maker spaces, Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab, DU Unmanned Systems Research Institute (DU2SRI), and Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA).

The school's research portfolio centers on three stated strengths: engineering in medicine, embodied AI and robotics, and power and energy. Faculty conduct funded research in cardiovascular device development (including the LAUD heart pump with Cardiost), Parkinson's disease therapeutics, joint replacement biomechanics, smart grids (including quantum computing applications with Resilient Entanglement), smart cities, and cybersecurity. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, supplemented by research grants from federal agencies (NSF, Parkinson's Foundation), state funding (Colorado Office of Economic Development), industry sponsors (Lockheed Martin, BOA Technology, Xcel Energy, Craig Hospital), and private philanthropy through the University of Denver's development office. Internship and Senior Design Project partnerships with organizations including NREL, Mayo Clinic, Nike, Charles Schwab, and Regeneron provide employer pipeline channels for graduates.

The school maintains ABET accreditation for engineering programs, the NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation (2023), ASEE Bronze Diversity Recognition (2020), and operates within a university holding R1 research classification. Leadership includes Dean Michelle Sabick (Fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics) and John Evans Professor Kimon P. Valavanis, who has attracted approximately $50M in research funding across his career. Strategic priorities evident in 2025 include the launch of a new MS in Applied Data Science and AI program and expansion of online/hybrid delivery to capture working-professional demand.

Name

University of Denver - Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science

Legal name

Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science

Website

https://ritchieschool.du.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science is an academic department within the University of Denver offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science, AI, cybersecurity, and engineering, supported by industry-sponsored research centers and serving students primarily in the Denver metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Engineering & Computer Science

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud & DevOps Fundamentals (Cloud Basics, CI/CD Concepts) (EDAMACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Computer Science Theory (Computational Thinking, Logic, Discrete Math) (EDAMACAK), Computer Science, IT & Data Science (EDAGABAB)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Computer science degrees
• Graduate engineering programs
• Biomedical engineering research
• Cybersecurity master's program

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition for engineering and computer science programs, including online and hybrid formats. Tuition rates are $859 per credit hour for the Applied Data Science and AI program.
2. Research Grants and Funding: Federal and state agencies, industry sponsors, and private foundations fund faculty and student research across biomedical devices, robotics, power/energy, and cybersecurity.
3. Private University Philanthropy: As a private university, DU relies on charitable donations and alumni giving to support programs, facilities, and scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Denver delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in computer science, data science and AI, cybersecurity, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and biomedical engineering, with instruction available on-campus and via online/hybrid formats. Programs are anchored by interdisciplinary maker spaces, biomechanics and unmanned systems research labs, and industry-sponsored capstone projects that produce career-ready graduates for the Denver tech corridor and beyond. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition, with supplementary support from sponsored research grants and private philanthropy.

Product overview

The Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science is an academic institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple engineering and computer science disciplines. The school's product portfolio consists of academic programs (undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science, Data Science & AI, Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering) supported by research centers and facilities (Innovation Labs maker spaces, Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab, DU Unmanned Systems Research Institute, Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, and Human-Computer Interaction Group). The new Master of Science in Applied Data Science and AI is a flagship graduate program combining machine learning, generative AI, and data engineering. Research spans embodied AI and robotics, biomedical devices, power and energy, and smart cities. The school operates maker spaces including Digital Lab, Woods Lab, Plastics Lab, and microFactory for hands-on student learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Science in Applied Data Science and AI Graduate degree program designed for working professionals that combines technical expertise with responsible data practices across the data lifecycle. The 18-24 month program covers machine learning, generative AI, data engineering, cloud computing, and advanced analytics through hybrid or fully online evening courses, with tuition at $859 per credit hour.
• Master of Science in Cybersecurity Master's program preparing students for cybersecurity careers, recognized by Fortune Recommends as one of the best in-person cybersecurity programs in Colorado. Covers secure programming, digital forensics, ethical hacking, penetration testing, and network security.
• Master of Science in Systems Engineering Online systems engineering master's program offered with three certificate programs. Instruction draws on industry leaders with expertise in business development, technical program leadership, and strategic operations.
• Computer Science Programs Undergraduate and graduate computer science degree programs covering software development, algorithms, human-computer interaction, and game development.
• Electrical & Computer Engineering Programs Degree programs focusing on electrical engineering principles, power systems, and computer engineering with research strengths in smart grids and sustainable energy.
• Mechanical Engineering Programs Undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering degree programs, including biomechanics research and thermodynamics education.
• Biomedical Engineering Programs Degree programs focused on biomedical devices and technology, including cardiovascular biomechanics and orthopaedic biomechanics research.
• microFactory 3D Printing Services High-end 3D printing services operated by student consultants within Innovation Labs, offered to external businesses, researchers, and individuals for advanced additive manufacturing needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% graduation rate for E-STEM students vs 62.3% for eligible non-participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CardiostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Cardiost, a Denver-based startup, to develop a Left Atrium Unloading Device (LAUD) - a fully implantable heart assist pump for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The device suctions blood from the left atrium and injects it into the descending aorta, reducing left atrium pressure and increasing cardiac output.
• Cleveland GuardiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Moira Pryhoda, Postdoctoral Fellow, works with the Major League Baseball team on sports biomechanics research, bringing expertise from the Human Dynamics Laboratory to professional athletics.
• The Sustainability Hub (Metropolitan State University, University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, CSU-Pueblo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1 million NSF-funded multi-university research platform to share health, well-being, and sustainability data across Colorado. Ritchie School's Dr. Kerstin Haring serves as co-PI, focusing on human-computer interaction with the platform.
• Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary initiative at Ritchie School promoting collaborative aging research across campus. Home to Dr. Dali Sun's biosensing research and Dr. Ali Azadani's cardiovascular biomechanics work. Hosts Wellness Wednesday events for student stress relief.
• Lockheed MartincoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry sponsor for Senior Design Projects where student teams develop, test, and deliver real-life engineering solutions. Also supports veterans through tuition assistance programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Colorado School of Mines: Public research university in Golden, Colorado offering ABET-accredited engineering and applied science degrees with overlapping research in biomedical, energy, and computer science. The closest geographic and discipline peer to Ritchie School.
• University of Colorado Boulder - College of Engineering & Applied Science: State flagship engineering school offering undergraduate and graduate engineering/CS degrees with strong aerospace, computer science, and biomedical engineering research in the same Denver-Boulder corridor.

Broad incumbents

• Purdue University - College of Engineering: Major public research university with extensive online engineering graduate programs and significant research in cybersecurity and biomechanics, competing for the same working-professional online MS market that Ritchie is targeting.
• University of California, Berkeley - College of Engineering: Top-ranked public university with leading research in AI, robotics, and biomedical engineering that competes for federal grants and graduate students in the same specialty domains Ritchie is building around.
• Carnegie Mellon University - College of Engineering: Top-tier private research university whose engineering and computer science programs define national rankings. Competes with Ritchie for graduate student placement at major tech employers and for online MS in data science/AI rankings.
• Georgia Tech - College of Engineering: Large public research institution whose OMSCS online program is the dominant low-cost online CS master's degree competing directly with Ritchie's Applied Data Science and AI offering on price and reputation.
• University of Washington - College of Engineering: Top-ranked public engineering school with strong research in biomedical, robotics, and computer science that competes for federal research funding and graduate student placement against Ritchie's specialty research areas.
• Stanford University - School of Engineering: Elite private research university that anchors the upper bound of engineering and CS rankings, sets curriculum standards for AI/data science programs, and competes for top research faculty and graduate students.
• MIT - School of Engineering: Global benchmark for engineering and CS education and research, defining the upper limit of the academic competition for faculty, research funding, and student selectivity that Ritchie must navigate.

Emerging players

• University of Southern California - Viterbi School of Engineering: Private research university with strong online engineering graduate programs and notable AI/biomedical research that overlaps with Ritchie's positioning in the same private-school engineering space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ritchieschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ritchieschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/RitchieSchool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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