If you are a college student in the Denver area, your first stop for mental health support is usually your own campus counseling center, which is free or covered by student fees at every school on this list. For a crisis at any hour, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line, and call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
This guide goes school by school, because the details matter: the three colleges on the Auraria campus each run a separate counseling center, some schools cap the number of free sessions, and after-hours lines differ. We checked each center on its own website in September 2026 and quote only what those sites say. Hours and session limits change from semester to semester, so confirm before you go.
For general Denver resources that are not specific to students (Medicaid, sliding-scale clinics, NAMI and DBSA groups), see our Denver mental health resources page. This list does not repeat it.
1. University of Denver Health & Counseling Center (HCC)
DU combines medical and counseling care in one Health and Counseling Center. Its website says counseling is offered to all on-campus undergraduate and graduate students, and that students in entirely online or non-degree programs are not eligible for clinical services.
The feature most students will use first is the no-cost drop-in consultation: the HCC lists weekday drop-in hours from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ritchie Center, first come, first served, for a 15 to 20 minute conversation. From there you can be connected to individual therapy, groups or skills workshops. The HCC also lists alcohol and other drug consultations, some of which carry a fee listed on its site.
- Appointments: MyHealth portal or 303-871-2205
- After hours: the HCC says the same number (303-871-2205) reaches help 24/7
- Groups: general, support/theme groups and structured skills workshops
Visit University of Denver Health & Counseling Center (HCC) (opens in a new tab)
2. CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center
The Auraria campus is shared by three schools, but each runs its own counseling center. CU Denver's center states that CU Denver students automatically receive 10 free counseling sessions a year, and that walk-in crisis appointments are available Monday through Thursday afternoons for CU Denver students.
Unusually for a campus center, it also serves Denver-metro community members, who can schedule up to 10 sessions a year on a sliding-scale fee, with community hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. That can help a partner, roommate or recent graduate who is not enrolled.
- Phone: 303-315-7270
- After hours: 24/7 chat and phone support through TELUS Health at (866) 743-7732, per the center's site
- Free sessions: 10 per year for CU Denver students
Visit CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center (opens in a new tab)
3. MSU Denver Counseling Center
Metropolitan State University of Denver's center lists crisis intervention appointments, short-term individual counseling, group counseling and outreach screenings. It also offers telehealth through Uwill, which its site describes as no-cost virtual counseling by video, phone, chat or message, available in all 50 states and abroad. That matters if you are home for the summer or studying away.
- Phone: (303) 615-9988; weekday office hours listed as 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Crisis: 24/7 Mental Health and Victims Assistance Crisis Line, 303-615-9911
4. Community College of Denver (CCD) Counseling Center
CCD says all of its students can use counseling in person or virtually. Its site lists Monday through Thursday hours, virtual-only appointments on Wednesdays, and closure on Fridays, so plan around that if you have Friday classes. CCD also points students to BetterMynd for virtual counseling.
- Phone: 303.352.6436
- Crisis: the Auraria Campus Crisis Line, 303.615.9911, is listed as available 24/7
Visit Community College of Denver (CCD) Counseling Center (opens in a new tab)
5. Health Center at Auraria (mental health services)
This is the shared, tri-institutional health center for CCD, MSU Denver and CU Denver. Its mental health service is different from the counseling centers above: it lists diagnostic evaluations, crisis intervention, medication management, substance use resources and referrals, and states plainly that it does not offer ongoing talk therapy. Use it alongside your school's counseling center, not instead of it.
The Health Center says actively registered MSU Denver students receive its mental health services at no charge. For CCD and CU Denver students, cost depends on insurance, and self-pay options are listed.
- Appointments: 303-615-9999
- Crisis: 303-615-9911
Visit Health Center at Auraria (mental health services) (opens in a new tab)
6. Regis University Counseling Services
Regis states that all of its counseling services are free of charge and confidential to eligible students, and that it serves individuals, couples, families and groups. Its site lists walk-in hours during fall and spring semesters and appointments by schedule in summer.
It also runs educational and process-oriented groups and workshops on topics such as communication skills, relationships and adjustment to college life, which can be a lower-pressure way to start.
- Phone: 303.458.3558; email counseling@regis.edu
- After hours: Regis says its phone is answered by mental health professionals 24/7 (option 3 for a crisis)
Visit Regis University Counseling Services (opens in a new tab)
7. Colorado School of Mines Counseling Center
Mines says its services are confidential, voluntary and covered by student fees for registered undergraduate and graduate students. Care starts with a short consultation in which a counselor reviews your needs and recommends a plan, which may include individual therapy, support groups, skill-building workshops, wellness coaching or coordination with specialized care in the community.
- Phone: 303-273-3377; email counseling@mines.edu
- Hours listed: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Visit Colorado School of Mines Counseling Center (opens in a new tab)
8. CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
Plenty of CU Boulder students live in Denver or the northwest suburbs. CAPS lists same-day or scheduled screenings of about 20 minutes with a provider to assess needs, and publishes a 24/7 support line. Check its site for current eligibility and any fees, which were not listed on the main page when we checked.
- 24/7 support: 303-492-2277
Visit CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) (opens in a new tab)
9. I Matter (Colorado Behavioral Health Administration)
I Matter is a state program that connects Colorado youth with a licensed therapist for up to six free sessions. Eligibility, per its site, is age 18 or younger, or 21 or younger for young people receiving special education services. That means many first-year students qualify, and older students generally do not. Youth ages 12 to 18 can complete the short sign-up survey themselves.
The program is still running in 2026: its site states that the Colorado legislature made it permanent in May 2024 through Senate Bill 24-001. A Spanish-language version is available as Yo Importo Colorado.
- Cost: free; the program says no insurance is required
- Sessions: up to six, in person or virtual
Visit I Matter (Colorado Behavioral Health Administration) (opens in a new tab)
10. 988 Colorado Mental Health Line
988 connects anyone with emotional, mental health or substance use concerns to a trained specialist, free and confidential, 24/7. In Colorado, the former Colorado Crisis Services line was folded into 988 Colorado on July 1, 2025, so 988 is now the number to remember. You can call or text 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or go to a walk-in crisis location.
- Call or text 988; call 911 for immediate danger
11. Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line connects you with a trained volunteer crisis counselor by text. Its site says the service is free, confidential and available 24/7; text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. It can be easier to use from a dorm room or library than a phone call.
- Text HOME to 741741
How we chose these resources
We included the counseling centers of the largest four-year and community colleges in Denver and its immediate suburbs, plus the statewide services a student is most likely to need. Every entry was checked on its own official website in September 2026, and we list only what that site says about eligibility, hours and cost. Where a site did not state a fee or a session limit, we do not guess.
When campus counseling is not enough
Campus centers are built for short-term care, and several cap free sessions each year. If you need longer-term or specialized treatment, most centers will refer you to community providers. Ask your center for referrals first, since staff know which local options accept student insurance plans.
Private outpatient therapy is another route. Mountainside Behavioral Health offers secure telehealth anywhere in Colorado, which can fit around class schedules, and one of its clinicians, Dr. Diana Huizar, works with ages 11 to 24. Mountainside is an out-of-network practice and publishes its fees on its insurance and pricing page. If you are weighing options, our guide to finding the right therapist in Denver covers what to ask.
Tips for getting seen faster
- Use drop-in or walk-in crisis hours if your center has them; they often move you to the front of the line when you are struggling.
- Book early in the semester. Demand typically rises around midterms and finals.
- Ask about groups and workshops. They are often available sooner than individual therapy.
- Save your campus crisis number and 988 in your phone now, before you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Is counseling free for Denver college students?
At most schools, yes, within limits. CU Denver lists 10 free sessions a year, Regis says its services are free to eligible students, and Mines says counseling is covered by student fees. Check your own center for its current policy.
Do the Auraria schools share one counseling center?
No. CU Denver, MSU Denver and CCD each run a separate counseling center in the Tivoli Student Union. The Health Center at Auraria is shared by all three, but it provides evaluations and medication management rather than ongoing talk therapy.
Can college students use the I Matter program?
Only if they are 18 or younger, or 21 or younger while receiving special education services, according to the program's site. Eligible students can get up to six free therapy sessions.
What should I do in a mental health crisis on campus?
Call 911 for immediate danger. Otherwise call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, or call your campus crisis line, such as 303-615-9911 on the Auraria campus.
Related reading
- Denver Mental Health Resources
- Online Therapy & Telehealth in Colorado
- How to Find the Right Therapist in Denver
- Anxiety Treatment in Denver
- Depression Treatment in Denver
Talk to someone
Mountainside Behavioral Health offers DBT and CBT for adolescents, adults, couples and families in Greenwood Village and by telehealth across Colorado. Consultations are free, and we will tell you if another provider is a better fit. Call (720) 762-4619 or request a consultation.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (free, confidential, 24/7). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Sources (11)
- University of Denver Health & Counseling Center — counseling services
- CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center
- MSU Denver Counseling Center
- Community College of Denver Counseling Center
- Health Center at Auraria — mental health services
- Regis University Counseling Services
- Colorado School of Mines Counseling Center
- CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services
- I Matter — about the program
- 988 Colorado — FAQ
- Crisis Text Line