Research.com
Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

#400 in US ranking Fort Collins, CO
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Cost

Cost / year
$34,684
Tuition & fees
$13,373
Avg. aid
$11,675
Receiving aid
79%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
89%
Avg. SAT
1185
Avg. ACT
26

Outcomes

Graduation rate
67%
Median salary
$47,142
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

Colorado State University-Fort Collins is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree program.

Some professional fields have additional accreditation relevant to students. For example, applicants can check ABET accreditation for specific engineering programs, AACSB accreditation for business programs, and American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education accreditation for the veterinary program. The appropriate accreditor - and whether accreditation applies - depends on the exact degree.

Institutional accreditation is important to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not by itself guarantee that another college will accept a transfer course. Likewise, students pursuing a licensed profession should check the requirements of the state where they expect to practice; accreditation and licensure rules may apply at the program level.

What are the admission requirements at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

First-year applicants to Colorado State University generally submit an undergraduate application and a high school transcript showing their courses and grades. Students who completed an equivalent credential, such as a GED, follow the applicable credential-review process. CSU does not operate an open-admission policy.

CSU considers academic preparation and high school GPA. Class rank and recommendations may be considered but are not generally required. SAT and ACT scores are not required for general first-year admission; students should not assume that a score is necessary because older enrollment statistics report scores for some students. Published score distributions describe past enrollees, not an admission cutoff.

Applicants whose schooling does not establish English proficiency may need to document it through an accepted test or another university-approved route. Requirements can differ for international applicants and for particular majors. CSU publishes application dates and priority deadlines by entry term, so applicants should use the calendar for their intended fall, spring, or other available start rather than assuming one deadline applies to everyone.

In a recent first-year admissions cycle, CSU admitted about 89% of applicants. That rate describes the applicant pool as a whole; it does not predict an individual decision or override major-specific requirements.

What are the application fees and waivers at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

Colorado State University's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $50. Applicants should confirm the charge displayed for their application type before submitting, particularly if they are applying through an international or specialized process.

Eligible students may request an application-fee waiver on the basis of financial need or through an applicable waiver program. Applicants should review the waiver instructions in CSU's application and seek approval or submit the required waiver information before paying: an application fee is separate from any later enrollment, orientation, housing, or tuition charges. Colorado's periodic free-application campaigns may offer another route when CSU participates and the applicant meets that campaign's rules.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

Colorado State University has Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC opportunities on campus. These programs combine college study with military leadership training for students interested in a possible officer commission.

Joining an introductory ROTC course is not the same as receiving an ROTC scholarship or committing to military service. Scholarship awards, contracting, medical and citizenship eligibility, and eventual service obligations depend on the branch and the student's status. Prospective cadets should discuss those distinctions with the relevant CSU Army or Air Force ROTC unit before making enrollment or financial plans.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

Colorado State University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college-level credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of credit are separate decisions: a student can be admitted without every previous course applying to the intended CSU degree.

Applicants should submit records from every college attended and review CSU's transfer-admission criteria for their entry term and major. The amount of completed college work can affect which academic records the university requests and how it evaluates an application. CSU admits transfer students for fall and spring and has summer entry options; deadlines and program availability vary.

Colorado students may be able to use statewide guaranteed-transfer courses and approved transfer pathways, while students from other institutions can review CSU's transfer-equivalency resources. CLEP and DSST examinations may also be considered under university credit policies. An online equivalency listing is a planning tool, not a complete degree audit: the official evaluation after admission determines awarded credit, and an academic adviser can explain which credits satisfy major or graduation requirements. Students should also check CSU's minimum in-residence coursework rules before planning to finish a degree largely through transfer credit.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

CSU students can explore education-abroad options ranging from shorter faculty-led experiences to semester or longer programs. Options may include university exchanges and programs run with external partners, so the academic arrangements and costs are not identical across destinations.

Students should work with CSU Education Abroad and their academic adviser before applying. Key questions are whether courses will satisfy degree requirements, how credit will be recorded, and whether a program fits a tightly sequenced major. Financial aid may be usable for an approved program, but eligibility and the amount available depend on the student's aid package and the program's costs. International internships and research experiences require additional attention to academic approval, timing, and any destination-specific requirements.

Colorado State University-Fort Collins Admissions Factors

Avg. SAT
1185
Avg. ACT
26
Acceptance rate
89%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
89%
Colorado
87.5%
US
78%

16% of admitted students enrolled (5,485 of 34,057)

Colorado State University-Fort Collins Admissions

Applicants
Total: 38,465
Admission
Total: 34,057
Enrolled
Total: 5,485
Women
Men

How to Apply to Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Regular application deadline

July 31

Application fee

$50

Early Decision

No

Early Action

Yes, deadline November 15

Colorado State University-Fort Collins First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 3,796
Out-of-state: 1,670

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 5,485
Transfer: 1,513

Colorado State University-Fort Collins Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1185

Median composite ACT score

26

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Colorado State University-Fort Collins Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

Recently Published Articles