
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
16% of admitted students enrolled (5,485 of 34,057)
Regular application deadline
July 31Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline November 15Median composite SAT score
1185Median composite ACT score
26High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Neither required nor recommendedTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData 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.