Colorado State University Acceptance Rate | Admissions & GPA Requirement

Colorado State University (CSU) is a public research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. It also has a campus in Pueblo, Colorado, and an online Global campus.

The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees on campus and online and has an acceptance rate of 91%. We break down CSU's acceptance rate and more below.

What Is the Acceptance Rate at Colorado State University?

The acceptance rate at Colorado State University's main campus is 91%, while the acceptance rate at the Pueblo campus is 99%. The CSU Global campus has an acceptance rate of 97%.

This is slightly higher than the other public university in the state, the University of Colorado, which has an acceptance rate of 81% at its main campus.

Colorado State University Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements at Colorado State University vary slightly based on whether you're a first-time student, a transfer student, or a graduate student.

First-time students are students who don't have any college credits earned after high school. They need to apply using the Common Application. Students will need to submit a personal essay and their high school transcripts.

Students may submit letters of recommendation or ACT/SAT scores, but they are not required and generally not given much weight. Students with a high school GPA below 3.0 should submit an academic explanation essay.

Transfer students, which are undergraduate students who have some amount of credits through a different college or university, need to apply with the CSU application. They'll also need to submit their high school transcript and any college transcripts.

Like first-year students, test scores are optional but not required. Students with a college GPA below 2.5 should submit an academic explanation essay.

Graduate students will need to fill out CSU's application and submit their college transcripts. Some academic departments may require things like a resume or letters of recommendation.

Undergraduate students must pay an application fee of $50, and graduate students have a fee of $60. Fee waivers are available for students who are not able to pay the application fee.

Colorado State University Tuition and Cost Breakdown

Costs and tuition at Colorado State University vary depending on a few factors, including the level of degree you're earning and whether you're an in-state or out-of-state resident.

Undergraduate, in-state students studying full-time can expect to pay about $13,373 per year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students will pay about $34,751 per year.

Students in states that are part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) will instead pay $24,053 per year. The WUE is made of 16 states from the Dakotas all the way to Alaska and Hawaii.

Other costs that undergraduate students may need to pay include:

• housing: estimated $7875 per year
• food: estimated $8,942
• books and supplies: estimated $1,200 per year

Online undergraduate students pay an estimate of $11,888 per year regardless of state of residence, and their housing and food costs will vary.

Graduate in-state students pay an estimated tuition of $13,967 per year, while out-of-state students pay about $30,656 per year in tuition and fees. There is no discount on graduate programs for WUE students. Tuition and fees for online graduate programs vary.

How To Apply at Colorado State University

To apply as a first-year student at Colorado State University, you'll start by filling out the Common Application. They'll also need to submit their personal essay and high school transcript and pay the application fee.

Transfer students will need to submit the CSU application along with their high school and college transcripts and the application fee.

Undergraduate applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and most students receive their admissions decision within about four weeks. Because admission is rolling, the application deadline depends on what semester you want to start.

Students who want to start in the fall can begin their application as early as August the year before. The early action deadline for a fall start in the next academic year is December 1 for first-time students and February 1 for transfer students.

The regular application deadline is February 1 for first-time students and June 1 for transfer students. Applications submitted after this date for the fall semester are accepted on a rolling basis.

To apply to a graduate program, students will need to fill out the CSU application and submit their transcripts and whatever additional items are required by the department they are applying to.

Students will also need to pay the application fee. Application deadlines for graduate programs vary by department.

FAQs About Acceptance Rates and Tuition at Colorado State University

Below, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about acceptance rates and tuition costs at Colorado State University.

Is It Hard To Get Into Colorado State University?

With an acceptance rate of 91%, it isn't too hard to get into Colorado State University so long as you meet the minimum requirements. Some programs may be more competitive than others.

Does Colorado State University Accept Financial Aid?

As a public, regionally accredited institution, CSU accepts financial aid. To find out what you qualify for, fill out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

The university itself also offers several types of aid, including scholarships, grants, student loans, and work-study opportunities, to students. Fill out your FAFSA to see what you qualify for.

What Is the Graduation Rate at Colorado State University?

The graduation rate at CSU is 67%, which is slightly higher than the national average. Graduation rate is determined by looking at how many first-time, full-time students earn their bachelor's degree within six years.

Note that graduation rate does not factor in part-time students, transfer students, or students in master's or doctoral programs.

Is a Degree From Colorado State University Respected?

As a regionally accredited public institution, a degree from Colorado State University is just as respected as a degree from any other public university.

What Type of Accreditation Does Colorado State University Have?

Colorado State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It also has programmatic accreditation through multiple organizations, including the:

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• American Psychological Association
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• Council on Social Work Education

What Is the Student-Faculty Ratio at Colorado State University?

According to College Navigator, a tool made by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the student-faculty ratio at CSU is 17 to 1.