You’ve taken tests, you’ve stayed up studying, you’ve turned in projects and you’ve joined clubs. You’ve worked jobs on the weekend, you’ve volunteered and you’ve built strong community relationships.
Your college application is a record of all of the hard work you’ve already accomplished and a testament to what you still plan to do. Our hope is to learn more about who you are and how you’ll improve Colorado State while helping you through the process.
Whether you’ve always known you would attend Colorado State or whether you’re applying to several universities, it all starts with your application. Each year we search for students with diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives to challenge and support each other on our campus.
Our primary goal is to ensure your academic success, and we do that by viewing your application and supporting materials as a window into your life. The results of our review process and of the quality of our education speak for themselves, and we hope we can count you among the thousands that will do their best to be part of our community this year.
First-Year freshman students typically enter during the fall semester. The application for fall semester opens August 1, one year prior to the start of the term.
While less common, entering as a freshman in the spring semester is possible. The application for spring semester opens August 1.
Starting in the summer session is essential for a small portion of our first-year students. For more information, contact your admissions counselor.
Your application and supporting documents tell the story of your accomplishments, challenges, goals, and passions. We review what you’ve submitted fully and thoughtfully as part of understanding your potential for academic success and anticipating what you’ll contribute to our community.
Your application will be reviewed once we receive all these required items.
All first-year freshman students apply using the Common Application.
First-year freshman students must submit either:
You will be prompted to submit your application fee or waiver while submitting your Common Application.
What we call a “personal statement” is called the “personal essay” in the Common Application. This short writing piece is your opportunity to help us understand what makes you unique, to share a talent or element of your identity that’s important to you, to describe what you are passionate about, or to highlight an accomplishment you’re proud of.
See our writing prompts and instructions for more guidance.
*Admission is provisional until we receive your final transcript verifying graduation.
While the personal statement allows you to address your strengths, passions and goals, the academic explanation is your opportunity to reflect on your past performance and help us understand your experience. It is recommended for students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 or with D/F grades.
We do not require a letter of recommendation for admission or scholarship purposes. Recommendations, if submitted, are not given much weight in our review.
CSU does not require SAT or ACT scores. If you submit scores, they will be added to your application, but they will only be reviewed if you email us at admissions@colostate.edu to request that your scores be considered. Even when requested, scores are not given much weight in the decision. Test scores are not used as the basis for declining an application or for consideration in the scholarship award process.
Every incoming class looks different, though every class reflects our commitment to maintaining high academic standards and providing access to higher education as part of our land-grant mission.
In general, students with a 3.0+ GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and a steady or upward trend in grades are admitted to CSU.
Research at CSU and across the country has suggested that grade point average (GPA) is the single most predictive factor of a student’s potential for success at the college level, and that’s why we feel comfortable noting that a 3.0 GPA is a great first step in being well qualified for admission here. We know you’re more than your GPA, however, which is why we consider a range of factors when considering your application.
Some competitive majors require specific course work and/or a higher grade point average for direct admission to the major.
Strong students are motivated to apply to CSU. This data reflects the middle 50% of freshmen admitted for Fall 2022. This means 75% of the students we admitted have a GPA in this range or higher, and 25% of the students we admitted have a GPA below this range.
Completing the online application typically takes 30-45 minutes, not including the time you spend writing your personal statement and uploading supporting documents. Within one to two days after you submit your application, you’ll receive an email with instructions to activate your electronic identity we call a NetID and check your application status online. We will also send you regular updates through your email throughout the process with information about additional information we might need and what to expect next.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Most students will receive a decision within four weeks after submitting a complete application with required documents.
Check your email and online status regularly. We will send decisions through email first, followed by the official admit packet, which usually arrives by mail two to three weeks after admission.
Notifications generally fall into one of these four categories: