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Fort Collins , CO
Colorado State University (CSU) is a renowned public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Established in 1870, CSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across eight academic colleges. The university is well-known for its strong focus on experiential learning, sustainability, and research excellence. CSU boasts a diverse and inclusive community of around 33,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, creating a vibrant and multicultural campus. With its beautiful location near the Rocky Mountains and a wealth of academic and extracurricular opportunities, Colorado State University offers an exceptional educational experience.
CSU takes pride in its commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation. It is classified as a R1 Doctoral University with high research activity and houses several renowned research centers and institutes. Students at CSU have the opportunity to engage in research projects across various disciplines, collaborating with world-class faculty. The university is particularly known for its strong programs in agriculture, engineering, veterinary medicine, business, and environmental science. CSU also offers a robust Honors Program that provides motivated and high-achieving students with enriching academic experiences, including smaller class sizes and specialized courses.
In addition to its academic offerings, CSU provides a thriving campus life and a wide array of extracurricular activities. The university boasts more than 550 student organizations, representing diverse interests such as cultural, academic, athletic, and community service. CSU's athletic teams, known as the Rams, compete at the NCAA Division I level of the Mountain West Conference. The campus is also home to state-of-the-art facilities, including performing arts spaces, wellness centers, and the newly constructed Agricultural Infrastructure, Health and Environmental Buildings, showcasing CSU's commitment to sustainability. With its welcoming community, stunning surroundings, and array of opportunities, Colorado State University offers a comprehensive and rewarding college experience.
Located in Fort Collins, CO and set in an urban environment, Colorado State University is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Colorado State University is 85.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. Here are some up-to-date information on important things to consider about Colorado State University.
Quick Facts
26,500
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some relevant info about admission policy and requirements at Colorado State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 34,118 in 2025. Colorado State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 28% and ACT scores 7%. 8% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 38% between 1,200 and 1,399, 39% between 1,000 and 1,199, 14% between 800 and 999, and 1% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 23, 44 between 24-29, 28 in the range between 18-23, and 6 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 26 and the average GPA was 3.69. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 597 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 574.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Colorado State University was 85.9%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Colorado State University in 2025 was 34,110.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 32.8% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 26,500, 600 of which were international students. 1,400 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 11,632 male and 15,065 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 742 Asian students and 680 Afro-American students in 2025. 4,090 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,293 identified with more than one race. The school also had 45 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 128 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 197 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Colorado State University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $10,610, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $32,020 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Colorado State University, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $32,020, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $2,763 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $32,020 | $2,763 | $34,783 |
| In-State | $10,610 | $2,763 | $13,373 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Colorado State University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Colorado State University was $17,508 in 2025. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $8,029 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $13,167.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,610 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,508 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 29,318 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Colorado State University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,087 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $14,059.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 7,221 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Colorado State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 10,509. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $30,387,777, and state $18,926,360. The students of Colorado State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $56,527,807, and external in the amount of $9,013,228.
$5,211
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
3,353 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1,284 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $30,387,777 while the state aid is $2,491,154. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $24,052,455. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $4,986,760 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Colorado State University was 17:1. That means that there were 17 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 2,203 faculty members at this school. This number included 1,083 male and 1,120 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Colorado State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Colorado State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Colorado State University.
Its campus is 4,773 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 271 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 5 and female students 6. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Pre-Medica, followed by Pre-Law and Zoology Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Photography Club and Outdoor Club.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Colorado State University band or chorus. If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. Interested in media and communication? Colorado State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Colorado State University offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Colorado State University.
All in all, campus life at Colorado State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Colorado State University.
Career Counselling
At Colorado State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 57,461 USD.
$57,461
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, CO.
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Colorado State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Colorado State University is 88%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Colorado State University is 85.9%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.