Colorado State University
Colorado State University is the land-grant flagship in Fort Collins, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, enrolling about 26,500 undergraduates. Admission is accessible: CSU admits roughly 89% of its more than 38,000 applicants and builds its class through a holistic review rather than a numbers cutoff. The university is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores carry no weight, and the decision rests on GPA, course rigor, and the application essay; enrolled first-years average about a 3.7. CSU is best known for its programs in agriculture, natural resources, veterinary medicine, and the life sciences, and biology trails only business as its most-awarded major.
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Colorado State admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Action
Colorado State offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Colorado State is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
Colorado State does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Class Rank
Where Colorado State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 59.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Colorado State does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Colorado State weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Colorado State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,339 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Colorado State admissions
What is Colorado State's acceptance rate?＋
Colorado State admitted about 88.6% of applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing more than 38,000 applications and enrolling roughly 5,400 first-year students. It is an accessible flagship, though admission to selective majors such as engineering and some health-sciences tracks runs tighter than the overall rate.
What GPA do you need to get into Colorado State?＋
Enrolled first-years average about a 3.7 GPA, and roughly 45% ranked in the top quarter of their high school class. CSU reviews applications holistically and weighs GPA and course rigor as its two very important factors, so a steady or upward grade trend in challenging classes matters more than hitting any single cutoff.
Is Colorado State test-optional?＋
CSU goes a step further than test-optional: it is test-blind, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission even if you send them. The review leans instead on your GPA, the rigor of your coursework, and your application essay, so there is no score to prepare for this application.
What are my chances of getting into Colorado State from out of state?＋
Out-of-state students are welcome and well represented, making up about 30% of CSU first-years. State residency and geographical residence are weighed only as 'considered' factors, so non-residents are reviewed under the same holistic standards as Coloradans. The main difference is cost rather than the odds of admission.
How much does Colorado State cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $13,774 for Colorado residents and $36,113 for out-of-state students. Around 43% of first-years receive need-based grant or scholarship aid, with an average package near $14,631, and CSU meets roughly 71% of demonstrated need on average.
What is Colorado State known for academically?＋
As a land-grant university, CSU is strongest in agriculture, natural resources, veterinary medicine, and the life sciences, and biology is its second-largest major at about 14% of bachelor's degrees. Business and marketing leads at roughly 15%, followed by engineering at 10%, with psychology and the social sciences also among the top fields.
Does the essay matter at Colorado State?＋
Yes. With scores off the table and admission decided holistically, CSU rates the application essay as an important factor, on par with recommendations and extracurriculars and just below GPA and course rigor. A specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to add context to your transcript and stand out.
Source: Colorado State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Colorado State. Banner photo by FarGah1, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).