Colorado State University

Colorado State University Overview

Colorado State University is a public, state school in an urban setting in Fort Collins, Colorado. Colorado State was founded in 1870 and now enrolls around 32,646 students a year, including 25,186 undergrads. Colorado State provides housing for up to 5,886 students. Most students live in off campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Colorado State! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of Colorado State's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Colorado State students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? Colorado State has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Colorado State has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Colorado State on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Colorado State on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is July 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should receive admissions decisions by September 1.

Is Colorado State a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a closer look at each of these factors to get a clearer sense of what Colorado State offers and if it could be a good fit for you.

Colorado State Acceptance Rate 2021

It is moderately difficult to get into Colorado State. Around 84% of applicants get into Colorado State each year. Out of 28,843 applications received in 2021, 24,091 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Colorado State

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 86% of students who start at Colorado State return the next year.Colorado State's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 70%. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Colorado State Grads

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 63% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

The average starting salary for recent Colorado State grads is $53,867 a year. Average starting salaries vary by discipline, but the average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year.

Colorado State's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. Colorado State's endowment was valued at $393.1 million in 2021, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Colorado State spends about $15,192 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Colorado State

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Colorado State meets 67.3% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Colorado State full-time are awarded $11,881 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2021 was around $25,781 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Colorado State. Based on this information, how does Colorado State sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Colorado State a good school for you?

If Colorado State University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Colorado State Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting accepted at some of the most popular schools in the U.S.

Where is Colorado State University Located?

Colorado State is located in the urban setting of Fort Collins, Colorado, less than an hour from Denver.

If you want to see Colorado State for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 25 to Fort Collins, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Denver International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Colorado State and Fort Collins are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges and Universities in Colorado?

See a full list of colleges in Colorado and save your favorites to your college list.