Colorado State University

Colorado State University Overview

Colorado State University is a public, state school in the urban setting of Fort Collins, Colorado. Colorado State was founded in 1870 and presently has around 32,777 students a year, which includes 25,362 undergraduates. Colorado State provides housing for up to 8,028 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 45% of students spend their weekends on campus.

📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is July 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should hear from Colorado State by September 1.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Colorado State!

Interested in music or performing? At Colorado State you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

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

Interested in joining a fraternity or sorority? 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.

Is Colorado State a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can provide a sense of how competitive a university is.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a clearer idea of what Colorado State offers and if the college seems like a good choice for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for Colorado State University

Colorado State is moderately difficult to get into. Around 90% of applicants get into Colorado State each year. Last year, 31,586 students applied to Colorado State and 28,314 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Colorado State

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

Approximately 86% of students who start at Colorado State return the next year. Colorado State's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 69%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Colorado State Grads

Job placement stats are a good resource for understanding the value of a degree from Colorado State by providing a look on how job placement has gone for other grads. 91% of graduates from Colorado State recieve at least one full-time job offer within six months of graduating.

Recent Colorado State grads have an average starting salary of $51,922 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.

Colorado State University'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.

As of 2022, the total market value of Colorado State University's endowment was $560.5 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $16,196 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Colorado State

Tuition 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 $11,967 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2022 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $25,998 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit 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, is Colorado State the school for you? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit 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 Researching Schools?

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

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Where is Colorado State University Located?

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

If you are interested in seeing Colorado State for yourself, be sure to 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.