Acceptance Rate
89%
Avg. SAT
1290
75th percentile
“Land-grant university anchoring Fort Collins with deep roots in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and atmospheric research.”
Fort Collins, CO
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
Colorado State University opened in 1870 as an agricultural college, embracing its land-grant mission to blend hands-on sciences with broad academics. You'll thrive here if you lean practical, enjoy the outdoors, and want a large-school energy without intense cutthroat competition—think collaborative STEM types and future vets who hike on weekends. Fort Collins wraps around campus like a sunny, bike-packed college town of 170,000, with trails into the Rockies and a brewery scene born from local barley fields. The school's personality shines through in its green initiatives and Ram pride, but the sheer scale of 27,000 undergraduates means you'll navigate big crowds and waitlists for popular electives. Housing fills fast after freshman year, pushing many into off-campus apartments where rents match Colorado's high cost of living.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
CSU students dive into strengths like veterinary medicine, atmospheric sciences, engineering, and natural resources, where undergrads join real research on climate models or equine health. Classrooms mix huge intro lectures with smaller upper-division seminars, and professors often pull from their labs for projects—expect team-based learning over rote exams. The intellectual vibe rewards curiosity about the natural world, from fermentation science labs to wildfire studies, though competitive majors like computer science limit spots for late changers. Tradeoffs include fewer humanities spotlights amid the science focus, and research access grows easier after your first year.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
26,221 undergrad • 7,875 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
68%
Black / African American
3%
Hispanic / Latino
14%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
12%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Fort Collins, CO
Varsity Athletics
A typical week blends classes, Ram football tailgates, and club hikes, with moderate Greek life and 500-plus groups fueling everything from ultimate frisbee to veterinary interest sessions. Campus hums with green energy—solar arrays power dorms—and traditions like the pre-game Ram Jam concert draw crowds. Freshmen land guaranteed spots in residence halls like the family-style Aggie Village, but upperclassmen scatter to apartments amid Fort Collins' lively Old Town bars. You'll get 300 sunny days for biking the 400 miles of paths, offset by snowy winters that test your parka collection. The social scene skews outdoorsy and approachable, less intense party-heavy than some peers, though nearby breweries tempt weekend crowds. High living costs mean budgeting for off-campus life.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
86%
4 Years Graduation Rate
51%
6 Years Graduation Rate
70%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$60,543
86% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Colorado State University-Fort Collins and return in the fall. 51% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 70% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
51%
4-5 years
19%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
29%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$9,903
Acceptance
89%
Undergrads
26,221
4-Year Grad Rate
51%
Endowment
$599M
Fort Collins, CO 80523-0100