Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado · Public · 25,538 undergraduates · colostate.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
89%
of 38,365 applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$35,400Est.Estimate
$60,270 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
89% of applicants admitted
Target
Your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's here.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$60,270
a year in 2027-28, from a $60,270 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Apply test-optional
A strong score can still help where colleges consider it, and many merit awards use one.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: Domestic Freshman Admissions | Admissions | Colorado State University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Action · November 15, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
- Jul15Other deadline · July 15, 2027
Who gets in
89%
of applicants were admitted: 34,004 of 38,365 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/15, hear by 1/15.
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.70
- 4.030%
- 3.75 to 3.9918%
- 3.50 to 3.7417%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.2412%
- 2.50 to 2.997.7%
- Below 2.500.1%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$35,400
a year, in state
$60,270
a year, out of state (tuition $36,960)
- Tuition (in state)$12,090
- Fees$2,920
- Food and housing$19,080
- Books and supplies$1,310
Colorado State University-Fort Collins published $32,482 in state for 2024-25. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$12,291
- $30,001 to $48,000$12,331
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,009
- $75,001 to $110,000$21,777
- Over $110,000$32,378
Financial aid
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$12,658
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
28%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $7,517 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 3/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Green and Gold Scholarship for Non-Residents (highest level, National Merit Finalists)
$16,000 to $64,000 a year
National Merit · Out-of-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
DetailsGreen and Gold Scholarship for Non-Residents (College Board First Generation Recognition Scholars, highest level)
$16,000 a year
National Merit · Out-of-state students
To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
DetailsGreen and Gold Scholarship for Colorado Residents (College Board First Generation Recognition Scholars)
$2,500 to $4,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
DetailsGreen and Gold Scholarship for Colorado Residents (National Merit Finalists)
$2,500 to $4,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, and stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 39
Earn credit with a score of 3
37 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,210Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 1++ |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 1++ |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | ETST1++3C |
| African American Studies | 4 | 6 | ETST1++3C, HIST+++ (See Dept) |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 110 |
| Art History | 4 | 6 | ART 110, 111 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | LIFE 1++3L |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | LIFE 102 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | LIFE 102, 103 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 5 | MATH 124, 160 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 5 | MATH 124, 160 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 160, 161 |
| Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | MATH 160, 161 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 5 | MATH 124, 160 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 1++3L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 5 | CHEM 107 & 108 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 9 | CHEM 111, 112, 113 & 114 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 | LCHI 101 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 10 | LCHI 101, 200 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 15 | LCHI 101, 200, 201 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS1++3C |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 241 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CIS 1++ |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CS 163 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS 1++ |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 1++ |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | CO 130 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | CO 150 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | CO 130 & 150 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | E 140 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | E 140 & CO 130 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | E 140 & CO 150 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | NR 1++3L |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 100 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | HIST 100, 101 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LFRE 200 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LFRE 200, 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 9 | LFRE 200, 201, 300 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LGER 200 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LGER 200, 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 9 | LGER 200, 201, 300 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GR 1++3C |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GR 100 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LITA 200 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LITA 200, 201 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 9 | LITA 200, 201, 3++ |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 | LJPN 101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 10 | LJPN 101, 200 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 15 | LJPN 101, 200, 201 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LLAT 2++3B |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | LLAT 2++3B |
| Latin | 5 | 9 | LLAT 2++3B, LLAT 3++ |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 204 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MU 111 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 5 | PH 121 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 5 | PH 122 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 | PH 1++3L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 5 | PH 141 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 1++3C |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSY 100 |
| Research | 4 | 6 | IU 1++ |
| Seminar | 4 | 6 | IU 1++ |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LSPA 200 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LSPA 200 & 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 9 | LSPA 200, 201 & 300 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT1++1B |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 201 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 1++ |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 101 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 150 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 150, 151 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 171 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | HIST 170, 171 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
68%
Come back for a second year
86%
Typical earnings
$66,947
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins$88,022
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 51 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Colorado State University-Fort Collins. The Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo is a trademark of the college.