Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado · Public, a midsize city · 25,538 undergraduates
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Is it hard to get into Colorado State?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
Acceptance rate
88.5%
36,612 applied
SAT, middle half
Not published
Not reported
ACT, middle half
Not published
Not reported
Test scores this year
Optional: considered if sent
16% of admitted students enrolled
- What they look at
- High school GPARequired
- Class rankConsidered
- Courses takenRequired
- College-prep programConsidered
- RecommendationsConsidered
- EssayRequired
How much does Colorado State cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
Tuition and fees, Colorado residents
$13,774
Tuition and fees, out of state
$36,113
A full year, sticker price
$34,684
Living on campus
Average price after grants
$22,247
Students who got federal aid
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $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 |
- Room and board on campus
- $17,508 a year; $17,658 off campus
- Books and supplies
- $1,200 a year
- The school's own grants
- 69% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $8,217
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do Colorado State students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
Typical debt at graduation
$18,750
About $213 a month over ten years
Students who borrow
31.4%
Get a Pell Grant
23.6%
Federal grant for lower-income families
Over 25 when they start
10.4%
What do Colorado State graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Six years after starting
$53,587
Ten years after starting
$66,947
Middle half: $45,996 to $96,240
Best-paid program, five years out
$137,810
Computer Engineering
Lowest-paid program, five years out
$40,214
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Do Colorado State students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Back for second year
85.9%
Graduate in six years
67.6%
The four-year figure is for a later, smaller group, so it is not shown
After eight years
68% graduated
18% transferred, 1% still enrolled
Who goes to Colorado State?
Women
54.9%
First in their family at college
24.2%
Part-time
10%
Students per teacher
17
- Background
- White 70%, Hispanic 16%, Black 3%, Asian 3%, Two or more 5%, International 2%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 8,361 beds
What do Colorado State graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Computer science
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 419 | $85,231 | $124,797 | $20,254 |
| Information Science/Studies | 16 | $79,292 | $78,423 | Hidden |
Engineering
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 97 | Hidden | $86,385 | Hidden |
| Chemical Engineering | 137 | $68,149 | $96,445 | $15,133 |
| Civil Engineering | 159 | $73,422 | $89,148 | $23,988 |
| Computer Engineering | 49 | Hidden | $137,810 | Hidden |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 309 | $82,475 | $104,538 | $20,750 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 96 | $86,283 | $104,205 | $23,880 |
| Engineering Science | 8 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 86 | $68,391 | $77,620 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 404 | $79,424 | $100,806 | $20,250 |
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,418 | $57,839 | $88,022 | $16,750 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 87 | $46,320 | $66,547 | $19,500 |
| International Business | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Health sciences and kinesiology
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health | 27 | Hidden | $77,358 | Hidden |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 416 | $38,812 | $64,911 | $19,500 |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 123 | $37,077 | $49,680 | $13,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 119 | $55,518 | $59,009 | $18,000 |
| Animal Sciences | 171 | $40,423 | $59,163 | $21,149 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 30 | $57,269 | $72,332 | Hidden |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 86 | $50,019 | $69,235 | $21,357 |
| Biology, General | 698 | $38,064 | $64,488 | $17,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 180 | $42,356 | $59,273 | $16,625 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 86 | $36,640 | Hidden | $23,251 |
| Food Science and Technology | 31 | $53,793 | Hidden | Hidden |
| Forestry | 57 | $52,331 | $64,038 | $19,500 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 46 | $42,418 | $73,265 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 34 | Hidden | $55,372 | Hidden |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 109 | $42,063 | Hidden | $21,764 |
| Plant Sciences | 135 | $38,398 | $50,683 | $22,650 |
| Soil Sciences | 33 | $43,209 | $60,184 | $19,500 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 473 | $35,578 | $48,474 | $20,500 |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 56 | $42,569 | $63,760 | Hidden |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 51 | $59,033 | $70,351 | $15,000 |
| Mathematics | 90 | $51,297 | $77,808 | $20,250 |
| Physics | 24 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Statistics | 34 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 156 | $32,251 | $47,664 | $19,599 |
| History | 176 | $40,446 | $52,166 | $20,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 71 | $42,967 | $63,387 | Hidden |
| Philosophy | 40 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Education (teaching)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 49 | $37,558 | $48,588 | $19,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 12 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Fine and performing arts
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance | 20 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 47 | $34,456 | $40,214 | $19,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 216 | $33,458 | $44,950 | $19,250 |
| Music | 75 | $41,459 | $48,509 | $21,457 |
Architecture and design
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Architecture | 92 | $54,756 | Hidden | $21,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | 42 | $58,744 | Hidden | Hidden |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Science | 31 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| International/Globalization Studies | 75 | $32,709 | $51,503 | $17,777 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 139 | $43,666 | $52,705 | $18,750 |
| Natural Sciences | 23 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Nutrition Sciences | 75 | $40,549 | $61,024 | $17,750 |
Other programs
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 126 | $37,153 | $50,990 | $19,449 |
Compare Colorado State with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with Colorado State University. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences