Faculty oversee scholastic standards through the Faculty Council Committee on Scholastic Standards. Students can inquire about scholastic standards at: studentsuccess_scholasticstandards@mail.colostate.edu.
Undergraduate
Good Standing - Minimum Cumulative GPA
In order to graduate, a minimum cumulative grade point average (CUM GPA) of 2.000 on a 4.000 scale is required at CSU. All grades earned in regular credit courses, including those taken through CSU Online or the CSU Summer Session, will count toward the CUM GPA. For students who have been granted a Fresh Start, all grades earned prior to the Fresh Start will not count toward the student’s CUM GPA.
Academic Standing
Students with a cumulative grade point average (CUM GPA) lower than a 2.000 will begin the academic standing process for one or two regular semesters (fall and spring). The first fall/spring semester that a student has a CUM GPA lower than a 2.000 will be their "academic watch" semester. If a student continues into a second fall/spring semester with a CUM GPA below 2.000, that semester will be their "academic dismissal warning" semester. Grades earned in regular credit courses through the Division of Continuing Education or the CSU summer session will count toward the CUM GPA regardless of when those classes are taken. At any time that the CUM GPA is raised to a 2.000 or higher, the student will return to good academic standing.
Students who withdraw from all CSU courses during the semester or attend another institution will continue in the academic standing process when they return. Note that transfer credit grades are not computed within the CUM GPA earned at CSU, so these grades can not improve the CSU GPA. (Faculty Council approved minutes Dec. 6, 2022)
Academic Dismissal
Students in the academic standing process who do not raise their CUM GPA to a 2.000 or higher after two regular semesters (fall and spring) will be dismissed from CSU. Students who have been academically dismissed from CSU have three options to seek readmission.
First, they may take classes through the GUEST program, through the CSU Summer Session, or through the Division of Continuing Education. They can return to CSU when their CUM GPA is 2.000 or higher.
The second option available to students who have been academically dismissed is to enroll at another regionally accredited institution and meet the requirements to be admitted as a transfer student to CSU. Upon transferring back to CSU, students will have two semesters following re-enrollment to raise their CUM GPA earned at CSU to 2.000 or higher. Transfer credits are not computed within the CUM GPA earned at CSU. Students who have raised the CUM GPA to 2.000 or higher or who apply as students transferring from another institution may apply for readmission to the University.
A third option is to return to CSU through the Fresh Start Process (see information below).
Appeal of Academic Dismissal
Students may appeal academic dismissal. An online appeal may be submitted for consideration by the Faculty Council Committee on Scholastic Standards. All appeals must be submitted in accordance with written instructions.
All appeals of academic dismissal will be acted upon by the Faculty Council Committee on Scholastic Standards no later than seven business days prior to the first day of classes for the next regular academic semester (either fall or spring).
A dismissal appeal that is granted allows the student to return immediately for the next regular semester (fall or spring). Dismissal appeals granted cannot carry forward to a future semester unless the student was approved (prior to dismissal) for a planned leave for the next regular semester. If a student withdraws during the dismissal appeal granted semester due to extenuating circumstances, the student must submit another appeal to dismissal that includes documentation of the extenuating circumstances or the student will be dismissed at the end of the dismissal appeal granted semester.
Academic Fresh Start
The Academic Fresh Start policy allows students to restart their CSU GPA and return in good academic standing while retaining credit for courses with grades of C- or better.
Generally, Fresh Start best serves students in a probationary or dismissed status who need 30 or more credits to complete their degree.
Who is eligible for the Academic Fresh Start?
- You must be pursuing your first undergraduate degree and
- You must have a break of at least one calendar year since your last term of enrollment as an admitted, degree-seeking student
You’re considered enrolled in the semester if you used a semester withdrawal. Your time away from CSU starts after a semester withdrawal term.
Dismissed students can enroll in non-degree options during the one-year break and retain eligibility for Fresh Start.
To apply for an Academic Fresh Start, students must:
- Visit with their academic advisor or academic success coordinator about their eligibility for Fresh Start and its implications for graduation. Students awarded Fresh Start must successfully complete at least 30 upper-division credits in residence at CSU after Fresh Start is granted in order to graduate. In some cases, students are closer to graduation without Fresh Start.
- Contact your admissions counselor to discuss the return process and your potential eligibility to return. Eligibility for Fresh Start does not guarantee admission to CSU.
Once students have had these conversations, they can request a Fresh Start within the Returning Student application. On the Personal Statement tab, check the box to be considered for a Fresh Start and then include a personal statement that addresses the following topics:
- Why you wish to return to CSU.
- Factors that support your successful return – what you’ve learned about yourself, evidence of change/success since you last attended CSU.
- Your plan for academic success – tools and resources you intend to use when you return.
Finally, while it’s helpful to know whether you have completed additional academic work elsewhere since leaving CSU, additional course work is not required to be considered for either Fresh Start option.
Please note that other institutions are not obligated to recognize CSU's Academic Fresh Start policy, and may not honor the new GPA.
Only grades earned after the Fresh Start demarcation will be computed in the new GPA. Students must complete at least 30 upper division credits of coursework in residence at CSU after Fresh Start is granted in order to graduate. Fresh Start may also have implications regarding other requirements for graduation and eligibility for Graduation with Distinction. Students should consult with their department regarding their graduation requirements.
Dean's List
Students should contact their individual college(s) for Dean’s List qualifications.
Graduation with Distinction
CSU recognizes outstanding scholarship by granting the baccalaureate degree “Cum Laude,” “Magna Cum Laude,” and “Summa Cum Laude” to those students in each college who have achieved unusually high academic excellence in their undergraduate programs. To be eligible for graduation with distinction, students must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum grade point average required for graduation with distinction and
- Minimum of 60 credits completed at CSU. Students who have been granted Fresh Start must have completed 60 credits after the Fresh Start designation to qualify for graduation with distinction.
Transfer credits are not considered when determining a) candidacy for graduation with distinction or b) graduation with distinction.
The Current Breakdown of Acceptable GPAs for a Distinction Designation:
| College | Summa Cum Laude | Magna Cum Laude | Cum Laude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences | 4.000 | 3.952 | 3.825 |
| Business | 3.996 | 3.924 | 3.818 |
| Engineering | 3.978 | 3.916 | 3.776 |
| Health and Human Sciences | 4.000 | 3.946 | 3.840 |
| Liberal Arts | 4.000 | 3.957 | 3.869 |
| Natural Resources | 4.000 | 3.954 | 3.842 |
| Natural Sciences | 4.000 | 3.962 | 3.888 |
| Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences | 4.000 | 3.989 | 3.950 |
These minimum cumulative grade point averages will be reviewed every four years and may be changed if needed to maintain appropriate academic standards. Such changes will become effective the semester following approval by Faculty Council and publication in the General Catalog. The breakdown illustrated above will be applied starting with our Spring 2024 graduates. Each of the minimum grade point averages needed to graduate with distinction will be adjusted at the end of each four year period only if the percentage of students graduating with distinction in a distinction category and college have shown a statistically verifiable deviation from the target percentages of:
| Summa Cum Laude | 1% |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3% |
| Cum Laude | 6% |
Candidates for graduation with distinction are recognized at the time of commencement. Candidacy is determined by a student's cumulative grade point average through the semester preceding graduation. “Candidacy” for graduation with distinction does not guarantee graduation with distinction. Graduation with distinction is based on the student’s cumulative grade point average at the time of graduation. The CSU GPA calculation is carried to the third decimal place and is not rounded.
Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree are eligible for distinction designation. To qualify for graduation with distinction, a minimum of 60 credits completed at CSU is required after the first degree. In determining the grade point average of the student, only grades earned after the first degree are considered.
Graduation as a University Honors Scholar
Students who complete the University Honors Program academic requirements and achieve at least a cumulative 3.500 grade point average earn the designation of University Honors Scholar. Scholars are recognized at graduation by the Honors Program and during the colleges’ commencement ceremonies. The University Honors Scholar designation appears on diplomas and transcripts.
Graduate
Graduate students must maintain a 3.000 GPA to be in good standing with the University. Learn more in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.