How we review each application and render an admission decision is informed by CSU's undergraduate admission philosophy. Every incoming class looks different as we emphasize high academic standards and access to higher education, part of our land-grant mission.

Freshman/First-Year Profile and Decision Factors 

Fall 2023 freshman/first-year class profile

In general, students with a 3.0+ GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and a steady or upward trend in grades are admitted to CSU. The class profile reflects the middle 50 percent of freshmen/first-year students admitted for Fall 2023. This means half the students we admitted have a GPA in this range; 25% of the students we admitted have a GPA above this range, and 25% have a GPA below this range. While this will help you understand where the center of a class lies, it should not be considered minimum requirements to be admitted. A range of academic factors beyond GPA alone are considered in the admission decision.

Middle 50% GPA: 3.44-4.08 (4.0 scale)

Recommended High School Classes 

To be competitive for admission, freshman/first-year applicants and transfers with fewer than 30 post-high school credits are advised to complete at least 17 high school units that meet the state of Colorado Higher Education Admission Recommendations (HEAR) and CSU course work recommendations.

The minimum passing grade is D; however, grades of C or better are preferred.

Competitive Majors

A few undergraduate majors have more competitive entrance requirements and/or enrollment caps; entrance to these programs is limited to students presenting the strongest academic credentials, and early application is highly recommended.

Details about factors considered in the admission decision are in the freshman/first-year application guide.

Transfer Admission Profile and Decision Factors 

Fall 2023 Transfer Profile

The class profile reflects the middle 50 percent of transfers admitted for Fall 2023. This means half the students we admitted have credentials in this range; 25% of the students we admitted have credentials above this range, and 25% are below. While this will help you understand where the center of a class lies, it should not be considered minimum requirements for admission. A range of academic factors beyond GPA alone are considered in the admission decision.

Middle 50% Transfer GPA: 2.9-3.7 (4.0 scale)

Middle 50% Transfer Credits: 29-65

Strong candidates for admission present a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better; completion of college-level composition and mathematics or statistics is highly recommended. We encourage applicants who do not meet these GPA/course recommendations to strengthen their application with their Academic Explanation. Until a transfer applicant has 30 or more post-high school college credits complete, the admission decision also includes review of high school credentials according to our freshman/first-year admission guidelines.

According to federal financial aid requirements, ALL transfer applicants with fewer than 60 credits in transfer must demonstrate high school graduation (or equivalent). Admitted transfers with more than 30 but fewer than 60 credits in transfer are required to submit a final high school transcript reflecting graduation prior to the first day of classes. 

Competitive Majors

A few undergraduate majors have more competitive entrance requirements and/or enrollment caps; entrance to these programs is limited to students presenting the strongest academic credentials, and early application is highly recommended.

Transfer Admission Guarantee

Students who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree from an accredited Colorado community or junior college after high school graduation (or equivalent) will be guaranteed admission to the University providing that it is the last institution attended and that a cumulative 2.00 GPA (on a 4.000 scale) has been achieved from ALL institutions attended. Entry into a specific major may depend on completion of appropriate prerequisite courses and enrollment limitations of the major.

Details about factors considered in the admission decision are in the transfer application guide.

Second Bachelor/Post-Bachelor Decision Factors 

To be considered for admission, second bachelor/post-bachelor candidates must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (4.00 scale) from all institutions attended and must be seeking a degree program that does not duplicate their first degree. Admission is provisional for students who are admitted during their final term of first degree enrollment, and proof of degree completion is required prior to the start of second degree enrollment. Details about factors considered in the admission decision are in the second bachelor's application guide.

Competitive Majors

A few undergraduate majors have more competitive entrance requirements and/or enrollment caps; entrance to these programs is limited to students presenting the strongest academic credentials, and early application is highly recommended.

Returning CSU Students 

Comprehensive details for returning students are available in the returning student application guide.

The admission decision for students returning to complete a degree in progress is based primarily on their previous CSU performance and their academic standing upon leaving CSU. Students who left the University in good academic standing generally are cleared to return without restrictions. Students who left the University in an academic dismissal should refer to the Scholastic Standards Policy for additional information about qualifying to return to CSU.

Students who previously attended CSU as an admitted, degree-seeking undergraduate  and wish to enroll in a second/additional undergraduate degree must select a degree program that does not duplicate their first degree.

Competitive Majors

A few undergraduate majors have more competitive entrance requirements and/or enrollment caps; entrance to these programs is limited to students presenting the strongest academic credentials, and early application is highly recommended. Returning students must have satisfied particular CSU course work and earned specific grades/GPA to be admitted to a major with competitive entrance requirements.

English Proficiency Requirement 

Strong English language skills are important to academic success at CSU. To support student success, we require all students whose first language is not English to demonstrate a high level of English proficiency regardless of their citizenship. Undergraduate applicants from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom whose first language is English are exempt from this requirement.

TOEFL IBT, IELTS Academic and Duolingo results are the preferred indicators of English proficiency. For applicants seeking direct admission to CSU, the requirements are as follows:

English Proficiency Exam Clear Admission
TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test) 72
IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing Services) 6.0
Duolingo (undergraduate only) 110

Consideration of paper-based TOEFL (PBT) results requires an interview with a member of the international admissions team.

Conditional admission will be offered to students who are academically competitive but have not achieved the necessary score for direct admission or have not submitted a TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score. Conditionally admitted students are enrolled in the Intensive English Program (IEP). IEP courses are not CSU credit-bearing courses but rather are specifically designed for IEP students before advancing into a CSU academic program.

Alternative measures of English Proficiency:

  • Successful completion of the Intensive English Program (IEP) at CSU (conditional admission may be offered to IEP students studying at the advanced level)
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 520 or higher
  • ACT English/Reading score of 20 or higher
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) HL English course grade of 5 or higher
  • An IGCSE or A-level result of C or better on the English/First Language exam. Test results must be official and not predicted to be considered for direct admission.
  • Completion of a U.S. diploma and/or two or more years of secondary transcripts reflecting progress towards a U.S. diploma from a regionally-accredited organization as defined by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Completion of at least two semesters of U.S. post-secondary/university course work in English, including college composition and speech with grades of C or better. Courses must have been taken at a regionally-accredited college/university to be considered for direct admission.
  • Gaokao/NCEE English score of 105 or higher AND an online interview with an international admissions counselor
  • WAEC/WASSCE English language grade of B3 or better
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition or Literature and Composition exam result of 4 or higher

Alternative measures of proficiency not listed above may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Refer to the English proficiency information online for more information.

Students with Disabilities

All applicants are evaluated according to the same University admission standards. We recognize, however, that not every student’s personal or educational background is the same.

Disclosure of the presence of a disability is voluntary. Applicants may use components of the application such as the academic explanation, personal statement, or recommendation(s) to identify their disability and to discuss the impact of the disability on their academic record (if any). While this information can be considered if disclosed, it will not be the sole basis for the admission decision.

CSU's Student Disability Center offers admitted students the full range of support services to help students achieve academic success.