Founded in 1870, Colorado State University-Fort Collins. is a Public college. Located in Colorado, which is a city setting in Colorado, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 25,177 full time undergraduate students, and 6,679 full time graduate students.
The Colorado State University-Fort Collins Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 1542 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Colorado State University-Fort Collins include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
77%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
1020-1250
ACT Range
23-28
Admissions at CSU are considered Less Selective, with ,190% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 23 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
88% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 51% were in the top quarter, and 22% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Colorado State University-Fort Collins.
346 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
286 Students rated off-campus housing 3.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
382 Students rated campus food 3.7 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
399 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
400 Students rated class size 3.7 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
396 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 48 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
397 Students rated local services 4.4 stars. 58 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
400 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
191 Students rated Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Marissa - 01/13/2025
The campus is very busy and can be overwhelming. It is difficult to meet people because of the size. However, there are a lot of great extracurricular activities. There is a nice recreation center with a ton of activities for people with various interests. The class size is quite large but the professors are knowledgeable and there are a lot of opportunities for study groups and office hours.
Ashley - 11/29/2024
Colorado State University is known for academic excellence, research opportunities, and a vibrant campus culture. Located in Fort Collins at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the campus offers beautiful scenery and mountain activities. The faculty are available and dedicated to student success, with a small class size allowing an individualized learning environment for students. The university has also stressed sustainability, diversity, and student wellness through all its initiatives and services. Fort Collins, a top-ranked college town, further differentiates the CSU experience by its friendly community, arts, and dining.
CJ - 11/01/2024
The campus is incredibly cosy. When you arrive at the campus you feel as if you are in your own little community within the town. There are plenty of happy faces everywhere you look, people laughing and studying, and people riding bikes or walking around. The classrooms are well kept and clean as well as the rest of the campus. The food court and cafeteria are clean and not dirty, plus the food is good. There are plenty of other food places around the campus so there is always something new to try. Also, the campus feels very safe and secure. There are police officers all over the place and cameras pointing every which way. I would highly suggest going to tour the school before you turn it down.
Oriyauna - 09/19/2024
It's a great school in my opinion. I'm originally from Kansas city, Missouri so this is my first time being very far from home without anyone I know and as time progresses I'm feeling more and more at home. I'm also an African American student going to a PWI, at first I was a little nervous but everyone has been very kind and accepting. The academics are amazing, I want to become a vet and they have advisors specifically for pre-vet students and just all the academic outliers they take into consideration to ensure everyone is getting the education they desire and deserve.
JaVayah - 05/16/2024
I love it and think very highly of my overall experience. People are one thing, but there are many amazing things about this school, I'm excited to return in the fall. My freshman year was eye-opening. Moving to a new town and experiencing living on my own, at Colorado State University made it fun and easy to adjust to being alone. Joining key communities for inclusiveness and diversity for their diverse students also contributed to my success in my freshman year. I made so many friends and was equipped with multiple mentors to ensure my success. The open and endless office hours provided by professors, as well as the many resources and study groups that were available on campus for the easy access of its students.
Colorado State University is quite pricy. However, they treat their students well. Our dining halls are quite nice, with a large selection of foods, suitable for all types of people and their preferences as well as allergies. CSU is very inclusive, it’s kind of insane how attentive to detail they are with their students and their campus. I remember feeling scared, being a person of color, attending a predominately white institution, but I do love it at this school. I found my community, more so built it, only due to the amazing people who go there.
I’d also like to put in a note about the professors I’ve had so far, they’re sweet, kind, and understanding. I hope I luck out with more just like them. They were a huge part of my year as a little freshman, and they made it easier. Not so much with the workload, but by being human beings to their students.
I could go into great detail about my time as a Colorado State University student, but my time isn’t up yet, three more years to go, plus more! I look forward to spending those years at CSU.
Barbara - 04/04/2024
Colorado State University is a great College, it is full of great people, their Campus, the variety of careers, and programs, the clubs and sports that they have are incredible. They provide so much help, they are always there for you in case you need them.
Christian - 02/12/2024
I think that it's a great university overall with lots of opportunities for students. There aren't many things wrong with CSU asides from the older dorms. Also some of the buildings here arn't the newest or well maintained. Otherwise it's a great place to go to college.
Reese - 04/05/2023
A great school that allows me to explore what I want to do with my life. On-campus housing always has fun events for residents! Met my best friends my third day here! Put yourself out there and you'll enjoy your time here! Go to RamWelcome events to make the most of you time here!
Alexis - 02/09/2023
Colorado State University hosted such an amazing experience for my undergraduate studies. I enjoyed the accessibility to nature, hiking on the weekends, climbing during the week, and swimming in the reservoir in the summer. The campus is the most sustainable one in the USA, which is such a cool thing to tell others in my field.
Eryn - 01/30/2023
Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a great college to attend. It's located in a quaint town and there are several restaurants nearby as well as plenty of things around town to explore and be involved in. I've been really happy with my experience here on campus.
Autumn - 12/14/2022
Colorado state is a public research university with a rather high graduation rate. I think it looks like an amazing college where students are very productive and learn everything they need to know and more about their chosen major. Its also a great place for students to develop friendships and some school spirit.
Jules - 12/11/2022
It's a great school with loads of activities to do and places to go and people to meet. The campus is very lively with lots of common student hangouts scattered around the campus. the atmosphere is really nice, everyone is open to greetings and kind to visitors.
Tanya - 04/28/2022
CSU has a very inviting campus with many amenities. It is convenient how the campus is so compact, so dorms, classes, and recreational activities are very close to each other. There are also many bike paths and bus routes that make it manageable to get around without a car. The professors I have had have also been very caring and available and there are many resources regarding academics and career help. It has an interesting mix of people - I have found a very large and inviting LGBTQ+ community, so for those identifying with that group it is very comfortable if you find the right group. However, outside of that, I found that there are some unwelcoming and prejudiced people. Despite CSU's constant advocacy for social justice and diversity, there is a lack of racial diversity and I have heard many of my friends of color saying they feel isolated.
I visited the campus last year with my cousin. He is now attending there as a Freshman.
I liked the campus and all the things there are to do in the area, the hiking, fishing, climbing. The campus itself is nice the dorms seem comfortable enough. My cousin likes it and he likes his roomates. We will jave the same major. He said his class size is mostly small. Our degree is not a very popular one.
I have not tired to food. He says it's not bad.
We did have to switch hotels when we were in Fort Collins. There was some gang activity.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Colorado State University-Fort Collins is 77%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Before this school I was extremely pessimistic about society. I viewed humanity as a negative biological entity, a creature on this planet that has quite literally taken over. However, after my classes and incredible on campus internship, I have learned a new meaning to conservation. Community based conservation is the only future for our planet. Bringing together research, community values, policy, economics and more is prudent for the future of conservation. Colorado State has opened my mind to a new light that has caused an overwhelming amount of ambition and optimism to swell within me. I've learned the true meaning to sustainability, and have come to realize that humanity is not a negative entity; we are simply a system that has gone out of balance. In the end it comes down to the ability to sustain both our natural and human world in one system, and in the end it comes down to places like Colorado State who inspire us all to look for new faces of change.
The academics at Colorado State University allow students to grow in their preferred field of study. While it can be frustrating during one's first couple years of having to take classes that don't pertain to his/her major, it does get more interesting once General Education courses and Prerequisites are out of the way. Students begin to learn more about what they actually came to college for-- to become professionals in a selected field of study. Along with classes becoming more enjoyable, the class sizes decrease in size, which, I believe, allows for more personal growth as a student; professors get to know students by name and build relationships that ultimately help students to reach his/her maximum potential. It isn't uncommon to see students at CSU putting numerous hours into studying and homework, whether that be in different Halls or in the Morgan Library.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
I would say Greek Life is the most popular student activity around campus but there are many different groups for specific interests in each college. For example the College of Ag has block and bridle club or CSU cattlewomens association, and lots more.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
I think many students enjoy their college experience and are experiencing new things in their life, but I dont think CSU parties any more or less than any other college campus.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Colorado State University is in a great location! You are right next to the mountains if you enjoy outdoor recreation, and if not Denver is only an hours drive away.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
If they had they had the majors and the sport clubs/ varsity sports that would interest me in trying out for the teams and pursuing a degree in those majors
Colorado State University is a very diverse school that offers opportunities for many types of people. A person that attends this school should probably enjoy the outdoors, seeing as the students and the community of Fort Collins are very active and outdoors oriented as a whole. The person should also be comfortable in a large school since CSU has roughly 27,000 students. The person should also enjoy getting involved because CSU has an enormous amount of Student Organizations that offer involvment opportunities for every interest.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The eco-friendly enthusiastic nature of the campus. It's helpful and not pushy and offers ways for you to become 'green' instead of just telling you to become 'green'.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
Anyone interested in learning, growing, and advancing their opportunities for the future should attend. No one should be left out, if they are willing to work hard.
It is best known for its incredible environmental studies and research. My department, Fish Wildlife and Conservation Biology, is nationally ranked. As is our Pre-Vet, Pre-med, Engineering, Agricultural, and Zoology departments. Overall it is a very academically challenging school.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The most frustrating thing is walking to class when it was in the worst of winter getting a foot of snow and having no teachers cancel class because it was just typical colorado weather
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
CSU is stereotyped as a state school where all kids do is party. There certainly is partying that goes on, but there are very few people giving all college students a bad rep. I have met tons of people who have no interest in partying at all, and have found a very comfortable atmosphere at CSU away from the party scene. Fraternity life can get a little rowdy like the stereotypes portray, but not to the extent you see in movies and in the media. Overall, the CSU fraternities are respectable.
The school is changing up the people working with the sports team. They just let go the football coach. But sports is a big thing here and students get free tickets to the home sporting events and they are a lot of fun to go to.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
78% of students attending Colorado State University-Fort Collins receive some sort of financial aid.
21% were awarded federal grants.46%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.