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Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Fort Collins, CO NCAA Division I-FBS

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO

88.6%
Acceptance Rate
$34,684/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$21,279/yr
Avg Price After Aid
66.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
25,538
Undergrads

About Colorado State University Fort Collins

Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public four-year institution in Fort Collins, Colorado, a midsize city in Larimer County. It enrolls 25,538 students at a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The cost of attendance is $34,684, against an average net price of $21,279.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
25,538
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,952
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$643.3M
Pell Students
21.1%
First-Gen
24.2%
What Colorado State University Fort Collins Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Business Family and Consumer... 206 graduates · 4.1% of degrees here vs 0.02% nationally 260×
Environmental Biology 92 graduates · 1.8% of degrees here vs 0.02% nationally 100×
Wildlife Biology 106 graduates · 2.1% of degrees here vs 0.03% nationally 82×
Zoology/Animal Biology 128 graduates · 2.6% of degrees here vs 0.09% nationally 30×
Construction Engineering... 142 graduates · 2.8% of degrees here vs 0.15% nationally 20×
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
88.6%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
36,612
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$21,279 avg net
Average net price after aid
$13,259
Under $30K income
$643.3M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$49,748 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
66.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
$20,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Colorado State University Fort Collins Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
88.6%
36,612 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
Undergrad instruction

Colorado State University Fort Collins received 36,612 applications for Fall 2023, admitted 32,801 students, and enrolled 5,293. The reported acceptance rate is 88.6%.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 36,612 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

GPA Distribution — Enrolled Students
8-band breakdown · Source: Common Data Set
4.0
37.3%
3.75–3.99
19.8%
3.50–3.74
14.3%
3.25–3.49
11.8%
3.00–3.24
9.8%
2.50–2.99
6.9%
2.00–2.49
0.1%
Below 2.0

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Considered
Academic GPA Very Important
Standardized test scores Considered
Application essay Important
Recommendations Considered
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
20%
Top quarter
43%
Top half
76%
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 15,459 13,734 88.8% 2,318
Women 20,746 19,065 91.9% 2,975
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Colorado State University Fort Collins admits 88.5% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
88.5%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
CO (24)
87.5%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colorado State University Fort Collins Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$21,279
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$20,000
Federal Loan Rate
31.6%
Students borrowing federal loans

In-state tuition and fees are $13,373 and the full cost of attendance is $34,684. The average net price after grant aid is $21,279.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$34,684
In-state Tuition & Fees
$13,373
39%
Room & Board
$16,817
48%
Books & Supplies
$1,200
3%
Other Expenses
$3,294
9%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$13,259
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,460
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,905
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,927
Over $110,000
$29,763
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
87%
Federal loans
32%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $212.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Colorado State University Fort Collins costs $21,279 a year — about 46% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$31,642
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
CO (40)
$24,199
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
87.4%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
CO (63)
85.5%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$20,000
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
CO (66)
$10,718
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$21,279
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
CO (69)
$17,042
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colorado State University Fort Collins Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
66.7%
Median Earnings 6yr
$49,748
6 years after entering

The six-year graduation rate is 66.7%. Median earnings are $49,748 six years after entry, rising to $60,543 at the ten-year mark.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$57,065
Men
$45,108
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
54.5%
Pell recipients
64.3%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Business Administration and Management,...735
Psychology, General329
Computer and Information Sciences, General215
Business Family and Consumer...206
Biology/Biological Sciences, General200
Exercise Science and Kinesiology198
Mechanical Engineering174
Biomedical Sciences, General161
Construction Engineering...142
Zoology/Animal Biology128
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
74.6%
White
69.3%
Hispanic
57.6%
Black
51.1%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Colorado State University Fort Collins are $56,079, and 70% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Colorado State University Fort Collins students earn $49,748 — 8% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$60,543
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
CO (66)
$41,669
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$49,748
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
CO (69)
$36,412
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
66.7%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
CO (33)
41.8%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
85.4%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
CO (22)
72.4%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Colorado State University Fort Collins Campus, Athletics & Faculty

The campus is in Fort Collins, a midsize city in Larimer County. Of 25,538 students, 54.9% are women and 24.2% are first-generation.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
69.6%
Asian
2.9%
Hispanic
16%
Black
2.7%
Other Indicators
First-generation
24.2%
Pell grant recipients
21.1%
Women
54.9%
Colorado State University Fort Collins Athletics
Total Revenue
$11.2M
Total Expense
$11.2M
Athletes
503
262 men · 241 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$646,997
Women's sports
$114,243

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$5,934,829
Women's aid
$4,628,796
Academic Resources
1,759
Full-time faculty
$106,952
Avg faculty salary
21,938
FT staff
$643.3M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$115,364
Women (avg)
$98,017
Overall avg
$106,952
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
25,538
Graduate students
7,875
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
1.6%

364 of 22,676 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
7.5%
Undergrads taking any
33.8%
Grad students fully online
33.3%

1,946 of 25,834 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 2,551 of 7,666 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Colorado State University Fort Collins is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and operates its own medical school.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Colorado State University Fort Collins spends $21,900 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
21.1%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
CO (73)
31.8%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$21,900
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
CO (32)
$5,805
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
17:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
CO (74)
16:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Colorado State University Fort Collins
74 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
4,992 graduates
Business and Marketing 775 grads · 2 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 735
Restaurant/Food Services Management 40
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 775 grads · 8 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 200
Biomedical Sciences, General 161
Zoology/Animal Biology 128
Wildlife Biology 106
Environmental Biology 92
Neuroscience 50
Biochemistry 33
Microbiology, General 5
Engineering 449 grads · 8 majors
Mechanical Engineering 174
Civil Engineering, General 66
Chemical Engineering 57
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 47
Environmental/Environmental Health... 42
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 40
Computer Engineering, General 22
Engineering Science 1
Social Sciences 371 grads · 5 majors
Sociology, General 125
Political Science and Government, General 111
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 76
Anthropology, General 51
Geography 8
Psychology 329 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 329
Family and Consumer Sciences 294 grads · 3 majors
Business Family and Consumer... 206
Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 81
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human... 7
Agriculture 270 grads · 9 majors
Animal Sciences, General 80
Horticultural Science 52
Equestrian/Equine Studies 46
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 31
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture... 19
Soil Science and Agronomy, General 13
Agricultural Economics 12
Brewing Science 10
Plant Protection and Integrated Pest... 7
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 251 grads · 2 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 198
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities... 53
Communication and Journalism 240 grads · 2 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 124
Journalism 116
Computer and Information Sciences 218 grads · 2 majors
Computer and Information Sciences, General 215
Information Science/Studies 3
Visual and Performing Arts 170 grads · 4 majors
Fine/Studio Arts, General 111
Music, General 30
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 24
Dance, General 5
Engineering Technologies 142 grads · 1 major
Construction Engineering... 142
Multidisciplinary Studies 83 grads · 4 majors
Nutrition Sciences 33
International/Globalization Studies 28
Data Science, General 16
Natural Sciences 6
Natural Resources and Conservation 78 grads · 4 majors
Environmental/Natural Resources... 31
Forestry, General 28
Environmental Science 17
Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources... 2
English Language and Literature 75 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 75
History 75 grads · 1 major
History, General 75
Public Administration and Social Services 69 grads · 1 major
Social Work 69
Architecture 68 grads · 2 majors
Interior Architecture 50
Landscape Architecture 18
Physical Sciences 68 grads · 3 majors
Chemistry, General 30
Geology/Earth Science, General 27
Physics, General 11
Liberal Arts and General Studies 61 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 61
Mathematics and Statistics 57 grads · 2 majors
Mathematics, General 40
Statistics, General 17
Education 26 grads · 2 majors
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 23
Agricultural Teacher Education 3
Philosophy and Religious Studies 16 grads · 1 major
Philosophy 16
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 12 grads · 1 major
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 12
Health Professions 8 grads · 1 major
Environmental Health 8
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 7 grads · 2 majors
Ethnic Studies 6
Women's Studies 1
Homeland Security and Protective Services 5 grads · 1 major
Fire Services Administration 5
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Colorado State University Fort Collins Location & Campus Safety

Colorado State University Fort Collins is in Fort Collins, CO, in what IPEDS classifies as a midsize city setting. The campus sits about 2 miles from the center of Fort Collins. There is 1 other college within 25 miles, and Boulder, CO is 39.1 miles away.

Colorado State University Fort Collins
Midsize city
Campus Setting
2 mi
To City Center
1
Colleges Within 25 mi
169,705
Fort Collins Population
Living in Fort Collins
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,661
Median Rent / mo
$83,598
Median Household Income
34%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
63.3%
Walk
4.2%
Public transit
1.5%

Larimer County scores 10.0 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 16.5% of Fort Collins's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at Colorado State University Fort Collins

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Colorado State University Fort Collins reported for 2024.

58
On-Campus Offenses
37
In Residence Halls
1.7
Per 1,000 Students
52
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
95
2023
80
2024
58
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
32
Burglary
10
Motor vehicle theft
9
Aggravated assault
4
Arson
3

Separately, Colorado State University Fort Collins reported 28 arrests and 816 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Colorado State University Fort Collins admissions, costs, and outcomes.