How to apply

Start with your department

The final approval for your application is made by the Graduate School, but the recommendation to admit is made by the department in which you intend to study. Departments may have additional deadlines and application requirements you must meet in addition to Graduate School requirements. It is critical that you review the specific departmental requirements on your department’s website well in advance of the application deadline.

Search for your certificate or degree program to find contact information and additional information regarding your department’s application requirements.

Graduate Programs

Deadlines and timelines

Application opens

Deadline to apply

The application deadline to apply varies by department. Check with your department to determine the deadline.

General application requirements

Non-refundable application fee

• Degree program: $60 (U.S. citizen/permanent resident).
• Graduate Certificate: $60 (U.S. citizen/permanent resident).

Completion of a bachelor’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree must be completed by the start of your graduate program.
• U.S. degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution to qualify for CSU graduate admission (certificate or degree program).

Transcripts

• Contact your department to find out if unofficial transcripts are accepted. If your department accepts unofficial transcripts, you may be admitted and registered in your first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School. 
• You will need unofficial transcripts of all collegiate work completed post-high school. Separate transcripts are required for study abroad if the courses, grades, and credits are not recorded on the transcript of the university that sponsored the study abroad.
• Training course transcripts from branches of the U.S. Military that show credit received with neither grades nor degrees awarded are exempt from the transcript requirements.
• You must upload the front and back of transcripts and include any grading scale provided.
• Follow instructions and requirements in the Guide to Submitting Your Transcripts section published on this webpage.

Resume or curriculum vitae

• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department.
• Use this document to highlight and address your professional and volunteer experiences.

Written statement of purpose

• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department.
• Tell admissions committees who you are holistically, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you will add value to the graduate program and the respective discipline.

Letters of Recommendation

• All applicants are required to provide contact information for a minimum of three (3) recommenders. Some departments require two (2) letters, and some require three (3) letters. If your department requires two letters, the first two letters submitted will meet the requirement. Please contact your department to verify the minimum number of required letters.
• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department. Your recommenders will be notified and prompted to supply a recommendation letter through the system. Academic references should be prepared to discuss your academic knowledge and skills, aptitude for graduate study, ability for independent research, and classroom performance related to characteristics such as integrity, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork. Choosing an individual as a reference who has an impressive title but cannot discuss the aforementioned qualities will not result in an informative letter of recommendation that supports your admission. Writing any portion of the recommendations yourself, either in whole or in part, may result in rejection or dismissal.

Grade Point Average

• In general, the minimum cumulative GPA for non-provisional admittance is a 3.000 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) to be admitted by the Graduate School. Departments may require a higher GPA.
• Contact your academic department to verify minimum cumulative GPA requirements and inquire about alternative pathways to admission. 

GRE/GMAT scores

• Contact the academic department to verify whether the GRE/GMAT is required.
• The GRE department code can be found at www.ets.org
• Send official electronic test scores using code 4075 to:
  
  Graduate Admissions
  Colorado State University  –  Office of Admissions
  1062 Campus Delivery
  Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

International applicant requirements

Non-refundable application fee

• Degree programs, international applicants: $70.
• Graduate Certificate programs, international applicants: $60.

Completion of a bachelor’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree must be completed by the start of your graduate program.
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an institution that is recognized by a governmental national higher education authority (at the time the degree was earned). Review this guide to comparable degrees.

Transcripts

• Contact your department to find out if unofficial transcripts are accepted. If your department accepts unofficial transcripts, you may be admitted and registered in your first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School. 
• Unofficial transcripts of all collegiate work completed post-high school.
• If the degree has been completed at the time of application and the transcripts do not show the degree and date awarded, a diploma must be submitted.
• If the native language is not English, the transcript must be submitted in BOTH the native language along with a certified English translation. Additionally, separate transcripts are required for study abroad if the courses, grades, and credits are not recorded on the transcript of the university that sponsored the study abroad.
• You must upload the front and back of transcripts and diplomas, and include any grading scale provided.
• Review the Guide to Submitting Your Transcripts published on this webpage for additional details and for instructions on how to submit official transcripts before the end of your first semester.

Resume or curriculum vitae

• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department.
• Use this document to highlight and address your professional and volunteer experiences.

Written statement of purpose

• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department.
• Tell admissions committees who you are holistically, what your academic and professional interests are, and how you will add value to the graduate program and the respective discipline.

Letters of recommendation

• All applicants are required to provide contact information for a minimum of three (3) recommenders. Some departments require two (2) letters, and some require three (3) letters. If your department requires two letters, the first two letters submitted will meet the requirement. Please contact your department to verify the minimum number of required letters.
• There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department. Your recommenders will be notified and prompted to supply a recommendation letter through the system. Academic references should be prepared to discuss your academic knowledge and skills, aptitude for graduate study, ability for independent research, and classroom performance related to characteristics such as integrity, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork. Choosing an individual as a reference who has an impressive title but cannot discuss the aforementioned qualities will not result in an informative letter of recommendation that supports your admission. Writing any portion of the recommendations yourself, either in whole or in part, may result in rejection or dismissal.

Grade Point Average

• In general, the minimum cumulative GPA for non-provisional admittance is a 3.000 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) to be admitted by the Graduate School. Departments may require a higher GPA.
• Contact your academic department to verify minimum cumulative GPA requirements and inquire about alternative pathways to admission. 
• For admission of international applicants, the minimum grade for non-provisional admittance is a B grade equivalent. The grade equivalency is the recommended U.S. grade equivalent, not the GPA equivalent.

GRE/GMAT scores

• Contact the academic department to verify whether the GRE/GMAT is required.
• The GRE department code can be found at www.ets.org
• Send official electronic test scores using code 4075 to:

Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523 – 1062

Official English proficiency scores

• International students must meet English proficiency requirements.
• Select the button below for a guide to English proficiency details including accepted testing requirements and exceptions.

English Proficiency

Note: Your department may have higher score requirements than those required by the Graduate School.

Graduate Certificate requirements

Official Transcripts

Graduate Certificates require the submission of the official transcript that shows your bachelor’s degree awarded.

On-campus Graduate Certificates

Due to immigration regulations, only international students currently enrolled in a CSU on-campus degree program may be accepted into certificates offered on campus. Distance certificates are available to all international students.

Official transcripts/credential and certified translations

One official transcript issued by the institution where the bachelor’s degree was earned is required. If the transcript does not show the date the degree was awarded, a diploma is required. All records submitted must be in the native language — any credentials written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Colorado State University transcripts are not required.

U.S. degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution to qualify for CSU graduate admission (graduate certificate or degree program).

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions webpage for Graduate Certificates requirements and details.

Guide to Submitting Your Transcripts

Start by contacting your department to determine if unofficial transcripts or official transcripts are required.

If your department accepts unofficial transcripts, you may be admitted and registered in your first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School. 

Preparing your unofficial transcripts for upload

The Graduate School accepts images of original paper transcripts. However, the document you upload must include ALL of the same information that would appear on an official transcript, including:

• Your full name.
• The name of the college or university.
• A complete list of all coursework listed by academic term, including number of units and grades earned.
• Any degree you have already earned (and the degree date).
• Your overall grade point average (GPA), if your college/university provides it.

Your uploaded document must be large enough to read, not blurry or pixelated, and all pages must be rotated so that the text is right-side up (not upside down or sideways).

Unless the back of your transcript is completely blank (no stamps, signatures, grading scales or course information, etc.),  you must upload images on the front and back of your transcript.

Submitting official transcripts before you can register for your second semester

Official transcripts must be sent directly to CSU from the institution(s) you attended prior to or during your first semester. You will not be able to register for your second semester of graduate work until your official transcripts are submitted and failing to submit official transcripts may result in your dismissal from Graduate School.

International student requirements

Official transcripts cannot be electronically uploaded to the application, nor can they be emailed by you or your institution. You must send paper copies to the Office of Admissions at the following address:

Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

• Official transcripts of all collegiate work completed post-high school.
• If the degree has been completed at the time of application and the transcripts do not show the degree and date awarded, a diploma must be submitted.
• If the native language is not English, the transcript must be submitted in BOTH the native language along with a certified English translation. Additionally, separate transcripts are required for study abroad if the courses, grades, and credits are not recorded on the transcript of the university that sponsored the study abroad.
• Records bearing the original stamp or seal of the school official responsible for issuing such records (the registrar, principal, controller of exams, etc.) are considered official. Officially certified documents (attested by the University or apostilled) are accepted.
• Records certified by lecturers, professors, or any other school officials who do not hold primary responsibility for maintaining the academic records of the institution are not official. Notarized copies of transcripts/credentials are not accepted in lieu of official or official certified documents.
• Applicants from India: Semester or annual marksheets, and the degree certificate are required. College-issued transcripts will only be accepted from autonomous colleges. Consolidated mark sheets are not accepted unless all attempts, retakes, and failures are included.
• Applicants from the People’s Republic of China: Official graduation and degree certificates in native language with English translation are required.

Send official electronic test scores using code 4075.

Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Quick checklist guide

Reference this quick checklist to help you prepare to apply — this is not a comprehensive checklist and is intended to be used only after reviewing all other sections of this webpage.