Colorado State University
Founded in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College, Colorado State University is located about an hour north of Denver in Fort Collins. It is nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and there is easy access to skiing, as well as hiking and biking trails. Often called Colorado’s “craft beer capital”, Fort Collins has a thriving arts scene with a downtown area filled with shops, bars, breweries and restaurants.
Sixty-five percent of CSU’s 26,000 undergraduates are Colorado residents. The school has an 89% admission rate, and half of enrolled first-years graduated in the top quarter of their class with an average GPA of 3.7. There is a test optional policy and if submitted, students must request a review of their scores.
CSU’s strongest programs are the science majors, engineering and pre-veterinary. Of over seventy majors, the most popular include business administration, psychology, biological sciences and communication studies. Approximately one third of all classes enroll fewer than twenty students. CSU professors are accessible to students. Each year, over five thousand undergraduates take advantage of CSU’s many campus research opportunities. Research academies offer one option for students to join a faculty-mentored team investigating and collaborating on a common problem.
CSU has received both national and worldwide recognition for its efforts to integrate sustainability into campus life, operations, curriculum and research. A thirty acre array of solar panels, along with smaller panels on campus, currently provides about 10% of the campus’s electricity. Other projects include a composting facility and Moby GeoX, an underground geoexchange system that provides cooling and heating for the Moby Arena complex. The School of Global Environmental Sustainability is offering a minor in climate change studies which is open to all students, regardless of major.
First-year students are required to live on campus, with housing options that include traditional residence halls, suite-style accommodations and residential learning communities. Students participate in over 500 clubs and well-attended events such as free movies, concerts and festivals. The CSU Rams are members of the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference, where they are most competitive in men’s and women’s basketball and track & field. The annual Rocky Mountain Showdown football game against the University of Colorado highlights the longstanding rivalry between the two schools. Another popular tradition is Homecoming and Family Weekend, featuring a football game, a parade, fireworks, a bonfire and other activities.
The CSU campus is politically active with both conservative and liberal viewpoints represented. Not surprisingly, environmental issues are a major focus of student interest and engagement across the entire campus community.
Who would thrive at Colorado State University?
CSU may be a great fit for students who want the resources and opportunities of a large, public, research university without sacrificing a welcoming campus community. It is an excellent choice for environmentally conscious students, those interested in hands-on research and outdoor enthusiasts who would enjoy spending their free time hiking, biking, skiing, or exploring the Rocky Mountains.
Interesting Facts:
CAM the Ram, the official school mascot, has a team of CSU students called the “Ram Handlers” who care for him. The first live mascot was introduced at a basketball game in 1946.
Amy Van Dyken, six-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, and the first American to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, graduated in 1996. She was also the ESPY Award Winner for Best Female Athlete in 1997.
For over 30 years, the campus community has been participating in C.A.N.S. Around the Oval, the largest single-day food drive in the area, supporting the Food Bank for Larimer County. They raised over $60,000 and 11 tons of food in 2025.
The Temple Grandin Equine Center is named in honor of the well-known animal science professor and autism advocate.
The school’s colors, green and gold, represent the colors around the campus. Green is for alfalfa and yellow for corn—a nod to the school’s agricultural roots.
Former NFL wide receiver Michael Gallup, who spent most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys and was a 2017 All-American, graduated in 2016.
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