Our entering students are self-starters, inquisitive, eager to learn, and ready to make a difference. They also have one of the highest average high school GPAs on campus.
Criteria for acceptance into the College of Business go beyond those for basic admission to the university. Your student type – new freshman, internal transfer, external transfer, or second bachelor/post-bachelor – will determine the process you'll follow to apply.
New Freshmen
You are considered a freshman if you’ve never attended college or if your college credits were earned prior to high school graduation.
Admission Criteria
CSU and the College of Business make admissions decisions using a holistic review of applications, which looks beyond GPA and standardized test scores. Your essay and letters of recommendation help us get a full picture of you.
Strong candidates for direct admission have a 3.2 cumulative GPA1and a SAT score of 1160-1190 (math and critical reading portions only) or an ACT score of 26. Additional factors include:
- Academic rigor in high school courses completed
- Trends in grades
- Community service and leadership, work experience
- Awards and recognitions
- Ability to contribute to a diverse campus community
- Unique and/or compelling circumstances
How to Apply
You will apply to Colorado State University and the College of Business simultaneously using the application provided by CSU Undergraduate Admissions. For more information about when to apply, how to apply, and what to expect, visit the CSU Undergraduate Admissions website.
1. International freshmen must be in the top 5-10 percent of the applicant pool if your credentials cannot be converted to a 4.0 scale.
Internal Transfers
You are considered an internal transfer student if you already are a student at CSU and would like to transfer to the College of Business, or if you are an Undeclared-Business Interest student. (If you apply to the College of Business and are not admitted directly, you'll be offered admission as an Undeclared-Business Interest.)
Admission Criteria
- Grades of B- or higher in:
- MATH 141, Calculus in Management Sciences
- ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- CSU cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a minimum of 15 graded, college-level credits2
How to Apply
Once you meet admission criteria, you can transfer to the College of Business by attending a Change of Major event, held three times a year at the end of each semester.3Contact your advisor for details. We suggest that you:
- Register for nonbusiness classes (including economics and statistics) before attending Change of Major.
- Arrive early to have the best chance of getting into business courses.
- Know your CSU ID number and which concentration you will declare.
- Bring a copy of your schedule for the next semester.
2. If you do not meet admission requirements because of extenuating circumstances, you are eligible to appeal the admission decision. Download and submit the Appeal for Admission (PDF) to 110 Rockwell West by 3 p.m. on the Friday of finals week. Appeals are processed once grades have been posted for the semester, and students typically are notified the Wednesday or Thursday before the Change of Major event.
3. If you cannot attend the Change of Major event, you still may transfer to the College of Business by emailing undergradinfo@business.colostate.edu with your CSU ID number and the concentration you would like to declare.
External Transfers
You are considered an external transfer student if you’ve attended a regionally accredited college after high school graduation.
Admission Criteria
- Grades of B- or higher in:
- One semester of calculus (equivalent to MATH 141, Calculus in Management Sciences)
- One semester of microeconomics (equivalent to ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a minimum of 15 graded, college-level credits
How to Apply
You will apply to Colorado State University and the College of Business simultaneously using the application provided by CSU Undergraduate Admissions. For more information about when to apply, how to apply, and what to expect, visit the CSU Undergraduate Admissions website.
Second Bachelor's/Post-Bachelor
You are considered a second bachelor’s/post-bachelor applicant if you’ve completed an undergraduate degree and wish to complete a second degree or additional undergraduate course work for career enhancement or graduate/professional school preparation.4
Admission criteria
- Grades of B- or higher in:
- One semester of calculus (equivalent to MATH 141, Calculus in Management Sciences)
- One semester of microeconomics (equivalent to ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a minimum of 15 graded, college-level credits56
How to Apply
You will apply to Colorado State University and the College of Business simultaneously using the application provided by CSU Undergraduate Admissions. For more information about when to apply, how to apply, and what to expect, visit the CSU Undergraduate Admissions website.
4. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in business administration (any concentration) are not eligible for a second degree in Business Administration, even if the concentration is different. We encourage applicants with an undergraduate degree in business to contact us to discuss your options, which include pursuing graduate study.
5. Candidates who earned a bachelor's degree from CSU-Fort Collins and do not have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher still may be admitted to the College of Business using the
Re-Start Admission Policy (PDF).