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 3.4 cumulative GPA1and a SAT score of 1160-1190 (math and critical reading portions only) or an ACT score of 26 (ACT and SAT exams are optional). 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.
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
- Grade of B- or higher in ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Three credits from the following list with grades of C- or higher in each course completed: MATH117, MATH118, MATH124, MATH125, MATH126, MATH141 or a higher-level calculus course2
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a minimum of 15 graded, college-level credits3
How to Change Majors
If you meet the entrance requirements or believe you will at the conclusion of this semester, you are invited to attend Change of Major (COM) Event. COM is the only way you can declare the business major (after census) and is hosted at the end of each academic term (fall/spring/summer). Due to COVID-19, the Spring 2021 COM event will be a LIVE virtual event held on Friday, May 21 beginning at 8:30 am Mountain Time. The event will begin with a LIVE presentation followed by individual advising appointments. Please contact us as we get closer to the event for a link to access the virtual event.
To better prepare for Change of Major we recommend you:
- Register for nonbusiness courses prior to May 21*.
- Know your CSU ID number and which concentration you will declare (you must declare a concentration for your major to be changed).
- Have digital copies of any transcripts from transfer courses you've taken that have not yet been processed by CSU.
- Have access to your university email account.
- Log into the LIVE virtual event on-time. Students not logged in to the event by 8:30 am Mountain Time will not be able to change their major until after the Change of Major Event.
*NOTE: There are no guarantees you will get into business courses by attending COM; you are highly encouraged to attend this event already registered for a full semester’s course load.
External Transfers
You are considered an external transfer student if you’ve attended a regionally accredited college after high school graduation.
Admission Criteria
- Grade of B- or higher in equivalent course ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Three equivalent course credits from the following list with grades of C- or higher in each course completed: MATH117, MATH118, MATH124, MATH125, MATH126, MATH141 or a higher-level calculus course2
- 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
- Grade of B- or higher in ECON 202, Principles of Microeconomics or AREC 202, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Three equivalent course credits from the following list with grades of C- or higher in each course completed: MATH117, MATH118, MATH124, MATH125, MATH126, MATH141 or a higher-level calculus course2
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a minimum of 15 graded, college-level credits5
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.
2. Sufficient AP scores, IB scores or equivalent dual enrollment credit may be accepted.
3. If you do not meet admission requirements because of extenuating circumstances, you are eligible to submit an Appeal for Admission. Download and submit the Appeal for Admission (PDF) and all supporting documentation using your university email account (@rams.colostate.edu or @colostate.edu) to undergradinfo@business.colostate.edu. Appeals for admission are due by 12:00 p.m. MT Friday of Finals week for fall, spring, and summer terms (finals of the 12-week summer session).
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).