Colorado State University (CSU) is a public university in Fort Collins, Colorado. There are two branch campuses: Pingree Park Campus and Foothills Campus. The continuing education department also offers programs at the Denver Center in Denver. The Pingree Park Campus includes classrooms and student residences, while the Foothills Campus houses many special research facilities in laboratories.
Colorado State University was founded in 1870 as an agricultural college, became a state college in 1935, and received university status in 1957. Today, the university now awards bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. The university’s origins as an agricultural college are evident in the large number of agricultural and environmental courses offered. Additionally, the university maintains cooperative extension offices in most counties in the state of Colorado.
Colorado State University
Academics
CSU is composed of a number of different schools and colleges: the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Applied Human Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, the Warner College of Natural Resources, the College of Natural Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. There is also a Graduate School, School of the Arts, School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Education, School of Global Environmental Sustainability, and School of Social Work.
Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in over 65 fields of study. Students can major in horticulture, agriculture, consumer and family studies, nutrition and food science, teacher education, engineering, arts and humanities, sciences, journalism, forestry, natural resource recreation and tourism, environmental health, and interdisciplinary studies, among others. Minors are also awarded in many of these areas.
Master’s and doctoral degrees are awarded in nearly a hundred fields altogether, including the arts, sciences, humanities, engineering, environmental programs, agriculture programs, health programs, sociology, education, and business. There are also several interdisciplinary graduate degree programs.
Research Opportunities
CSU has a number of special programs for research and scholarship; these include programs and corresponding facilities in infectious disease, occupational therapy, biotechnology and biosciences, a natural resource ecology laboratory, the water management science and technology program, and the Center for Environmental Toxicology and Technology. The University maintains an Environmental Learning Center. Research and laboratory facilities are located on the main campus and on the Foothill branch.
Library Resources
CSU has a large main library as well as branch libraries in atmospheric sciences and veterinary medicine. The main library features a large number of online resources for research, interlibrary loans, a special collection of Vietnam War literature, and assistive technology rooms for students with learning disabilities.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Colorado State University.
Applications to the undergraduate programs are accepted through July 1 for the fall semester; for the spring semester the deadline is December 1. The mid-range GPA for entering freshmen falls between 3.3 and 3.9; the average is 3.54. Mid-range test scores are 22 to 27 on the ACT and 1030 to 1210 for the SAT.
In addition to the application form, test scores, and application fee, students must provide high school transcripts, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Among the other factors taken into account for admissions is evidence of students’ overall involvement and leadership in school, community, or family activities.
Graduate students must provide the following for admissions to the graduate school: application along with a modest application fee, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and additional materials as required by the department which the student is applying for admission. Students should contact the department for specific details and requirements. Graduate students are admitted by their department, and individual department should be contacted for admissions criteria.
Students applying to the College of Veterinary Medicine must apply to the University and submit a supplemental application, with fee, to the college. GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts are also required.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available at CSU in the forms of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. Incoming students must be admitted and demonstrate compliance with all eligibility criteria by February 15 to be eligible for aid. Scholarship amounts and durations vary depending on previous academic performance and intended areas of study. For specific scholarship programs in a certain area of study, students should contact the appropriate department directly. CSU accepts the FAFSA, and according to the CSU website “everyone qualifies for some kind of financial aid.”
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Colorado State University 3287th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Colorado scholarships and financial aid
All incoming freshmen are required to live on campus unless they live with their parents in the Fort Collins area, or they are over 21 years of age.
There are over 300 student clubs and organizations to meet virtually every personal or professional interest. CSU also offers student-run media outlets, including a TV station and student magazines. Facilities for student life on campus are generally considered to be excellent; the New York Times rated the Lory Student Center as one of the country’s ten best.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Colorado State University?
The athletic department at CSU is known as the Rams. The Rams compete on the intervarsity level in NCAA Division I. Men’s competitive athletics include basketball, cross-country, football, golf, and track & field. Women’s intervarsity athletics include basketball, cross-country, diving, golf, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
CSU offers a myriad number of ways for all students to participate in sports. The “Club Sports” program at CSU includes student-run sporting organizations that go beyond normal intramurals. Participants compete against students from other schools while developing leadership skills and getting all-important exercise. Students run all aspects of the clubs, including funding, management, and scheduling. CSU also offers the Outdoor Adventure Program and the Challenge Course, both unique athletic opportunities that take advantage of CSU’s location near some of the best natural resources in the country.
Local Community
Fort Collins, Colorado, which has a population of roughly 144,000, has been called one of America’s most livable cities. Money Magazine has ranked it first in its “Best Places to Live” report under the category of small cities. Fort Collins offers big-city amenities like shopping, restaurants, and community recreational facilities. It is also within a short distance from snowboarding and skiing facilities, as well as other exciting outdoor sporting venues.
Bibliography
About. Colorado State University. Web. 15 June 2011.
Academics. Colorado State University. Web. 15 June 2011.
Athletics. Colorado State University. Web. 15 June 2011.
Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.
Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You. New York: Penguin. 2007. Print.
Campus Crime Statistics
Ranks 9th in Colorado and
372nd overall
on StateUniversity.com‘s Safe School Index
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