Colorado State University - Fort Collins

CSU ranks highly on several of OnlineU's lists. In terms of the best online colleges across Colorado, CSU ranks #3. If you live in the state already, CSU is a good choice. Also, if you're interested in the best online computer science or child development degrees, CSU ranks highly on our top ten lists.

Yes, CSU Online is equal to CSU. CSU Online students can expect the same degrees and level of quality as traditional on-campus programs because the same faculty teach online and on-campus courses. The main differences between studying online and on a physical campus are program delivery and scheduling flexibility. Distance learners use the Canvas learning management system to access coursework and instruction from wherever and whenever they have a broadband connection.

CSU Online also offers many of the same student support services that on-campus students receive: academic advising, tech support, library resources, tutoring, writing assistance, career exploration, and mental health resources. 

Accreditation is essential because it means a school routinely goes through an intensive review process that evaluates its financial practices and the quality of its academic programming. Employers respect CSU's online degrees because an accredited university confers them. CSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

OnlineU only includes accredited online schools on its site. 

CSU is known for its sustainability efforts. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education has awarded CSU a platinum rating in its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STAR) four times. CSU was the first institution to earn this award in 2015. Today, CSU holds the second highest score in the nation among 580 other colleges and universities participating in the STAR program.

CSU is also known for its higher-than-average graduation rate. According to College Scorecard, 72% of undergraduates enrolled at CSU earn their degrees. This is considerably higher than the 57% average midpoint. 

College Scorecard data also shows that CSU's bachelor's degrees in computer engineering, computer and information science, and electrical engineering provide the highest earnings. Graduates earn median annual salaries of approximately $93,900, $89,000, and $83,100, respectively.

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. CSU has a bachelor's degree Salary Score of 62 out of 100 total points, 52 for its master's degrees, and 42 for its doctorates. Specifically, CSU's bachelor's degree in computer and information sciences has an 87 Salary Score.

Getting into CSU, which accepts 84% of applicants, is not difficult. However, it may more accessible to some as it does not require taking entrance exams and submitting scores. Admitted students who did submit scores have cumulative SAT scores between 1070 and 1280 and ACT scores between 23 and 29. 

Applying to college always requires planning to ensure you have enough time to get what you need to submit together. A CSU enrollment advisor can help you through the process. 

Below are CSU's admissions requirements for first-year students to enroll in one of its online programs:

• An online application 
• A $50 application fee
• Official high school transcripts or their equivalent, with a preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher 
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Military transcripts, if applicable
• An academic explanation or essay (highly recommended for students with a GPA below 3.0)

In addition to submitting these requirements, students are welcome to submit SAT/ACT scores. However, they are not given much weight in the decision process. CSU considers these factors when reviewing applications: previous academic rigor, performance, school involvement, and extracurricular engagement.