Requirements to Return

Colorado State University is committed to helping you return to complete a degree that is already in progress. If your intention is to graduate at the end of the term for which you are seeking to return, you must contact the Degree Office in addition to submitting a complete Intent to Return Form.

To be eligible to return, you must meet guidelines established by the Faculty Council and summarized in the University’s Scholastic Standards policy. Your Intent to Return form and, if applicable, supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline.

Academic Status

The requirements to return are determined by the academic status you were in when you left the University. If you have questions about your academic status, contact admissions@colostate.edu.

Good Academic Standing

Students who left in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 cumulative Colorado State grade point average (GPA) are cleared to return as soon as the Intent to Return Form has been received and processed. Refer to the How to Return instructions.

Probationary Status

Nearly all students who left the University in a probationary status with a cumulative CSU GPA below 2.0 are cleared to return. If there are concerns about a student’s readiness for academic success upon return, we may initiate preadmission counseling. Successful completion of course work at another institution before returning to the University can demonstrate your readiness for academic success. However, it does not change your probationary status upon return or impact your CSU GPA. It is important to note that when you return:

• You will have two semesters to repair your cumulative GPA to a 2.0 if you left the University in a Probation 1 status.
• You will have one semester to repair your cumulative GPA to a 2.0 if you left the University in a Probation 2 status.

Only the fall and spring semesters are counted as probationary terms. Summer session will affect your GPA based upon your academic performance but will not count as a probationary term.

Dismissed Status

To be eligible for return after being academically dismissed, you must EITHER:

• Repair your cumulative CSU GPA to a 2.0 or higher. To do this, complete course work during the Colorado State University summer session, through the GUEST program, or through Continuing Education. Once your cumulative CSU GPA is repaired to 2.0 and you submit an Intent to Return Form, you will return in good academic standing.

OR

• Complete more than 12 college-level academic semester credits with a GPA of 2.5 or better at another institution after leaving Colorado State University. The review of your transcript will include an evaluation of the quality and rigor of the course work completed and the grades achieved. Once you establish a strong transfer record at another institution and submit your Intent to Return Form and transcript, you will return in Probation 1 status and have two terms to repair your cumulative CSU GPA to 2.0. Please note the deadlines for submitting your documentation.

Competitive Majors and Requests to Change Majors

Regardless of your academic standing when you left Colorado State University, you may return to the major you were previously in or request a different major on the Intent to Return Form. Please be aware, however, that some majors have more competitive entrance requirements that you may not satisfy when you return.

If you are eligible to return to the University but you do not meet the more competitive entrance requirements, you will return in a corresponding  "undeclared-exploring" interest area (e.g., undeclared-exploring life sciences) so that you may work toward the prerequisites for entrance after returning to CSU.