Applying for admission to Colorado State University as a military veteran is straightforward. No separate application is necessary, and you can refer to the Future Freshmen web content for general information about our admission standards, required documents, and deadlines. The following information addresses the most common questions we receive from veteran applicants.
The only documents required as part of the application for admission are listed on our Future Freshman How to Apply page.
Other Support Documents (optional)
Veteran applicants are strongly encouraged to submit one official "military transcript" relevant to their branch training:
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SMART (Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript)
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AARTS (Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System) -- Search for Colorado State Univ
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Community College of the Air Force transcript
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Coast Guard Institute transcript
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Military transcripts are considered support documentation in the admission decision rather than core academic information. The transcripts provide insight into the degree and scope of your training and responsibilities. These transcripts are evaluated for college-level credit (according to ACE recommendations in line with our SOC membership) after admission has been granted but are not used to determine whether you are a freshman or transfer applicant.
We do not request or evaluate DD Form 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service) or DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) in the admission or transfer evaluation process.
While ACT/SAT results are not required for freshman applicants who are age 23 or older or who have been out of high school for five or more years, we encourage applicants to submit ACT/SAT results if they have them.
Decision Factors
The admission decision is primarily an academic decision; however, we recognize that elements of your experience do not fit our typical freshman applicant profile. Our admission decision process consists of a comprehensive, holistic review of each application that includes a broad range of factors such as maturity, experience, and life skills. Our goal is to identify applicants whose documentation provides evidence that they will be academically and personally successful at CSU.
Entering Freshman Profile
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GPA: 3.25-3.75
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ACT Composite: 22-27
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SAT Combined (critical reading and math ONLY): 1040-1230
Please note: This is the mid-50th percentile range of entering freshmen in fall 2011, which means that some students were admitted with higher credentials and some with lower.
Freshman applicants presenting a GED must present a minimum 550 score to be considered competitive for admission; however, a qualifying GED alone will not guarantee admission. The admission decision includes an evaluation of the academic rigor and trends in grades earned in high school work, and applicants who satisfactorily completed less than 75% of our 18 recommended high school units generally are at a disadvantage in the admission decision process.
Individuals who are not admissible as freshmen are strongly encouraged to meet our Transfer Admission Requirements and to reapply for admission to CSU. We are happy to visit with you about your potential for admission to help you determine whether establishing a strong transfer record might be a better option for you.
Timing of application process
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Please make note of our posted application deadlines; they are firmly enforced.
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Freshman applicants generally are encouraged to begin the application process six to nine months prior to the start of the term for which they are applying. This window is especially important for service members who are relying on their notice of admission in order to process their military separation.