Domestic Freshman Admits

Congratulations on being admitted as an incoming freshman (first-year student) to Colorado State University, a community filled with thousands of dedicated dreamers, thinkers, doers, and makers!

Being a CSU student means joining a community that always has your back, because Rams take care of Rams. It’s setting you up for a successful career, and – bonus! – gaining lifelong friendships and a place you can always, always call home.

Next steps for admitted freshmen

You worked hard for this, so enjoy the moment! And, when you’re ready, it’s time to cross a few more things off your list so you can officially become a CSU student. If you are still deciding whether CSU is right for you, that’s OK. These steps are non-binding and will keep you on track if you decide to become a Ram.

If you have questions about any of these steps, your admissions counselor is ready to help!

Activate your student ID and create your email — required
Log into RAMweb — required
Confirm your seat by submitting your enrollment deposit — required
Apply for financial aid and scholarships — optional
Apply for on-campus housing — required unless you are older than 21, or married, or living with your parents in the Fort Collins area
Sign up for new student orientation — required

Attend an admitted student event — optional
Look at placement requirements and take exams if needed — required
Register for classes — required
Submit your final high school transcript — required
Complete health requirements — required
Share your news — optional
Contact your admissions counselor any time — optional

ACTIVATE YOUR NetID AND CREATE YOUR EMAIL

When you applied for admission to CSU, you were emailed a NetID to the email account you used to apply for admission. You will need to activate your NetID to get access to create a CSU email account and set up many other systems at CSU.

Your NetID is a C, followed by your 9-digit CSU ID. For example: C899456789

Need help? Contact us.

Log into RAMweb

RAMweb is the CSU student portal where you manage your student record, see your financial aid awards, register for classes, check your grades, pay your bill, and more.

Inside RAMweb is a link to Ram Start, which helps admitted students view upcoming tasks and find personalized information about next steps.

Log in to RAMweb and sign in using your NetID.
At the top of the page, look for the Admissions Dashboard/Ram Start button and click on it.
Explore your checklist items. Incomplete/needs attention items will have a “X” icon next to them, and you can find more information to complete them below your checklist.

Confirm your seat by submitting your enrollment deposit

Fall start: Complete by May 1.

Spring start: Complete by December 15 or within two weeks of admission if after this date.

Summer start: Complete by May 1 or sooner for best access to classes.

Reserve your spot in our incoming class by paying or deferring your $300 enrollment deposit. You’ll be able to access the housing application and orientation sign-up after you deposit. See all your options below.

CONFIRM AND PAY

By confirming and paying your $300 deposit you will reserve your spot in the incoming class and gain access to the on-campus housing application and orientation sign-up.

Confirm and defer

If the deposit presents a financial hardship or your cost of attendance will be paid by a third party, you may defer your $300 enrollment deposit. This will reserve your spot in the incoming class, and you will gain access to the on-campus housing application and orientation sign-up. The $300 deposit will be applied to your first semester bill.

Change your starting semester

Need more time? You can request a change to your entry term for up to one year. We’ll keep your application active and work with you to retain your admission decision and enrollment deposit, if possible.

Decline your offer of admission

If you decide not to enroll at CSU, you can decline your offer of admission. After you decline, we will stop communicating with you. You can change your mind, but declining your admission might impact your enrollment options. If you’ve already deposited and your plans have changed, refer to our refund policy.

To confirm or decline, log in to RAMweb with your NetID and follow the link to your Admissions Dashboard, where you’ll be prompted to accept your offer by paying or deferring your enrollment deposit.

Apply for financial aid and scholarships

Fall start: The FAFSA and CSU Scholarship Application (CSUSA) open in October. The CSUSA deadline is February 1, and the FAFSA priority deadline is March 1.

Spring start: The FAFSA and CSU Scholarship Application (CSUSA) open in October. The CSUSA deadline is February 1, and the FAFSA priority deadline is March 1.

Summer start: The FAFSA opens in October and has a March 1 priority deadline.

Finding a university that’s a fit financially is important, and one of the most important aspects of financial fit is aid. We recommend pursuing as many types of funding as possible including grants, scholarships, loans, work study, and student employment to help offset the investment of college.

Apply for on-campus housing

Fall start: The housing application opens in January. Apply before July to fully participate in room selection and roommate matching.

Spring start: The housing application opens mid-September.

Summer start: The housing application opens in January.

With a few exceptions, freshmen are required to live on campus and are guaranteed housing. The on-campus housing application The housing application requires a $500 deposit plus a $100 non-refundable application fee (waived for students who qualify for a need-based enrollment deposit deferral).

CSU offers a wide selection of housing and dining options to ensure all students feel at home. On-campus apartments also are open to first-time students who are committed couples and families, and this application is open year-round.

Questions about living on campus, the housing application, or the housing deposit can be directed to Housing & Dining Services.

Attend an admitted student event

We offer plenty of opportunities to attend an in-person or online event specifically designed for admitted students. Learning more about CSU and next steps can help you decide if CSU is right for you.

Sign up for new student orientation

Fall start: Orientation registration opens in March. Orientation is held in June and July.

Spring start: Orientation registration opens in October. Orientation is held November to January.

Summer start: Contact the Orientation office for info.

All incoming freshmen must attend Ram Orientation to learn about our traditions, to get introduced to campus services, and learn about classes. It’s an important time to connect with others in your class and to meet the current students, faculty, and staff who will help you be successful at CSU.

Orientation typically is offered in both virtually and in person.

Look at placement requirements and take exams if needed

Before you register for classes, there are placement steps to make sure you sign up for the most-advanced classes you can be the most successful in. When in doubt, complete the placement steps – your results do not bind you to a particular course of action, but they can help you keep your options open.

Placement steps are available for math, composition, and foreign language.

Math

Log in to RAMweb to complete your Personalized Mathematics Plan to understand where you’re at in the math placement process. Your personalized plan will determine whether you are required to complete the Math Placement Tool.

Composition

You may need to complete the Composition Directed Self-Placement Survey (DSP). You do not need to complete the Composition Directed Self-Placement Survey (DSP) if:

You received an ACT Composite score of 26 or higher, an SAT EBR/W score of 620 or higher, or an SAT verbal score of 570 or higher (prior to March 2016); you’re eligible to register for College Composition (CO 150) based on your test results.
You’ve earned grades of C- or better in college composition from another regionally accredited college/university (this includes credit earned through concurrent enrollment).
You’ve earned a score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) composition exam, a score of 4 or higher on an International Baccalaureate (IB) composition exam, or CLEP credit for composition.

Foreign language

The Foreign Language Placement Exam is required before you can register for a world language course if you have previously studied French, German, or Spanish. The department recommends completing the exam at least three days prior to registering for classes. Learn more about the Foreign Language Placement Exam.

Register for classes with your academic advisor

Fall start: Complete by July 15

Spring start: Complete by January 2

Summer start: Complete as soon as possible before classes start

After you sign up for new student orientation and complete a few steps to prepare to register for classes, you will have an appointment (either online or in person) with an academic advisor, who will help you select and register for classes. Watch your email (the account you used to apply to CSU) for notifications and timelines.

Submit your final high school transcript

Fall start: Complete by July 15

Spring start: Complete by January 2

Summer start: Complete as soon as possible before classes start

Admission to CSU is provisional until a final, official high school transcript reflecting graduation has been submitted and reviewed. If you completed college-level work prior to high school graduation, be sure to submit all official transcripts to be reviewed for advanced-standing credit.

To avoid possible delays or holds on your financial aid or course registration, submit final transcripts by the dates listed above.

Complete health requirements

Complete the steps on CSU Health Network’s new student checklist to support our commitment to a safe, healthy campus. Steps include submitting required health and immunization records, completing online health or safety programs, and documenting insurance coverage.

Share your news

Join hundreds of other incoming students who are sharing their pride and excitement of being accepted to CSU. Post on Instagram or Facebook using the #ColoStateBound hashtag. P.S. We also love posts from proud family members!

Contact an admissions counselor

Your CSU admissions counselor is your go-to person for almost anything that comes up during your college admissions journey. They are 100% here to help you! You can send a message online, email, text, call, or meet them in person.

You are assigned a counselor based on where you live or go to school. Whether you live in Colorado, out of state, or in a U.S. territory, we have you covered.

Admissions