Transfer Credits
If you have earned higher education credits, we want to help you transfer your hard work to a degree at Colorado State University. Whether you’ve taken college classes in high school, enrolled at another college or university, or have earned your associate’s degree, learn how those credits may transfer to CSU.
Admissions requirement in mathematics
Every undergraduate degree at CSU requires at least three credits of mathematics for graduation. The admission requirement in mathematics is designed to ensure that transfer applicants are on track to satisfy this graduation requirement. Second bachelor’s or post-bachelor applicants are exempt from the admission requirement in mathematics.
Ways to meet the math requirement
The admission requirement may be satisfied through any one of the following means:
College mathematics credits
- Completion of Intermediate Algebra with C- or better. Math 055 and 075 in a Colorado two-year college will clear.
OR - Completion of a math course with the MA1 designation from a Colorado college with a C- or better
OR - Completion of a transferable college level course, such as College Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts or higher with C- or better.
OR - Completion of a statistics course equivalent to STAT 100, STAT 201, or STAT 204
OR - If you have a math or statistics class that is college level (not remedial/developmental), with a C- or better that you’re not sure meets the requirement, do the following:
- Check Transferology. If the math course transfers to CSU (even as Math1++) then the course meets the math requirement. If not on Transferology or if STAT 1++ then call Transfer Eval at (970) 491-7159. Ask to check on a math class and give them the college name and course number. If it transfers to CSU, then it meets the math requirement.
Foundational college mathematics course
Completing a pre-college level course such as intermediate algebra, a math literacy lab completed concurrently with a college-level course, or an equivalent (generally numbered below 100-level) with a grade of “C-” or higher.
High school mathematics credits
Completion of three years of math with grades of C- or better to include:
- Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II OR
- Integrated Math I, II, II OR
- Higher course sequence (Trig, Pre-Calc, Calculus, Statistics) with C’s can compensate for D/F in lower math
Examples of classes that will not clear the requirement: Technical Math, Consumer Math, Pre-Algebra
Exam scores
Submitting official scores of:
- 3 or better on the AP Calculus AB or BC exam or AP Statistics exam
OR - 4 or better on the IB Math exam (Further Math, Math Studies, or Mathematics)
OR - or 50 or better on CLEP subject exams in specific content areas (College Math, College Algebra, College Algebra & Trigonometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus).
Transfer Admission Guarantee
Meeting the Transfer Admission Guarantee through completion of an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science from a state of Colorado community or junior college with a 2.0 or better.
Math Placement Tool
Applicants who will not meet the admission requirement in mathematics with course work or official test scores as outlined above can use the Colorado State University Math Placement Tool to demonstrate readiness for college-level math.
Completing the Math Placement Tool
After you submit your application to CSU, you can access the Math Placement Tool.
- Make sure you activate your NetID.
- Follow the directions to prepare for and take the Math Placement Tool.
When can you complete the Math Placement Tool?
You can complete the tool anytime from a remote location after you have applied for admission and created your NetID. If you will not meet the admission requirement in mathematics with course work, you are strongly encouraged to complete the tool and notify Admissions before our regular application date.
What Math Placement Tool result is necessary to meet CSU’s requirement?
Your results will be available immediately after you complete the online tool and will indicate whether you have met the admission requirement in mathematics. If you demonstrate readiness for College Algebra or above (Math 117, 118, 124, etc.), you will have cleared the admission requirement in mathematics.
If your results indicate that you are only cleared to register for Math for Social Sciences (Math 101) or Statistical Literacy (STAT 100), you also must complete units 1-3 of the self-paced, online Entry-Level Math Tutorial (ELM) to satisfy the admission requirement in mathematics.
Applicants to CSU are advised to take the unproctored Math Placement Tool to meet the admission requirement in mathematics unless they expect to receive advanced standing or test out credit for college-level math proficiency.
Transferring an associate's degree
Colorado degree and transfer admission guarantee
Transfer students who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited state of Colorado community or junior college will be guaranteed admission providing that:
- It is the last institution you attended AND
- You achieved a cumulative 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from ALL institutions attended.
Important notes:
Entry into a specific major may be dependent on completion of appropriate prerequisite courses and provided that enrollment limitations have not been met.
The transfer admission guarantee applies to transfer applicants who have earned their AA/AS after graduating from high school (or equivalent). Students who concurrently achieve their high school diploma and an AA/AS are considered freshman applicants and not eligible for the transfer guarantee.
Out-of-state degree
An associate’s degree from a regionally accredited institution outside of Colorado can demonstrate completion and include agreements from the college’s state. If you have an out-of-state degree and are admitted to CSU, the official transfer credit evaluation will look course by course to see how those classes apply to your CSU major.
Transferring credits from college
Colorado State awards credit in transfer for college-level academic courses completed with a grade of C- or better at an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association.
For students with credentials from domestic institutions, the official transfer evaluation is completed within 30 business days after admission. The evaluation of university-level work completed at institutions outside of the U.S. may require additional information from the applicant and consultation with academic departments and thus typically takes longer.
Once the official transfer evaluation is complete, students are emailed and can view their transfer evaluation within RAMweb. The CSU record reflects credits granted in transfer but not the grades earned at other institutions.
Transferring credits from high school or exams
CSU grants credit for specific high school and test-based credentials, including Advanced Placement (AP) exams (typically scores of 3,4,5); International Baccalaureate (standard and higher level, grades of 4 and higher); CLEP exams (typically a score of 50 or higher); military education approved by ACE; British A-Level passes; German Abitur and Italian Maturita. Official test results and transcripts are required for the review for credit.
CSU also may award credit for classes taken internationally by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Will my credits transfer?
These tools will help you figure out which credits will transfer to Colorado State, whether you have already been admitted or are several years away from applying.