Returning Student Admissions

If you’ve previously attended Colorado State University as a degree-seeking student, we’re proud to welcome you home. We honor your individual story and know the path to a degree can take many detours.

Whether you took planned leave or are ready to try CSU again, we look forward to having you back. Your process to re-enter CSU may vary based on how long you’ve been away, your academic standing before you left, and whether you want to start a new degree or finish one.

If you have questions before or during the application process, your admissions counselor is ready to help!

Who's a returning student?

Apply as a returning student if: 1) You previously attended CSU as a degree-seeking student and you left for at least one fall or spring semester while your degree was in progress OR you completed a degree at CSU AND 2) You want to return as an admitted, degree-seeking student to finish a degree in progress OR to begin a new CSU degree program.

When
to Apply

What
we need

Who
we look for

What
to expect

Start
or finish

When to apply

The best dates to apply for admission are based on the semester you want to start at CSU. The application opens August 1 each year for the following year’s fall semester.

We recommend that you apply several months before the start of the semester and no later than August 1.

We recommend that you apply several months before the start of the semester and no later than January 2.

We recommend that you apply several months before the start of the semester and no later than May 1.

What we need

If you are returning from a planned leave of absence, follow the prompts in the registration section of RAMweb instead of following the guide below.

If you are returning to CSU to start a new degree, your eligibility will be impacted by our second bachelor’s/post-bachelor admission standards.

If you are returning to CSU to complete a degree in progress, your eligibility will be impacted by your academic standing when you left CSU.

Requirements and materials

It’s important to know your academic standing before you start applying to return to CSU. The requirements and materials we need are based on your standing.

Good academic standing

• If you have a cumulative CSU GPA of 2.0+, you are in good standing, academically eligible to return.
• Your eligibility to return and to register for courses may be impacted by non-academic factors, such as holds from your prior enrollment.

Probationary status

• If you have a cumulative CSU GPA less than 2.0 but have not been academically dismissed, you likely are in a probationary standing, academically eligible to return.
• You will have one or two semesters to repair your CSU GPA to avoid academic dismissal.
• If you’ve attended another institution since leaving CSU, know that successful completion of course work there will not change your probationary status or impact your CSU GPA. You should submit an official transcript for transfer evaluation purposes.
• You are strongly encouraged to meet with your academic advisor now to ensure that you have a plan in place to support your success upon return.
• Because we care about your success, we may contact you to offer additional support if there are concerns about your readiness to resume your academic efforts here.
• Your eligibility to return and to register for courses may be impacted by non-academic factors, such as holds from your prior enrollment.

Dismissed status

If you were academically dismissed from CSU, you must demonstrate readiness to return through one of the two following options:

• Repair your cumulative CSU GPA to a 2.0 or higher through non-degree enrollment in summer session, GUEST or CSU Online. You will return in good academic standing if you first repair your cumulative CSU GPA.
  OR
• Demonstrate success through course work completed at another institution after leaving CSU. Strong candidates present 15-30 college-level credits in a range of academic subjects with a GPA of 2.5 or better and no grades of D/F or repeat/deletes. At a minimum, you must complete more than 12 credits to be considered for return.

Our evaluation of transfer work includes a variety of factors, including academic rigor, the types of courses/subjects and how well they meet AUCC and degree requirements, and trends in grades. We are looking for evidence that you’re ready for success when you return. You will return in a probationary standing with two terms to repair your cumulative CSU GPA to 2.0 if you choose this option.

You are strongly encouraged to visit with your academic advisor to determine which option is best for you based on your CSU GPA deficiency, proximity to graduation, and other factors.

Your eligibility to return and to register for courses may be impacted by non-academic factors, such as holds from your prior enrollment.

Returning applicants use the CSU application to apply; however; the application is abbreviated since we have information on file from your prior enrollment.

Choose “Returning” as your application type, and be sure you fully complete all residency prompts, even if your residency status hasn’t changed since your prior CSU attendance.

No application fee is required.

• If you’re in the process of requesting a semester withdrawal for the remainder of this semester, wait until your semester withdrawal has been processed before submitting your application to return.
• Create an application account as a “first-time user.” The system will recognize your email if you’ve applied using this tool before and help you reset your password.
• If you are a current CSU student wanting to change your major to an online program, you do not need to reapply to CSU. Please fill out an Academic Program Change instead.

Optional materials

Only academically dismissed students are required to submit an official transcript from each institution attended since leaving CSU.

Students in good or probationary standing are encouraged to send official transcripts for work completed since leaving CSU for transfer evaluation purposes only.

The Academic Fresh Start policy allows students to restart their CSU GPA and return in good academic standing while retaining credit for courses with grades of C- or better.

Generally, Fresh Start best serves students in a probationary or dismissed status who need 30 or more credits to complete their degree.

Who is eligible?

• You must be pursuing your first undergraduate degree and
• You must have a break of at least one calendar year since your last term of enrollment as an admitted, degree-seeking student

You’re considered enrolled in the semester if you used a semester withdrawal. Your time away from CSU starts after a semester withdrawal term.

Dismissed students can enroll in non-degree options during the one-year break and retain eligibility for Fresh Start.

How do I apply for Fresh Start?

• Visit with your academic advisor or academic success coordinator about your eligibility for Fresh Start and its implications for graduation. Students awarded Fresh Start must successfully complete at least 30 upper-division credits in residence at CSU after Fresh Start is granted in order to graduate. In some cases, students are closer to graduation without Fresh Start.
• Contact your admissions counselor to discuss the return process and your potential eligibility to return. Eligibility for Fresh Start does not guarantee admission to CSU.

Once you’ve had these conversations, you can request a Fresh Start within the Returning Student application. On the Personal Statement tab, simply check the box to be considered for a Fresh Start and then include a personal statement that addresses the following topics:

• Why you wish to return to CSU.
• Factors that support your successful return – what you’ve learned about yourself, evidence of change/success since you last attended CSU.
• Your plan for academic success – tools and resources you intend to use when you return.

Finally, while it’s helpful to know whether you have completed additional academic work elsewhere since leaving CSU, additional course work is not required to be considered for either Fresh Start option.

You can only use one Fresh Start during your undergraduate degree.

For more information about Fresh Start, your permanent academic record, and your progress to graduation, be sure to consult your academic advisor/academic success coordinator and the University’s Scholastic Standard policy.

Please note that other institutions are not obligated to recognize our Academic Fresh Start policy and may not honor the new GPA.