Scholarships for Entering Non-Resident Freshmen | Office of Financial Aid

Scholarships below are for non-resident, first-time freshmen admitted to a degree-seeking program on CSU’s main campus in Fort Collins.

All scholarships are for students starting in the fall or spring, unless noted otherwise; scholarships are not awarded to students starting in the summer term.
All awards require enrollment in on-campus credits and students in CSU Online programs are not eligible.
Students who have attended another college or university after high school graduation are not eligible.

Notification of scholarship awards begins mid-October and continues through May. Students who meet eligibility requirements and are selected for the award, will be notified via mail. The award will also be posted to RAMweb in the Financial Aid Awards section.

Scholarships Awarded Based on the the Application for Admission

Presidential, Provost’s, Dean’s, and Academic Recognition Scholarships

2019-2020 Academic Year

2019-2020 Academic Year

Award Amount and Renewal

For 2019-2020, $40,000 – $20,000 ( $10,000 – $5,000 per year, half paid each semester-fall/spring). Merit scholars who meet the selection and renewal criteria may receive this award for up to a total of eight (8) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.

Notification

Students who meet eligibility requirements will be notified via mail. The award will also be posted to RAMweb in the Financial Aid Awards section.

Eligibility

To be considered for the non-resident merit awards, first-time non-resident freshmen must:

Be an admitted student to a full-time degree seeking program on Colorado State University’s main campus for the fall or spring terms. CSU Online students are not eligible.
Meet the stated academic criteria below. SAT scores refer to critical reading and math only; super-scoring may be used on ACT & SAT combined scores. Written sections are not considered for the SAT or the ACT.
Submit a complete application for admission by the priority date of February 1. Students who met the February 1 application date can submit new test scores and transcripts until May 1 to strengthen their scholarship eligibility.
National Merit Finalists who list CSU as their first-choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will automatically receive the Presidential Scholarship, as will National Hispanic Scholars and National Achievement Scholars.

Students cannot receive the Presidential, Provost’s, Dean’s, or Academic Recognition scholarships with the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) award, the Native American Legacy Award, or the GI Promise, HB 15-1294 GI Benefits and Yellow Ribbon programs. If a student is awarded one of these scholarships and qualifies for a higher award, the lower valued award will be cancelled.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

2019-2020 Academic Year

2019-2020 Academic Year

Award Amount and Renewal

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) award offers a reduced tuition rate for those new first-time, non-resident freshmen, from eligible states and territories who meet the academic criteria for the award.

Award amount: for 2019-2020, the annual estimated value of the WUE award is $10,100 (based on 2018-2019 tuition and fees); amount subject to change based on tuition and fees for each year.

Renewal criteria: maintain 3.0 GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress. WUE scholars who meet the selection and renewal criteria can receive this award for up to a total of eight (8) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the WUE award first-time non-resident freshmen must:

Be seeking a degree through Colorado State University’s main campus (not CSU Online)
Meet the stated criteria below and be a resident of a WUE eligible state
Submit a complete application for admission by the priority date of February 1. WUE will continue to be awarded on an on-going basis until August 1st provided funds remain available (WUE is not awarded to students starting in the summer terms).
Students cannot receive the WUE award with the Presidential, Provost’s, Dean’s or Academic Recognition Scholarships, nor the Native American Legacy Award, GI Promise, HB 15-1294 GI Benefits or Yellow Ribbon programs.

GPA (4.0 Scale) AND	ACT or SAT
4.0+	24	1180
3.90 - 3.99	25	1210
3.80 - 3.89	26	1240
3.60 - 3.79	27	1280
3.50 - 3.59	28	1310
3.40 - 3.49	29	1340
3.30 - 3.39	30	1370
3.20 - 3.29	31	1400
3.10 - 3.19	32	1430
3.00 - 3.09	33	1460

ACT & SAT scores do not consider written sections; super scoring may be used on ACT & SAT combined scores.

WUE Eligible States

Alaska
Arizona
California
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Honors Scholarship

Award Amount

For 2019-2020, $4,000 ($1,000 per year) awarded to students who are admitted to, and participate in, the University Honors Program.

Details and Application

For more information about the Honors Program, please visit the University Honors Program website.

Partnership Award

Award Amount and Renewal

For 2019-2020, $20,000 ($5,000 per year). Partnership scholars who meet the selection and renewal criteria may receive this award for up to a total of eight (8) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Partnership Award first-time non-resident freshmen must:

Have participated in a CSU Partnership program for non-resident students (Black Issues Forum, Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session, or the Native Education Forum).
Be admitted to full-time degree seeking program on Colorado State University’s main campus for the fall term. CSU Online students are not eligible and awards are not made to students starting in the Spring nor Summer terms.
Submit a complete application for admission by the priority date of February 1. Admitted students (who met the February 1 application date) can submit new test scores and transcripts until March 1 to strengthen their application for admission, however funding may be limited after February 1.

Students who have been involved with multiple CSU Partnerships will receive only one Partnership Award.

Notification

Students who meet eligibility requirements and are selected for the award, will be notified via mail. The award will also be posted to RAMweb in the Financial Aid Awards section.

Native American Legacy Award

The NALA award is a scholarship for qualified students who are citizens of federally recognized tribes.

Award Amount and Renewal
Undergraduate students who are enrolled full time (12+ credits each term) will receive a Native American Legacy Award of $18,000 per academic year. Students who are enrolled half time or three-quarter time will receive a prorated amount. For students who are enrolled less than half time, awards will be calculated based on the number of credits a student has.

Graduate students who are enrolled full time (9+ credits each term) will receive a Native American Legacy Award of $15,000 per academic year. Students who are enrolled half time or three-quarter time will receive a prorated amount. For students who are enrolled less than half time, awards will be calculated based on the number of credits a student has.

Eligibility and Details

Admitted non-resident, degree seeking students on Colorado State University’s main campus (CSU Online students are not eligible) who are

Registered citizens of an eligible tribe
OR
Registered citizens of any federally recognized tribe transferring from an accredited tribal college with at least 30 transferable credits

Full details are available on the NALA webpage.

Scholarships Requiring a Separate Application

Creative and Performing Arts Award

Award amounts vary and are awarded to students with talent in art, creative writing, dance, music, or theater. To apply, contact the department from which you wish consideration.

Art: Department of Art
Undergraduate students majoring in art are eligible and are automatically considered
G100 Visual Arts, 1770 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1770
(970) 491-6774

Creative Writing: Department of English
Deadline: October of award year

359 Eddy, 1773 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1773
(970) 491-6428

Dance: Dance Program
Dance majors only. Auditions held during high school visitation days and the first week of the fall semester.

120 University Center for the Arts, 1778 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1778
(970) 491-5562

Music: Music Program
Auditions held with the faculty appropriate to instrument or vocal range. Preference given to music majors. Please contact the Music Program at the number listed above for the current schedule of Audition Days.

120 University Center for the Arts, 1778 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1778
(970) 491-5529

Theatre
Auditions or portfolio reviews held during high school visitation days with appropriate faculty and the first week of each semester. Theatre majors only.

120 University Center for the Arts, 1778 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1778
(970) 491-5562

Colorado State University Scholarship Application (CSUSA)

Use the CSUSA to apply for scholarships from your academic college (your major), from the Office of Financial Aid, and from other departments on campus. The application is available on RAMweb on December 1 and the deadline is March 1.