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 and Future Ram Dashboard — required
- Confirm your seat by submitting your enrollment deposit — required
- Join the Admitted Rams Community — 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
- Attend an admitted student event— optional
- Sign up for new student orientation — required
- Apply for financial aid and scholarships — optional
- Look at placement requirements and take exams if needed — 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
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: As soon as you apply or are admitted
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.
activate your netid
Log into RAMweb and Future Ram Dashboard
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: Regularly until you are enrolled
RAMweb is the CSU student portal where you check your application status, see your financial aid and scholarship awards, register for classes, check your grades, pay your bill, and more. Inside RAMweb is a link to yourFuture Ram Dashboard, which helps incoming students complete upcoming tasks and find personalized information. As you complete tasks in your dashboard, you’ll see the corresponding status update along with detailed information about what’s next.
- Log in to RAMweb and sign in using your NetID
- Navigate to the RamReady section
- Click the “Future Ram Dashboard” button
Log in to RAMweb
Confirm your seat by submitting your enrollment deposit
Enrollment deadline extendedColorado State University is extending its enrollment deadline from May 1 to June 1, 2024, for incoming freshmen (first-year) students enrolling in the fall 2024 term. Learn why.
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: Date is based on your starting semester. After these dates, confirmations are accepted on a space-available basis.
Fall start: Complete by June 1.
Spring start: Complete by December 15 or within two weeks of admission if after this date.
Summer start: Complete by June 1 or sooner for best access to classes.
Reserve your spot in our incoming class by paying or deferring your $300 enrollment deposit, which covers new student charges. 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 Future Ram Dashboard, where you’ll be prompted to accept your offer by paying or deferring your enrollment deposit.
CONFIRM YOUR SEAT VIA RAMWEB
Join the Admitted Rams Community
- Importance: Optional
- When to complete: Anytime after the community opens in mid-October
The Admitted Rams Community is an online, private group that allows students admitted for the upcoming academic year to meet one another before the semester starts. You will receive your personalized invitation to join via email in mid-October when the community opens or within a few days of admission if you’re admitted after this date. You also can find your link to join in the Future Ram Dashboard under the Opportunities tab.Can’t find your invitation? Email us.
Why join?
Apply for on-campus housing
- Importance: Required unless you are older than 21, or married, or living with your parents in the Fort Collins area
- When to complete: After you submit your enrollment deposit. The date is based on your starting semester.
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 requires a $350 deposit (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 $350 housing deposit can be directed to .
Apply now
Attend an admitted student event
- Importance: Optional
- When to complete: Anytime after you are admitted
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.
Admitted student events
Sign up for new-student orientation
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: After you submit your enrollment deposit. The date is based on your starting semester.
Fall start: Orientation registration opens in January. 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 to register for 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 online and in person.
Sign up
Apply for financial aid and scholarships
- Importance: Optional
- When to complete: Generally between December and February
Fall start: The FAFSA opens in December and has a priority deadline of March 1. Many scholarship applications also have a March 1 deadline.
Spring start: The FAFSA opens in December.
Summer start: The FAFSA opens in December.
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.
Learn more
Look at placement requirements and take exams if needed
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: Before you attend orientation
Before you attend Ram Orientation, there are placement steps to make sure you register for the most-advanced classes you can be 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 before orientation.
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 orientation. Learn more about the Foreign Language Placement Exam.
Review placement info
Submit your final high school transcript
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: Date based on your starting semester
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.
Review submission info
Complete health requirements
- Importance: Required
- When to complete: Anytime before you enroll
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 (many students bring theirs to orientation), completing online health or safety programs, and documenting insurance coverage.
See health checklist
Share your news
- Importance: Optional
- When to complete: Anytime, but especially on National Decision Day (June 1, 2024)
Join hundreds of other incoming students who are sharing their pride and excitement of being accepted to CSU. Post on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook using the #ColoStateBound hashtag. P.S. We also love posts from proud family members!
Contact an admissions counselor
- Importance: Optional (but always helpful!)
- When to complete: Anytime
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.
Reach out to your counselor
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