Scholarships for Non-Resident First-Year Students
The scholarships found below are for non-resident, first-time freshmen admitted to a degree-seeking program on CSU’s main campus in Fort Collins.
- All scholarships will only be for fall and spring semesters, unless otherwise noted. If a student starts in the summer the scholarship still cannot be used until fall semester.
- Students must be degree-seeking through CSU’s main campus. CSU Online students are not eligible for these scholarships.
- Students who have attended another college or university after high school graduation are not eligible.
- Students who receive this scholarship must maintain full time enrollment.
Scholarships Awarded Based on the Application for Admission
Students do not need to complete a separate application for these scholarships, as they are automatically considered based upon the information provided in their application for admission.
Green and Gold Scholarship for Non-Residents
2026-2027 Scholarship Amount
Green and Gold Scholarships for Nonresidents are merit scholarships, awarded based on your application for admission. No additional scholarship application needed!
Colorado State University provides these highly competitive awards to eligible freshmen (first-year) students who are not residents of Colorado.
Students who are eligible can receive up to $16,000 per year (half paid each fall and spring semester). These scholarships can be renewed for up to eight semesters, meaning you could earn up to $64,000 over the course of four years.
Students that start in a CSU Online major and switch to a main campus major during their enrollment cannot be considered.
| GPA Range | Scholarship Award Amount Per Year | Percent Tuition/Fees* |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0+ | $16,000 | 44% |
| 3.80-3.99 | $12,000 | 33% |
| 3.60-3.79 | $10,000 | 28% |
| 3.40-3.59 | $8,000 | 22% |
| 3.30-3.39 | $6,000 | 17% |
| 3.20-3.29 | $4,000 | 11% |
*Calculations were made using 2025-2026 tuition and fees. Tuition and fees for upcoming years may be higher, which would make the percentage of tuition and fees covered lower.
Eligibility:
To be considered you must:
- Be an incoming freshmen/first-year student, AND
- Remain classified as a non-resident, AND
- Demonstrate a GPA of 3.2 or above. Your highest cumulative GPA, whether it is weighted or unweighted, will be considered for scholarship purposes.
- Please note: If your GPA (whether weighted or unweighted) is reported on a scale other than 4.0, we will convert or recalculate to a 4.0 scale, AND
- Be admitted to a full-time, degree-seeking program on CSU’s main campus.
- CSU Online students are not eligible. Students who start in a CSU Online major and switch to a main campus major aren’t eligible, AND
- Submit a complete application for admission:
- January 15 for a fall or summer semester start. If you have already been admitted and want to submit updated credentials to strengthen your eligibility, you must do so by March 1.
- If you start in the summer, you are eligible for the award, but the funds won’t be available until fall.
- November 1 for a spring semester start. If you have already been admitted and want to submit updated credentials to strengthen your eligibility, you must do so by December 1.
- January 15 for a fall or summer semester start. If you have already been admitted and want to submit updated credentials to strengthen your eligibility, you must do so by March 1.
Notes:
- Students cannot combine the Green and Gold Scholarship with certain other CSU scholarships (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 you receive more than one of these awards, the one that benefits you the most will remain and the others will be canceled.
- National Merit Finalists who list CSU as their first-choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will automatically receive the highest level of the Green and Gold Scholarship for non-residents, as will College Board First Generation Recognition Scholars and National Achievement Scholars.
Renewal Criteria
Students must maintain 3.0 cumulative GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress. These students may receive this award for up to a total of eight (8) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
What is WUE?
If you are not a resident of Colorado but live in the western United States or in select jurisdictions of the U.S. Pacific islands, you may be eligible for a significant reduction in tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) award. A WUE award is 150% of Colorado resident base tuition.
Simply put: You could save about $11,500 per year. That could be $46,000 in savings over the course of four years.
How to Apply:
We only need your application for admission to CSU. No separate application needed!
Cost Comparison:
| Colorado Residents | Non-Residents | WUE Residents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time tuition and general fees | $13,774* | $36,113 | $24,614** |
| Other estimated costs | $21,945 | $22,986 | $23,106 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $35,722 | $59,099 | $47,720 |
*Includes student’s share of resident base tuition after the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend reduction.
**Includes student’s share of WUE base tuition (150% of resident base tuition before the COF stipend reduction).
Estimated costs are for the on-campus 2025-2026 academic year. See the full breakdown.
WUE Eligible Locations:
American Samoa, Alaska, Arizona, California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Freshman Student Eligibility:
To be eligible you must:
- Be seeking a degree through CSU’s main campus (not CSU Online) AND
- Be a resident of a WUE-eligible state or territory AND
- Demonstrate a GPA of 3.2 or above (on a 4.0 scale) AND
- Your highest cumulative GPA, whether it is weighted or unweighted, will be considered for scholarship purposes.
- Submit a complete application for admission and be admitted BY
- Fall applicants submit a complete application for admission by January 15.
- To strengthen scholarship eligibility, students must submit a complete application along with any new transcripts by March.
- Spring applicants submit a complete application for admission by November 1.
- To strengthen scholarship eligibility, students must submit a complete application along with any new transcripts by December.
- Fall applicants submit a complete application for admission by January 15.
- Summer start applicants are not eligible.
Note: Students cannot receive the WUE award with Yellow Ribbon Award, GI Promise, HB 15-1294 GI Benefits, or other non-resident institutional scholarships; if awarded, the award that benefits the student the most will remain and the others will be canceled.
Rocky Mountain Scholar Award:
Incoming freshmen who receive WUE and have a GPA of 3.8 and above are also eligible to receive the Rocky Mountain Scholar Award! It can be renewed as long as the WUE scholarship requirements continue to be met.
- For students with a GPA of 4.0 and higher, the award provides an additional $5,500 per year, divided between the the fall and spring semesters.
- For students with a GPA between 3.8-3.99, the award provides an additional $1,500 per year, divided between the the fall and spring semesters.
GPA Range
Scholarship Award Amount Per Year
4.0+
$5,500
3.80 – 3.99
$1,500
Wyoming Scholar Award
The Wyoming Scholar Award allows eligible Wyoming students to attend CSU at CSU’s in-state tuition rate! Incoming freshmen who receive WUE and have a GPA of 3.8 or higher will be offered this award. It can be renewed as long as the WUE scholarship requirements continue to be met.
WUE Renewal Criteria:
Students must maintain a cumulative 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.
Honors Scholarship
Scholarship Amount:
A total of $4,000 ($1,000 per year) will be 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.
Renewal Criteria:
Students must maintain 3.0 GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress, and be participating in the Honors Program. These students may receive this award for up to a total of eight (8) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.
Partnership Award
Scholarship Amount:
A total of $20,000 ($5,000 per year) will be awarded to partnership scholars who meet the selection and renewal criteria.
Non-Resident Student 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 January 15. Admitted students (who met the February 1 application date) can submit new transcripts until March 1 to strengthen their application for admission, however funding may be limited after January 15.
Renewal Criteria:
Students must maintain 2.0 GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress. These students may receive this award for up to a total of ten (10) semesters, or until their degree is complete, whichever comes first.
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.
Scholarships Requiring a Separate Application
Students must submit a separate application to be considered for these scholarships.
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
Native American Legacy Award
The NALA is an award for qualified students who are citizens of federal or state recognized tribes.
This award reduces non-resident tuition to Colorado resident base tuition. Please be advised this does not include University fees or differential tuition. The award is based on current tuition rates and are subject to change each year. The actual NALA tuition rate will be reflected in your estimated cost of attendance, financial aid awards (if applicable), and billing statements.
To continue receiving NALA:
- You must remain a non-resident for tuition purposes.
- NALA cannot be combined with the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) award, Yellow Ribbon Award, GI Promise, HB 15-1294 GI Benefits, or other non-resident institutional scholarships; if awarded, the award that benefits the student the most will remain and the others will be canceled.
How to Apply:
- Submit a completed application for admission, then
- Submit proof of tribal citizenship or membership no later than 15 business days before the start of the academic term
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 October 1 and closes either February 1 (for First-Year students) or March 1 (Sophomore year and beyond, and transfer students).
