Colorado State University stands in Fort Collins, in northern Colorado along the Front Range and about an hour north of Denver. Its founding is dated to 1870, when it began as the Colorado Agricultural College, and it took its present name on 1 May 1957 by action of the Colorado General Assembly.
As the state’s land-grant university, it maintains a presence in every Colorado county. Teaching is organised in eight colleges: agricultural sciences, business, the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, health and human sciences, liberal arts, natural sciences, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, and the Warner College of Natural Resources. Total enrolment reached a record 34,412 students in 2025-26.
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences awards the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Beyond the main campus in central Fort Collins the university operates a mountain campus, and it is the flagship of the CSU System, which also includes CSU Pueblo and CSU Global Campus as separate institutions, together with CSU Spur in Denver.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Life Sciences, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Land-grant university. Leader in agricultural research, veterinary medicine (DVM program), and environmental sustainability. Strong focus on research with impact.
Research:
A leading research university with strengths in agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, atmospheric science, clean energy, and environmental health.
Famous Alumnis:
Temple Grandin (faculty), Amy Van Dyken, Yusef Komunyakaa, John Amos
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
7000
Current students***:
34000
Foreign students***:
5%
Cumulative former students***:
230000
Pros
Top-ranked programs in veterinary medicine and agricultural/environmental sciences, strong focus on sustainability, located in a vibrant college town (Fort Collins) with outdoor access.
Cons
Large student population, some programs less nationally prominent than CU Boulder, state funding can be variable.
Best For
Students passionate about agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, or environmental science, seeking a research-intensive land-grant university with a strong commitment to sustainability and an active outdoor lifestyle.
Washington State University, a public university in Pullman, combines agriculture, veterinary medicine and engineering.
Oregon State University in Corvallis is public and lists forestry, oceanography and agricultural sciences among its specialties.
Utah State University (Logan) offers a public programme mix of agriculture, aerospace engineering and water resources.
Texas A&M University, public and based in College Station, centres on engineering, agriculture and veterinary medicine.
University of California, Davis, a public university in Davis, is known in the pool for agriculture and environmental sciences alongside veterinary studies.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Norway's Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a public institution built around life sciences and environmental sciences, with veterinary studies.
The Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom is public and specialises in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing.
Brazil: São Paulo State University is a public university whose specialties include agriculture and biotechnology.
Laval University (Canada) is public and lists agriculture and food among its main fields.
In Australia, La Trobe University is a public institution covering agriculture, biomedicine and the environment.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was Colorado State University founded?
Its founding is counted from 1870, when it opened as the Colorado Agricultural College. The Colorado General Assembly renamed it Colorado State University on 1 May 1957.
Where is the main campus?
It is in Fort Collins, northern Colorado, roughly an hour's drive north of Denver at the foot of the Front Range. A mountain campus and the CSU Spur site in Denver extend the university's reach.
How many colleges does CSU have?
Eight, covering agricultural sciences, business, engineering, health and human sciences, liberal arts, natural sciences, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, and natural resources. Several schools, such as public health and music, theatre and dance, sit within or beside these colleges.
Roughly how many students study there?
Total enrolment was 34,412 in the 2025-26 academic year, the highest in its history according to the university. Current figures appear on the university website.
What does land-grant status mean for CSU?
It is the state's land-grant institution, with a mission that includes extension work reaching every county in Colorado. Agriculture and natural resources therefore sit alongside engineering and the sciences in its profile.
Which degree does the veterinary college award?
It offers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional degree, together with programmes in biomedical sciences. Prospective applicants should check the college's own pages for entry requirements.
Is CSU Pueblo part of the same university?
CSU Pueblo and CSU Global Campus belong to the CSU System but are separate institutions, each with its own admissions. Check the specific institution's website for fees and application deadlines.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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