Colorado State University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Colorado State University (CSU) is a public land-grant research university located in Fort Collins and serves as the flagship institution of the Colorado State University System. Established in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College, it adopted its current name in 1957. As of 2024, CSU enrolls around 34,000 students and employs approximately 1,500 faculty members across 8 colleges and 55 academic departments. The university offers 65 undergraduate programs, 55 master’s degrees, and 40 doctoral programs, along with a professional degree in veterinary medicine. Classified among R1 institutions for very high research activity, CSU spent about $498.1 million on research and development in 2023.The campus features several notable facilities, including the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory, the University Center for the Arts, the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising, the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. CSU’s athletic teams, known as the Rams, compete in NCAA Division I’s Mountain West Conference, and the university has produced distinguished alumni such as Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken, as well as Nobel laureates, astronauts, CEOs, and political leaders.CSU’s origins trace back to the Morrill Act of 1862, which supported the establishment of land-grant institutions. Early development was slow due to limited funding, with initial land donations and community contributions playing a crucial role. The first building, known as the “Claim Shanty,” was completed in 1874, and classes began in 1879 with just five students. Early instruction focused on basic subjects and agricultural training. Over time, leadership under figures like Charles Ingersoll expanded academic programs and research, supported by federal initiatives such as the Hatch Act of 1887. These developments helped transform CSU into a comprehensive university with strong programs in agriculture, science, engineering, and liberal arts.