Review sections below to view frequently asked questions for the CU Boulder transfer application. The section names correspond to those used on the application. 

If you are considering deferring to a different entry term, please read through our Things to Know About Deferring webpage.

If you are looking for information about CU Boulder's participation in the Bridge to Bachelor's Degree Program, read more here:

Yes! If you are a new, first-time student at any Colorado Community College System (CCCS) college you can indicate that you want to participate in Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree program when filling out your CCCS college application. While at your CCCS college, will receive personalized student advising and guidance from CU Boulder staff. Upon the completion of an Associate’s, students who participated in Bridge to Bachelor’s, and indicated an interest in CU Boulder, will have a no-hassle transfer process to CU Boulder including an application fee waiver.

To be eligible for admission into CU Boulder, students who participate in Bridge to Bachelor’s must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher and complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree to be admissible into Program in Exploratory Studies or College of Arts & Sciences. Students interested in admission to all other schools/colleges/programs at CU Boulder will require students to complete additional admission criteria, including GPA and prerequisite coursework.

Learn more about the Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program here or email any questions to pretransfer@colorado.edu.

If you have additional questions about the application, please contact us at 303-492-6301 or transfer@colorado.edu for assistance.

Creating an Account & Logging In

Which application should I use?
What type of applicant am I? First-Year, Transfer or Readmit?
  • You are a first-year applicant if you are currently in high school, or you have graduated from high school but have not taken any college courses after graduating from high school or earning a GED.
    • You are NOT a first-year student if you have taken at least one college course after graduating from high school (or completing your GED) and simply do not wish to transfer those credits and start over. This is not an option, and students who have taken even one college course from a recognized institution after graduating from high school (or completing their GED) must apply as a transfer student. This includes students who earned a W in a college course from a recognized institution after graduating from high school (or completing their GED). Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended before enrolling at CU Boulder is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university
  • You are a transfer student if you have graduated from high school (or completed a GED) and earned a grade in at least one college course from a recognized institution after graduating (or completing your GED).
    • You are not a transfer student if you have taken courses for college credit while in high school (i.e. dual enrollment or early college programs, etc.). Unless you graduated from high school (or earned your GED) and then took college courses, you are not a transfer student. 
  • You are a readmit student if you have previously been enrolled as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student at CU Boulder. 
    • You are not a readmit student if you have previously been admitted to CU Boulder but did not enroll in and earn a letter grade in any CU Boulder classes. If you were admitted, but did not defer, attend courses, or enrolled but withdrew before the drop deadline, then you must reapply as either a first-year applicant or a transfer applicant. 
How do I create an account?

To access the CU Boulder transfer application, go to the application management webpage and click ‘create an account’. Complete the form and click ‘continue’. You will then receive an email with a randomly generated, temporary pin and a link to complete your account. If you do not receive this email within a few minutes, check your spam folder.

I don’t remember my password. What should I do?

You can reset your password anytime through the application management webpage.

Why do you need my social security number?

Your Social Security Number (SSN) is not required on the admission application; however it is used by the Office of Admissions for record keeping and credential matching purposes. However, your SSN is required and should be included on your admission application if you are applying for financial aid and/or using the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF). Your SSN will be used to match against the systems at the state and federal level for authorization of any state/federal financial aid and the COF.

My name and/or address has a character with an accent in it. Should I enter that in the application?

No, please leave the accent off the letter. Instead, enter the character as if it had no accent.

I am a first name user; my family name does not appear on my passport. How should I indicate this on the application?

In both cases, you should enter a period “.” for your first/given name, and the entirety of your name into the “family/last” name field. We follow the SEVIS Name Standards in doing so.

Selecting a Program & Term

What if I don’t know what I want to major in yet?

Undecided students have the following options:

  • If you are undecided, apply to the Program in Exploratory Studies (PES). 
  • The College of Arts and Sciences allows undecided students with fewer than 24 completed college credits at the time they apply to select Open Option as a major. This is the best option for students who know they want a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, but do not know which major they would like to pursue within the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • If you are undecided, you can apply to PES. Some colleges also have Open Option majors, meaning you can apply to your desired college even if you are not yet sure exactly which specific major you want to pursue.
I applied to CU Boulder but I want to change my major. How do I do that?

Students can submit a major change request through their application status page. Once classes have started, you will need to work directly with your degree advisor in order to change your college and/or major.

How do I apply for pre-med, pre-health, pre-nursing or pre-law?

If you are interested in any of these fields, you may apply to any major. Pre-professional advisors will be available to help you meet the undergraduate requirements needed to apply for medical school, law school, etc. Students interested in pre-health may indicate this in the application. 

How do I apply for education?

The School of Education offers two bachelor’s degree programs in Elementary Education (plus a Culturally & Linguistically Diverse endorsement) and Leadership & Community Engagement. A cumulative college GPA of 2.75 or better as well as 24 completed college credits in general education requirements, as well as a prerequisite course such as School and Society.

The School of Education also offers licensure programs in elementary, secondary and K-12 music education. The licensure fields in secondary education include English, foreign language, mathematics, science and social studies. Teacher licensure at the undergraduate level must be combined with a bachelor’s degree program. If applicants do not already have a bachelor’s degree, they should apply to a major of interest that will supplement their teaching goals. Once enrolled at CU Boulder, students have the opportunity to apply for the licensure program through the School of Education. 

Refer to the School of Education catalog section for more information about teacher education. Interested students may also visit the School of Education website.

Can I apply for more than one major or degree?

You can only select one major/degree on your application. However, you can indicate you want to double major in Music at the time of applying. If you are offered admission at CU Boulder, you will be admitted to one major and one degree program. After you enroll, you may consider pursuing a double degree, double major or minor.

What months do the fall, spring and summer terms begin?

CU Boulder operates on a two-semester academic calendar. The fall semester begins in late August, and the spring semester begins in mid-January. Summer session lasts ten weeks; courses meeting for shorter periods (one to four, five, or eight weeks) are scheduled during the ten-week session. Starting Spring 2023, we will no longer be offering the four, 4-week summer mini sessions.  Transfer students may start their degree program in the summer but will have limited access to academic advising. Also, transfer students are now eligible to start in Maymester and Augmester, which are truncated 3-week long semesters offered in May and August respectively. If you wish to apply to start in Maymester or Augmester, simply apply to the summer term with enough time to have your application reviewed prior to courses for those terms commencing.

I am an international student applying to CU Boulder for only a semester or year but was told to complete this application. What program should I select?

You should select the program and plan that interests you most. If you’re interested in Physics you should apply to the College of Arts and Sciences, Physics major. If you’re interested in Engineering you should apply to the appropriate major within the College of Engineering and Applied Science. You can find a complete list of our programs and plans (majors) on our website.

Personal Information

Why do you need my social security number?

Your Social Security Number (SSN) is not required on the admission application; however it is used by the Office of Admissions for record keeping and credential matching purposes. Your SSN is required and should be included on your admission application if you are applying for financial aid and/or using the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF). Your SSN will be used to match against the systems at the state and federal level for authorization of any state/federal financial aid and COF.

Why should I submit my ethnic background and military status?

This information is collected primarily for demographic and statistical purposes. It also helps to understand your situation better and to get a full picture of you as a person for a more holistic review of your application beyond just academic data. Providing this information in no way disadvantages your application for admission.

Relationships

Why do you need my parents’ information?

This information is collected primarily for demographic and statistical purposes. It also helps to understand your situation better and to get a full picture of you as a person for a more holistic review of your application beyond just academic data.

What if my parent’s occupation is not listed?

Please select ‘other’ in the drop down menu.

I am a non-traditional student. Do I still need to submit my parent information?

Yes, we still use this information even if you are an adult or an emancipated minor. This information is collected primarily for demographic and statistical purposes. It also helps to understand your situation better and to get a full picture of you as a person for a more holistic review of your application beyond just academic data.

Citizenship

I’ve applied for permanent residency, but haven’t yet gotten it. Which answer should I select on the application?

If you (or your family) have submitted the I-485 form (Application for Permanent Residency) and you’ve received a receipt for such, then you should select “Permanent Resident.” If you do not yet have a receipt for this form you should select your country of citizenship only and do not check the "U.S. permanent resident" box. Once you receive a receipt, email admissions@colorado.edu to update your citizenship to a permanent resident.

I am not a U.S. citizen, but I don’t have a visa yet. Which answer should I select on the application?

If you do not have a visa yet, select 'no' in the question on the application about your current visa. You will then see a question about what visa you intend to apply for. You may leave the 'Issue Date' and 'Expiration Date' fields blank.

What if I am a dual citizen?

If you have dual citizenship and the U.S. is one of the countries, indicate ‘U.S. Citizen’. If the U.S. is not one of them, select the country that will issue your visa.

What if I am considering, or in the process of, changing my visa type?

If you’re changing or considering changing your current visa type please enter the information for what you have now, and please contact us to let us know more about your visa status at intladm@colorado.edu.

Residency

I have been classified as a non-resident but I would like to be classified as a resident. Can I petition for residency?

Tuition classification is governed by Colorado state law and is dependent on several factors including your age, marital status, high school attendance, and whether your parents reside in the state. If you are 23 or older, you may qualify for in-state tuition if you have established a year of Colorado domicile. If you are under the age of 23, you may qualify if you have a parent/legal guardian that is a Colorado resident. If you are under 23 and do not have a parent that is a Colorado resident, you cannot qualify through your own domicile unless you qualify as emancipated. Please visit the tuition classification website (add link back in) for more information, or contact the Tuition Classification Office at 303-492-0907 or tuitclass@colorado.edu.

Academic History

Why do I need to list all schools I’ve attended?

It’s important for us to get a complete and accurate picture of your academic history. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.

What if my institution is not listed?

If you cannot find your institution, try typing abbreviations like 'Univ' or 'Coll,' or the city or town in which the institution is located in the Institution field. If your school still does not come up, just type the complete name of your school in the Institution field, complete the rest of the fields, and save. If you are home-schooled, type Homeschool and complete the rest of the information as usual. If you have completed the GED or another high school equivalency exam, type GED in the institution field, choose the high school level of study, and enter the month and year that your equivalency was awarded in both the Dates Attended and Date Conferred or Expected fields.

What if I haven’t met all the Higher Education Admission Recommendations? Can I still be admitted to CU?

Students may be admitted to CU Boulder even though they have not completed all of the HEAR courses. There are no consequences if HEAR is not met. However, not completing HEAR might result in taking additional courses to meet the CU Boulder graduation requirements of individual majors. 

I am a transfer student. Do I still need to submit my high school academic record?

Yes. All applicants must submit an official high school transcript. If you have completed 24 or more college credits since graduating high school, then your high school transcript will be temporarily waived for the application process. If you have earned a GED instead of graduating high school, you must submit official GED, TASC or HiSET scores, plus an official or unofficial transcript of any high school work completed. Official high school transcripts are used by the admissions office to verify the completion of world language courses if needed. 

All official, final transcripts will be required at the time of enrollment for verification. Transcripts are only considered official if they are sent directly to us from the issuing institution. If during this verification process it is determined that you intentionally misrepresented your academic record on your unofficial transcript, your admission may be rescinded or cancelled.

Do I need to submit a high school transcript if I already have a college degree?

Yes, all students applying for undergraduate admission need to submit an official or unofficial high school transcript or GED, TASC or HiSET certificate to verify graduation.

For review and decision purposes you are encouraged to upload one copy of the scanned transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended. This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, unofficial transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed.

If you have not completed more than 24 hours of college credits after high school graduation, you should also upload a copy of your graduating high school transcript. If you went to more than one high school but the courses and grades have been transferred to your graduating high school, there is no need to upload copies of each high school transcript. However, if your graduating high school does not show your previous coursework, you must supply copies of each high school transcript.

What if I am a transfer student and have not met all of the Higher Education Admission Recommendations?

Students may be admitted to CU Boulder even though they have not completed all of the HEAR courses. There are no consequences if HEAR is not met. However, not completing HEAR might result in taking additional courses to meet the CU Boulder graduation requirements of individual majors. 

Is it okay if my transcripts arrive before my application is submitted?

Yes. We hold any transcripts that arrive before your application and will match them to your application once it is received. To ensure that these transcripts are properly matched with your application as quickly as possible, please include your current and any former legal names as well as any other identifying information (date of birth, etc.) on both your application and transcripts.

I already have a bachelor's degree but want a second undergraduate degree. Should I apply as a first-year or a transfer student?

Any student who has taken non-CU college level coursework since graduating from high school is classified as a transfer student. Please fill out the transfer application, and be sure to list all colleges and schools you have attended.

If you previously earned an undergraduate degree from CU Boulder, you will apply as a readmit regardless of the length of time since you graduated.

All second undergraduate degree seeking students are not eligible for admission to the School of Education, the College of Media, Communication and Information, the Program in Environmental Design, as well as the Leeds School of Business. Students looking to study those programs should contact our graduate recruitment team at CUGrad@colorado.edu. 

If you have been awarded a baccalaureate degree, either from the College of Arts and Sciences or elsewhere, you may be granted a second baccalaureate degree provided the following conditions have been fulfilled:

  • The subject of the major in the second baccalaureate degree is different from the subject of the major or minor in the first baccalaureate degree earned.
  • All general requirements for the degree to be awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences have been met. (Students are subject to the general degree requirements in effect the semester they enter the second baccalaureate degree program.)
  • Arts and sciences students must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in University of Colorado Boulder courses after matriculation in the second baccalaureate degree program. Of these 45 post-matriculation credit hours, a minimum of 30 credit hours must be in upper-division courses offered by a department in the College of Arts and Sciences, and at least 12 of these 30 upper-division credit hours must be in major coursework. Courses taken as a non-degree student or as part of a graduate degree program do not count in these minimum credit hour requirements.

Please contact your admission counselor with any questions.

If I have a bachelor’s degree and want to come to CU for additional college work or a second bachelor’s, am I exempt from general education requirements?

No, you may need to complete additional general education requirements despite having earned a bachelor’s degree. Your previously earned degree does not automatically waive general education requirements. More information will become available when your transfer credit and degree audit are complete.

Supplemental Information

What are the SAT and ACT? Are they required?

The SAT and ACT are standard aptitude tests used for college admission decisions throughout the U.S. Test scores are not required, but can be submitted with less than 24 college credits completed. You can self-report your test scores in the application or on your status page.

What are the TOEFL and IELTS? Are they required?

The TOEFL, Duolingo and IELTS are three different English language proficiency tests accepted by CU Boulder as proof of English proficiency. Proof of English proficiency is required for immigration purposes for all international student applicants unless:

  • you have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. institution or at an institution in a country where English is the native language (i.e., Australia, U.K.) at the time you apply;
  • if English is your native language; and/or
  • you are from one of the following countries: Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Request that the testing agency submit your scores directly to the Office of Admissions. For more information on the TOEFL, go to www.toefl.org. The CU Boulder college code for the TOEFL is 4841. For more information on the IELTS, go to www.ielts.org. For more information about Duolingo, go to englishtest.duolingo.com. CU Boulder does not accept any other tests as proof of English proficiency.

See our English proficiency webpage >

What are CU Boulder’s test score codes for submitting ACT and SAT scores?

CU Boulder's SAT code is 4841 and the ACT code is 0532.

What are CU Boulder’s test score codes for the TOEFL and IELTS?

The CU Boulder school code for the TOEFL is 4841. IELTS does not have school codes. When requesting your IELTS results to be sent to CU Boulder, have it sent to the following address:

Office of Admissions/International
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Suite A122
65 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0065
USA

Upload Documents, Essays & Supplemental Documents

I have updated my academic interest response. How can I submit my new academic interest response?

You may upload your new academic interest response through your application status page. Login to your application status page, navigate to the ‘Upload Materials’ section, select ‘academic interest’ from the dropdown list and upload your document. If you choose to complete the 'Optional Academic History Explanation', you would follow the same process to do so.

What file type should my academic interest response be in?

You can upload either Microsoft Word or PDF files through the ‘Upload Materials’ section of the online application. If you choose to email your academic interest response through your application status page, you can send it to admissions@colorado.edu. You can either copy and paste into the body of your email or attach it as a Word document or PDF. Please include your full legal name and date of birth. The same process will apply to the 'Optional Academic History Explanation' if you choose to complete that as well.

What if I am not ready to submit my academic interest response yet?

You can still submit your application without uploading your academic interest response. The academic interest response is still required and should be uploaded through the ‘Upload Materials’ section in your application status page or emailed to admissions@colorado.edu. Please include your full legal name and birthdate. Your academic interest response must be received by the application deadline in order for your application file to be complete. You can also complete the 'Optional Academic History Explanation' at a later time if you choose to submit that document.

Can I upload my portfolio or a photo of myself in this section?

We do not recommend sending a portfolio (unless requested) or a photo of yourself with your application, as we do not use these items when reviewing your application. Please do not upload such items to your application.

Submit Application & Fee Payment

Will I get a receipt for my payment?

If you submit your payment by credit card or electronic check, you will be emailed a receipt for payment as soon as the transaction is approved.

Can I use my parent’s credit card or bank information (for e-Check) payment?

Students paying the application fee by credit card or submitting the confirmation through e-Check are able to use another individual’s credit card and bank information as long as the individual has given permission to do so.

What if I am not ready to pay my fee at this time?

You are not required to pay your application fee at the time you apply. However, your admissions decision wil not be released until payment is received. When you're ready to do so, just log into your status page and make the payment then.

I also applied to another University of Colorado campus. Do I still need to pay the application fee?

Yes, if you are applying to another University of Colorado campus in addition to CU Boulder, you must submit a separate application, official credentials and appropriate fee to each campus.

I am currently enrolled at another University of Colorado campus. Do I still need to pay the application fee?

Students who are attending another University of Colorado campus or Continuing Education through CU Boulder do not need to pay the application fee.

The payment session has timed out. What do I do?

When you are trying to pay and your session times out please contact the Office of Admissions at 303-492-6301. Unfortunately you cannot go back to the previous page, so a payment will need to be made over the phone. Your payment was successful if you received a confirmation via email.

How do I know if my application was submitted?

When the application is submitted you will be directed to your application status page where you will have the opportunity to view a PDF copy of your application. You will also receive an email notifying you that your application has been submitted and a link to access your application status page. You will receive a second email shortly afterward to notify you that your application has been uploaded into our system. At that time, you can continue to check the status of your application through your application status page.

Background Information - Disciplinary History

What information should I include in my explanation?

All explanations should include the approximate date(s) of the probation(s)/suspension(s)/expulsion(s), the sanctions issued (e.g., two-day suspension, five-day suspension, expulsion, etc.), and a description of the specific actions that led to the sanctions. Please note that it is important to describe the specific behavior that led to the sanctions. A description such as “I was suspended, because I broke school rules” is not sufficient. Incomplete descriptions will delay the processing of your application. 

How will my probation/suspension/expulsion impact my application?

Applicants answering ‘yes’ to the disciplinary history question will undergo an additional review by a committee to determine whether the applicant’s offense(s) should have an impact on their admission decision. Factors included in the review process include the nature and gravity of any conduct and whether it bears a direct relationship to a particular aspect of the applicant’s admission, the time passed since the occurrence, the age of the applicant at the time of the conduct and evidence of rehabilitation or good conduct provided by the applicant. For more information please visit our Criminal and/or Disciplinary History Procedures page. 

How long will it take to review my probation/suspension/expulsion?

The review process will be completed within a reasonable period of time and may generally take 2-4 weeks following the receipt of all necessary information. This timeline may be extended if additional information is requested or in other circumstance of good cause as determined by CU Boulder. If the timeline is extended, applicants will be notified of the updated timeline. 

What are my options if my application is denied based on my disciplinary history background?

All applicants denied as a result of their disciplinary history information have the right to appeal this decision. For more information please visit our Criminal and/or Disciplinary History Procedures page. 

What if I answer ‘no’ even though I have disciplinary history of the type asked about in the questions?

It is required that all applicants disclose their background in the application. If a student is found to have provided inaccurate information on the application, they may be subject to disciplinary action – including revocation of admission and/or dismissal from the university – due to a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. 

What if this information changes after I have submitted my application?

All applicants are required to notify the Office of Admissions if this information changes after they submit their application for admission. You may contact the Office of Admissions at 303-492-6301 to discuss your options. 

Background Information - Criminal History

How far back in my history do I need to report criminal activity?

Any stalking, sexual assault and/or domestic violence offense needs to be reported no matter how long ago the incident took place. Any assault, kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter or murder charges within the past 5 years need to be reported. Please be as thorough as possible in your explanation.

What kind of offenses do I need to disclose?

Applicants who have a pending criminal charge OR who have ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of assault, kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter or murder within the past 5 years OR who have ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of stalking, sexual assault and/or domestic violence must disclose this information.

How will my criminal history affect my application?

Applicants answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions will undergo an additional review by a committee to determine whether the applicant’s offense(s) should have an impact on their admission decision. Factors included in the review process include the nature and gravity of any conduct and whether it bears a direct relationship to a particular aspect of the applicant’s admission, the time passed since the occurrence, the age of the applicant at the time of the conduct and evidence of rehabilitation or good conduct provided by the applicant. For more information please visit our Criminal and/or Disciplinary History Procedures page. 

How long will it take to review my criminal history?

The review process will be completed within a reasonable period of time and may generally take 2-4 weeks following the receipt of all necessary information. This timeline may be extended if additional information is pending from the applicant or third parties such as probations officers, law enforcement agencies, etc. or in other circumstance of good cause as determined by CU Boulder. If the timeline is extended, applicants will be notified of the updated timeline.

Is anyone with a criminal history automatically denied admission?

No. All applicants who have answered ‘yes’ to the criminal history questions are reviewed on an individual basis.

What are my options if my application is denied based on my criminal background?

All applicants denied as a result of their criminal history information have the right to appeal this decision. For more information please visit our Criminal and/or Disciplinary History Procedures page. 

What if I answer ‘no’ even though I have criminal history of the type asked about in the questions?

It is required that all applicants disclose their background in the application. If a student is found to have provided inaccurate information on the application, they may be subject to disciplinary action – including revocation of admission and/or dismissal from the university – due to a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

What if this information changes after I have submitted my application?

All applicants are required to notify the Office of Admissions if this information changes after they submit their application for admission. You may contact the Office of Admissions at 303-492-6301 to discuss your options.

Background Information - Post-Admission Conduct Questions

I answered conduct questions on my application and I’ve been admitted. Why do I have a new form on my status page with additional questions?

Due to recent legislation in the state of Colorado, the conduct review process has been split into pre-admission and post-admission phases in order to allow greater access to education for applicants. The pre-admission questions you answered on the application were specifically targeted to certain offenses, while the post-admission questions are broader and will determine eligibility to participate in campus life. How you answer the post-admission questions will not affect your admission or your ability to enroll at CU Boulder.

What will happen if I don’t fill out the form on my status page?

Not filling out the form on your status page will prevent a housing assignment from being released and will prevent you from registering for your second semester on campus. It will not prevent you from confirming your intent to enroll, applying for housing or registering for your first semester.

COVID-19

Can I receive an official excuse/visit verification form after visiting campus?

Excuse/visit verification forms are only issued when a student attends a formal program, hosted by the Office of Admissions. This includes in-person formalized programs, as well as virtual programs run by Admissions. An excuse/verification form may also be issued if a student officially meets with our counselor on duty, or admissions staff personnel, that are able to log the interaction on the student record.

Where can I stay up to date on campus updates regarding COVID-19?

Visit our COVID-19 Information website for information on the campus' mask policy, vaccine requirement and other public health guidance.