Updated: March 30, 2021
If you are considering deferring to a different entry term, please read through our Things to Know Before Deferring document.
Admitted Student FAQs
You may defer your enrollment for up to one year. To request a deferral, complete the term change form on your application status page. Fill out with the term to which you would like to be deferred, the reason(s) for the deferral and what you will be doing during the deferment period. The deadline to request a deferral is the first day of class for the original term that you applied to.
If you are admitted and confirm your intent to enroll, your AP, IB or previous college course work will be evaluated to determine what credits will transfer to CU Boulder and how this will be applied to your degree. This process can take several weeks after you have confirmed your intent to enroll. All students who are awarded transfer credit will receive notification when their transfer credit report is ready to be viewed.
Students in Exploratory Studies have demonstrated significant academic achievement and potential. While not directly admissible to the competitive degree program of application, students possess the skills necessary to succeed at CU. Exploratory Studies recognizes there are several pathways to disciplines such as business, engineering or design. Our advisors help students identify the pathway that best matches their goals whether that be their original program of application or the discovery of a different option.
Many students transfer to one of the degree-granting academic options on campus after their first year or opt to continue with Exploratory Studies through their third semester.
Students in Exploratory Studies will graduate from one of the seven colleges, schools or programs on the Boulder campus. University Exploration & Advising Center (UEAC) advisors work with first year Exploratory Studies students to develop academic pathways for more than 70 majors and to discover complementary co-curricular experiences that align with their interests.
We have seen a record number of applications this year, and it is the most competitive pool in the University’s history. Unfortunately, we have many more qualified applicants than we are able to offer admission at this time. If you would like to accept your waitlist offer, please complete the Waitlist Request Form in your application status page.
Every year is different, and as we continue to review applications, our waitlist evolves and changes. In previous years, we have taken as few as 30 and as many as several hundred off the waitlist. If you would like to accept your waitlist offer, please complete the Waitlist Request Form in your application status page.
2020 data is not available at this time. Because the waitlist offers have increased this cycle due to the ongoing pandemic, we are unclear if that will result in more or less opportunity to be admitted. The 2019 data that is in the waitlist offer letter provides a representation of pre-pandemic information that we feel is most helpful for your decision making purposes.
No, we do not rank our waitlist. We review applicants on our waitlist periodically based on space availability. If you would like to accept your spot on the waitlist, you should complete the Waitlist form in your application status page. This is the best way to indicate you are still interested in CU Boulder.
We will continue to review space availability throughout the spring, up until and even after May 1st. If space becomes available at any point, we will notify you via email and your application status page. We will provide all final decisions before July 1.
No, you are not able to appeal your waitlist decision. If you would like your application to still be in consideration should additional space become available, please complete the Waitlist Request Form to accept your spot on the waitlist. Accepting your spot on the waitlist is the best way to indicate you are still interested in CU Boulder, should space become available.
Yes, you can still apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA; you do not need to be admitted to CU Boulder in order to do so. Most scholarships in the CU Boulder scholarship application closed March 15, but some opportunities may still be available. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
All applicants who have a 3.85 weighted high school GPA or better and have completed their admissions application by January 15 are considered for a scholarship. Not all students who were eligible for scholarship consideration will receive one.
No. CU Boulder considers and awards applicants without test scores as a part of the holistic review process.
International students are eligible and were considered for non-resident scholarships (Presidential and CU Boulder Chancellor’s Achievement). International students who qualify for Colorado residency are eligible and were considered for resident scholarships (Esteemed).
If your school provides grades on a non-4 pt scale, this was taken into consideration. If eligible, you were considered for an automatic scholarship based on having the equivalent of a 3.85+ weighted GPA.
Approximately 25% of our incoming class earned a 4.0 GPA and not all of these students will receive an automatic consideration scholarship. Each applicant is reviewed holistically and unfortunately, we were unable to offer you a scholarship. If you have compelling information to share, you should speak with your admission counselor.
The Office of Admissions communicates important next steps in the admissions process to all applicants, admitted and confirmed students who have supplied a valid email address. If a parent or legal guardian email address was provided on your Common Application submission, those contacts will receive communication about how to help support you through the admissions process. Starting in February, we will also provide you and your family monthly email updates on the University’s plans for the summer and fall 2021 terms.
If a family member or guardian is not receiving email communications, please complete the CU Boulder Family Communications form to add or update your family member or guardian’s contact information.
Thank you for your interest in visiting CU Boulder. At this time, we are not offering in-person prospective student events or campus tours. For your safety and the safety of our campus and community we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual visit experiences.
If you choose to come to campus, we ask all visitors to abide by public health guidelines and understand that CU Boulder is implementing measures to reduce density on campus.
- Everyone is required to wear a facial covering and maintain physical distancing while on campus, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Access to many of our facilities is restricted for the protection of our campus community and those with direct affiliation of daily campus activities.
- Some areas of campus may be closed.
- While many activities and buildings are unavailable at this time, we encourage you to connect with us virtually and explore our virtual visit experiences.
We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder. We look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
Thank you for your interest in visiting CU Boulder. At this time, we are not offering in-person prospective student events or campus tours.
If you choose to come to campus, we ask all visitors to abide by public health guidelines and understand that CU Boulder is implementing measures to reduce density on campus.
- Everyone is required to wear a facial covering and maintain physical distancing while on campus, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Access to many of our facilities is restricted for the protection of our campus community and those with direct affiliation of daily campus activities.
- Some areas of campus may be closed.
- While many activities and buildings are unavailable at this time, we encourage you to connect with us virtually and explore our virtual visit experiences.
For your safety and the safety of our campus and community we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual visit experiences. We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder. We look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
We plan to resume in-person campus tours in late spring depending upon public health guidelines. We will announce when we are able to host campus visits and tours via email, social media, and the website.
In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual admitted student events. We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder and we look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
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 the Admissions. If a student decides to come to campus on their own, and/or does a self-guided tour, we are not able to issue excuse/visit verification forms.
Prospective Student FAQs
Yes. CU Boulder will not require first-year students who graduate from high school in 2021 to provide ACT or SAT test scores.
Test-optional means SAT or ACT scores will not be required as a part of the 2021 application process, but students may submit self-reported scores if they would like us to consider their scores in our application review.
Beginning August 1, 2020, first-year students applying for the spring, summer or fall 2021 application terms can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT exam scores to be considered as part of the admission review.
No additional documents or supplemental application materials are required for first-year students applying to CU Boulder in lieu of SAT or ACT scores.
First-year applicants for the summer and fall 2021 terms will not be required to submit test scores for scholarship consideration. Applicants will be reviewed holistically for merit scholarship consideration.
Test scores may or may not be required for consideration depending on the scholarship. Scholarships awarded via the CU Boulder scholarship application, or private scholarships, may have different requirements.
We take a holistic approach when reviewing applications and therefore do not have a minimum grade point average requirement. For information about admitted student average GPA and test scores by college, visit our selection process webpage.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to update this information once you submit your application.
CU Boulder will continue to make a holistic assessment of each application with all of the information that is available. If students receive a decision that does not meet their desires, they may appeal with new and compelling academic information.
CU Boulder will continue to take a holistic approach when reviewing every application. Although they are not required, students may submit self-reported test scores in the application status page. If students choose to include self-reported test scores, they will be considered. If students choose to withhold test scores, we will not ask for them for the admissions decision. We always look for reasons to admit an applicant.
Yes. We understand it may be difficult for you to submit an official high school transcript(s) at this time. If you have not already submitted official transcripts, we will accept an unofficial copy of your transcript(s) for review and decision purposes. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted one of two ways:
- Through your application status page in the upload materials section.
- Emailed to admissions@colorado.edu. Please include your full name and date of birth.
If you indicated that you want your test scores as part of the admissions review but have not sent them from the testing agency, you have the option to self report your scores on the right hand side of your status page. Official documents will be required upon your enrollment.
Our application is still open for fall. We encourage you to submit your application and all required documents as soon as possible since we do not know how long the application will remain open. Decisions will be made on a rolling basis after your complete application is received.
- Will merit aid be awarded?
No. To be considered for merit aid, you must have applied by our January 15 Regular Decision Application Deadline. - Can I apply for financial aid?
Yes, please complete your FAFSA and include us as a school to send it to (001370). - Will any of the CARES funding be saved for incoming students?
CARES funding will be considered for enrolled students.
Thank you for your interest in visiting CU Boulder. At this time, we are not offering in-person prospective student events or campus tours. For your safety and the safety of our campus and community we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual visit experiences.
If you choose to come to campus, we ask all visitors to abide by public health guidelines and understand that CU Boulder is implementing measures to reduce density on campus.
- Everyone is required to wear a facial covering and maintain physical distancing while on campus, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Access to many of our facilities is restricted for the protection of our campus community and those with direct affiliation of daily campus activities.
- Some areas of campus may be closed.
- While many activities and buildings are unavailable at this time, we encourage you to connect with us virtually and explore our virtual visit experiences.
We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder. We look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
Thank you for your interest in visiting CU Boulder. At this time, we are not offering in-person prospective student events or campus tours.
If you choose to come to campus, we ask all visitors to abide by public health guidelines and understand that CU Boulder is implementing measures to reduce density on campus.
- Everyone is required to wear a facial covering and maintain physical distancing while on campus, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Access to many of our facilities is restricted for the protection of our campus community and those with direct affiliation of daily campus activities.
- Some areas of campus may be closed.
- While many activities and buildings are unavailable at this time, we encourage you to connect with us virtually and explore our virtual visit experiences.
For your safety and the safety of our campus and community we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual visit experiences. We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder. We look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
We plan to resume in-person campus tours in late spring depending upon public health guidelines. We will announce when we are able to host campus visits and tours via email, social media, and the website. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our video tour library, our virtual campus tour and our numerous virtual prospective student events. We appreciate your interest in visiting CU Boulder and we look forward to being able to host you in person in the future.
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 the Admissions. If a student decides to come to campus on their own, and/or does a self-guided tour, we are not able to issue excuse/visit verification forms.
Transfer Applicant FAQs
Yes, if the course is eligible for transfer credit, CU Boulder will accept a ‘P’ or ‘S’ grade (or equivalent) earned in the spring 2020 semester or quarter in transfer credit.
Those colleges and schools who use specific letter-grade thresholds for specific courses for transfer admission will accept a ‘P’ or ‘S’ grade earned in spring 2020 for any of those courses in lieu of a letter grade.
Yes. We recognize all the work that goes into taking an AP or IB course and/or studying for the exam. Rest assured that a change in testing format does not change how CU Boulder awards credit for AP exams or IB credit. For more information on these policies and required scores, visit the credit by examination webpage.
Yes. We understand it may be difficult for you to submit an official college or high school transcript(s) at this time. If you have not already submitted official transcripts, we will accept an unofficial copy of your transcript(s) for review and decision purposes. Official transcripts will be needed upon enrollment to verify credentials.
Not at all. We are here to support you and continue to review and notify applicants of their decision within 4–6 weeks of submitting a completed application.
The confirmation deadline for transfer students is December 1 if you received your admission decision on or before November 15. For those admitted after November 15, we ask you to confirm within two weeks of receiving that decision. If you need more time to decide whether you want to confirm, please contact your admission counselor.
Graduate Student FAQs
Admitted graduate students should contact their department and request a term change/deferral. The graduate department can choose to approve or deny any deferral requests. All departments have been encouraged by the Graduate School to be as flexible as possible with deferral requests.
This is determined by each department and we recommend you contact your department for more information.
International Student FAQs
I-20s must be used to apply for the term to which you were admitted. Currently, I-20s are being emailed to students directly, and are being sent to confirmed international students outside of the United States three business days after a term change request has been submitted. When students who have already confirmed submit a term change request, they will automatically have a new I-20 for the correct term emailed to them after three business days.
Yes, on an individual basis. Please contact your admissions counselor for more information.