Application instructions

Deadlines

Fall admission Spring admission Summer admission
Fall admission

Nov. 15: Early Action deadline for CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions application

Dec. 1: Priority deadline for College of Music application, including the following materials:

  • Voice or musical theatre pre-screening recording
  • Composition, music production or songwriting portfolio

Note: All College of Music applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Dec. 1. Applications with no pre-screening or portolio requirements may be considered through Feb. 1, but are not guaranteed their preferred audition date.

Jan. 15: Regular Decision deadline for CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions application

Feb. 1: Final College of Music application deadline (including recorded auditions)

Jan.  17, Jan. 24 + Feb. 7: College-wide audition days (In-person and remote options available) 

Mid-March: Admissions decisions sent

Oct. 1: Deadline to submit both the CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions application and the College of Music application, including:

  • Voice or musical theatre pre-screening recording
  • Composition, music production or songwriting portfolio

Oct. 15: Final deadline to submit recorded audition

Nov. 15: Final deadline to complete a live audition/interview with the College of Music (including ad hoc auditions); deadline to receive a letter of recommendation. 

The College of Music does not accept applications for summer term.

How to apply

Step 1: Review requirements Step 2: Apply to CU Boulder Step 3: Apply to the College of Music Step 4: Provide a letter of recommendation Step 5: Schedule your audition
Step 1: Review requirements

Review all university admission requirements.

  • First-year applicants: Apply via the Common Application
  • Transfer applicants: Apply via the CU Boulder Transfer Application
    • Please note that transfer students must adhere to the College of Music’s deadlines (posted above). Due to our audition process, we cannot consider transfer applications after these dates even though the university transfer application may still be open. 
  • The College of Music Application Form can be found on your CU Boulder application status page. You can only access this page after you have submitted the Common Application or Transfer Application. Check your email for a message from Undergraduate Admissions prompting you to check your application status. Make sure to save your log in information.
  • The College of Music application will ask you to select your audition method. You may choose to audition remotely (recording + interview) or in-person. In-person auditions are highly encouraged. Check out auditions for more information.
  • Voice, musical theatre, composition, music production or songwriting applicants: Upload your pre-screening or portfolio materials on your status page under “My Portfolio.” Check out auditions for more information.
  • A short essay is required as part of the music application. Find the essay prompt for your area of interest on the auditions page. The essay must be uploaded as a PDF to your status page. 
  • The College of Music application will request the names and email addresses of at least one person who will provide a letter of recommendation for you. This person should be a music teacher or someone familiar with your development as a musician.
  • When you submit the application, an email will automatically be sent to your recommender. Your recommender should submit the letter via the link in that email.
  • Letters of recommendation should be submitted prior to your audition/interview date, and no later than February 1.

Most programs require an audition. There are two ways to complete an audition: in-person (on a college-wide audition day) or remotely (by submitting a recording AND registering for a Zoom interview). Check out auditions for more information. 

  • If you choose to audition remotely, you must complete the following:
    • Register for a Zoom interview on one of the three college-wide audition days
    • Upload your recording to your status page no later than Feb. 1—preferably prior to your Zoom interview.
  • If you choose to audition in-person, you will be invited to register for your audition date/time beginning on Dec. 1. Voice, musical theatre, composition, music production  and songwriting applicants will be invited to register on Dec. 16 after pre-screening/portfolio reviews.
  • Music education and composition applicants will be invited to sign up for an interview time in addition to an audition time. Music production and songwriting applicants  will register for an interview only. 

Undergraduate admissions FAQ

Who are our students?

College of Music applicants should be able to read music using traditional notation and have experience in high school ensembles and/or private lessons. Our students come from all across the world. Incoming music students have an average unweighted high school GPA between 3.54 and 4.0.

To pursue a music degree at CU Boulder, you will need to complete two separate application processes: one through CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions and another for the College of Music. It’s important to remain in contact with both CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions and College of Music Admissions.

To be admitted to the College of Music, you must also be admitted to CU Boulder. If you are not admitted to the College of Music, you may still be admitted to CU Boulder and pursue a different major. 

Yes. Approximately 25% of our undergraduates are pursuing a double major outside music. To apply as a double major, select the non-music major as your primary interest on the Common App. You will see a question labeled “Do you wish to pursue music as a double major?” Check yes.

The composition (BM) and music production emphasis (BA) degrees do not require an instrumental audition. Instead, they require a portfolio and interview.

All other degree programs require an audition. Music education requires both an audition and interview. Check out the auditions page for your area of study. 

Yes. Music students undergo both a musical (audition or portfolio) review and an academic review.

Yes! We invite all CU Boulder students to make music a part of their college experience. We offer non-major options including electives, ensembles, a music minor, a music technology certificate and more—with no audition required. 

We’re here to help. Contact the College of Music admissions office at undergraduate.music@colorado.edu.