University Of Colorado Boulder Application Priority Dates and Admission Notification
Applications for degree candidates may be submitted beginning in August for the following spring, summer and fall terms.
The university reserves the right to deny admission to applicants whose total credentials reflect an inability to assume those obligations of performance and behavior deemed essential by the university and relevant to any of its lawful missions, processes and functions as an educational institution.
First-Year Applicants
Students can apply to CU Boulder using the Common Application. All students will be reviewed in the order their application file is completed (application is submitted and all required documents are received and official).
Spring First-Year Applicants
Spring applications are processed on a rolling basis. The Office of Admissions begins notifying applicants about admission decisions in October. Decisions are made approximately six to eight weeks after an application is complete. Full consideration is given to applications that are complete (including the application fee and all required credentials) by the Oct. 1 deadline.
Summer and Fall First-Year Applicants
There are two admission notification periods for fall and summer candidates.
Non-Binding Early Action
First-year applicants who complete their file by Nov. 15 are guaranteed early action and will receive an admission decision on or before Feb. 1.
Students meeting the non-binding, early action deadline may be admitted, postponed or denied admission. Postponed students will receive an additional review and are strongly encouraged to submit additional academic information to strengthen their applications. Students who are postponed do not typically receive an admission decision until April 1.
Early action students are not required to enroll at CU Boulder, but should, if they choose to attend, confirm their intent to enroll by May 1.
Regular Decision Application Deadline
The first-year regular decision application deadline is Jan. 15. All applicants with completed files by Jan. 15 will be notified of their admission decision no later than April 1.
Students should, if they choose to attend, confirm their intent to enroll by May 1.
Transfer Applicants
If a student submits a complete application on or before the transfer application deadline, they will receive an admission decision within six to eight weeks. A complete application includes test scores (if you have less than 24 college credit hours post high school graduation), transcripts (high school and college), personal statement and application fee.
Transfer Application Deadlines
- Spring Term: Oct. 1
- Summer Term: March 15
- Fall Term Early Notification: March 15
- Fall Term Regular Decision: June 1
Applications are processed in the order in which they are received and completed. The earlier a complete application is submitted, the earlier a decision will be made.
Where to Send the Application, Fee and Credentials
Materials that cannot be submitted electronically, may be mailed to:
Office of Admissions
Regent Administrative Center 125
University of Colorado Boulder
552 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0552
Mailing Address
Applicants must keep their mailing address current at all times. It is used for mailings until the applicant arrives on campus. Notices are also sent to this address regarding admission, registration and New Student Welcome, as well as other information. If an address changes or is no longer valid, notify the Office of Admissions immediately at 303-492-6301.
Application Checklist
- Online application for admission
- $50 nonrefundable ($70 USD for international students) application fee, payable online (if a student cannot pay the fee online, contact the Office of Admission at at 303-492-6301 or at admissions@colorado.edu)
- Official high school transcript
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- SAT or ACT test scores (optional)
- Two personal essays (first-year applicants) or one personal statement (transfer applicants)
- Letter of recommendation (first-year applicants only)
- Résumé or activities list (optional)
Confirmation Procedures
All admitted students are encouraged to confirm their intent to enroll through their application status page as soon as possible after receiving their admission notification. If a student cannot confirm their intent to enroll through their application status page, they must contact the Office of Admissions at 303-492-6301 or at admissions@colorado.edu.
Confirmation Deadlines
- First-Year Students
- Summer: May 1
- Fall: May 1
- Spring: Dec. 1
- Transfers: varies; see confirmation instructions on application status page
If students register for classes and then decide not to attend, they may be assessed tuition depending upon the circumstances. For spring and fall semester policies, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Withdraw from CU web page; for summer, visit Summer Session’s Withdrawal web page. Important policy differences exist for continuing students versus new, readmitted and transfer students.
The confirmation deposits are used as registration deposits each semester as long as registration is completed by the published deadline. Once students have attended CU Boulder, the deposit (minus any fees or other charges owed) will be returned when they graduate or officially withdraw from the university according to established deadlines.
Application Fees
Nonrefundable Application Fee ($50/$70 for international students)
University of Colorado Boulder Application
Pay online when submitting the application or by check or money order (made payable to the University of Colorado) after submission. If submitting a check or money order, include the student’s full legal name and birth date. We recognize that some students may be faced with financial constraints in paying the application fee. Waivers can be granted for documented hardships if the student submits an application fee waiver form.
Common Application
Pay online when submitting the application. We recognize that some students may be faced with financial constraints in paying the application fee. Waivers can be granted for documented hardships if the student submits an application fee waiver form.
Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at another University of Colorado campus who are applying to an undergraduate degree program on the Boulder campus are not required to pay the application fee.
Required Credentials
Credentials or information sent by fax cannot be accepted as official documentation. Do not submit samples or photographs of design or artwork. A portfolio is not used for admission purposes and cannot be returned.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the issuing institution and must have the appropriate seals and signatures.
Other transcripts are not considered official. Transcripts that are marked, for example, “student copy,” “issued to student” or “unofficial” are not accepted as official.
Unofficial transcripts cannot be used for admission or transfer credit purposes.
High School Transcript
Students should request that their high school send an official transcript of all work completed, beginning with grade 9, directly to the Office of Admissions, regardless of the number of college hours the student has completed (if any) or the date of graduation from high school.
Students who have attended more than one high school and whose most recent transcript does not include the complete high school record must submit official transcripts from each school.
If any part of the high school record is missing from the transcript, the processing of the application will be delayed.
Students who have not graduated and do not plan to graduate from high school must request an official certificate of high school equivalency and official GED scores, plus an official transcript of any high school work (grades 9–12) completed, to be sent to the Office of Admissions.
Official transcripts must be sent to the Office of Admissions from the issuing institution either via email to transcripts@colorado.edu or by mail and must have the appropriate seals and signatures. All credentials written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a literal certified English translation.
College Transcripts
Students should request that their official transcripts from each collegiate institution attended (except any campus of the University of Colorado) be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Office of Admissions. Be sure to include all institutions, regardless of the length of attendance, whether or not courses were completed and whether or not the record might affect admission or transfer credit. Also include any institutions attended during summers, interim terms and during high school.
Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended before enrolling at CU Boulder is considered a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of admission or dismissal from the university.
SAT or ACT Test Scores
CU Boulder requires all first-year and transfer students (including U.S. citizens attending high school or college outside of the U.S) with fewer than 24 credits completed to submit an official score report for either the SAT or the ACT. International students only need to submit an SAT or ACT if they are graduating from a U.S. high school or wish to be considered for merit scholarships.
CU Boulder’s SAT code is 4841 and the ACT code is 0532.
Scores will be considered official if submitted electronically by the testing agency or if they are included on your official high school transcript.
The student’s highest scores are used in the admission decision. If a student takes the same test more than once, we combine their highest score from each subsection to give them the highest overall score. Results from SAT or ACT tests taken in December or later may not be received in time if the student wishes to be considered for summer or fall admission of the following year.
For further information:
- consult a high school counselor
- visit the SAT website, call 609-771-7600 or write to the College Board (SAT), P.O. Box 6200, Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
- visit the ACT website, call 319-337-1270 or write to ACT Registration, P.O. Box 414, Iowa City, IA 52243-0414
Personal Essays
CU Boulder requires first-year applicants to submit two short personal essays and transfer applicants to submit one personal statement. Applications without essays are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Personal essays are the best way for the Office of Admissions to learn about applicants as individuals and to evaluate a student’s academic performance within the appropriate context. There are no “correct” answers to the questions—responses should reflect the unique aspects and experiences of the applicant. The specific essay questions are available on the application.
Letters of Recommendation
One academic letter of recommendation will be required for all first-year applicants. The student’s full legal name should be included at the top of recommendation letters.
Optional Documents
Applicants may submit additional letters of recommendation if they wish, however, doing so is optional. Applicants may also choose to submit a resume or list of co-curricular activities, work experience, leadership positions and awards.
College of Music applicants must also complete a College of Music application after their admission application has been submitted, provide a letter of reference and schedule an audition.