Estimated Expenses
The CSU Board of Governors reserves the right to increase tuition and fees at any time. All amounts below are estimated CSU tuition and fees, living and personal expenses, and expenses for dependents and presented in USD. These estimates may vary according to your living arrangements, major, marital status, and lifestyle.
Jul 19, 2023: We have updated the estimated expenses for dependents in 2023-2024.
Jul 12, 2023: We have updated this webpage to reflect our 2023-2024 estimated educational expenses for international students.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES TO ATTEND CSU 2023-2024
Estimated expenses are calculated using Cost of Attendance estimates from the Office of Financial Aid: https://financialaid.colostate.edu/cost-of-attendance/
We also use the Base Tuition & Fees charts: https://financialaid.colostate.edu/base-tuition/
For the most accurate estimate of the cost of your program, please refer to the CSU tuition calendar: http://tuition.colostate.edu/Main.aspx/
| Estimated Expenses for 2023-2024 | Non-Resident Tuition and Required Fees* | Living & Personal Expenses | Other Expenses (books, supplies, health insurance) | Total Estimated Funding Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $33,973 USD | $15,606 USD | $4,487 USD | $54,066 USD |
| Graduate (standard) | $32,636 USD | $14,679 USD | $4,007 USD | $51,322 USD |
| Graduate: Occupational Therapy, Addiction Counseling, or Prof. Science Masters in Natural Sciences | $34,136 USD | $14,679 USD | $4,007 USD | $52,822 USD |
| Graduate: College of Business | $36,292 USD | $14,679 USD | $4,007 USD | $54,978 USD |
| Graduate: Impact MBA | $43,981 USD | $14,679 USD | $4,007 USD | $62,667 USD |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) | $65,230 USD | $14,679 USD | $6,114 USD | $86,346 USD |
*Some departments and courses will charge additional fees. CSU assistantships do not yet cover 100% of fees, so students receiving CSU assistantships should budget accordingly.
| 2023-2024 Estimated Expenses for Dependent Family Members (Spouse/Children) Costs for dependents should be added to the totals above, as they apply** | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses for each dependent (spouse or child) | $9,500 USD | ||||
| Cap (someone bringing 3 or more dependents only needs to show this much for dependent expenses) | $28,500 USD |
**These are minimum estimated expenses required to get an immigration document from CSU.
Remember that this is an estimate only; actual expenses vary for different families, especially depending on the healthcare needs of that family. Please plan your budget according to your family’s needs.
Estimated Expenses for Graduate Students on Continuous Registration
| Tuition & Fees | Living Expenses | Health Insurance | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Months | $1071 USD | $19,752 USD | $1,676 USD | $22,499 USD |
| 9 Months | $714 USD | $14,679 USD | $1,676 USD | $17,069 USD |
| Fall 2023 | $357 USD | $7,340 USD | $817 USD | $8,514 USD |
| Spring 2024 | $357 USD | $7,340 USD | $859 USD | $8,556 USD |
| Summer 2024 | $357 USD | $5,073 USD | $0 (included in spring) | $5,430 USD |
CALCULATING YOUR COST OF ATTENDANCE
The estimated expenses are the minimum funding levels the average student needs in order to attend Colorado State University. We are only able to create an immigration document for you after you show the minimum funding level required. Your actual expenses at CSU will vary according to your living arrangements, major, and lifestyle. The CSU Board of Governors reserves the right to increase tuition and fees at any time.
Differential Tuition
Differential tuition is tuition charged to students according to the specific courses they take after they have reached 60 credit hours. The College of Business charges differential tuition after 30 credit hours.
Those 60 (or 30) credits include any credits the student transferred from a previous institution, such as credits obtained at one of our strategic partner universities.
Differential tuition is not assessed for any student who is classified as a freshman. Students who enter CSU with enough transfer credits to be classified as upperclassmen will be charged differential tuition in their first semester.
The average semester-long course at CSU is three credits. Most students at CSU will reach 60 credit hours in their third year of study. College of Business students generally reach 30 credit hours in their second year of study.
Please visit the Office of Financial Aid website for more information about differential tuition: https://financialaid.colostate.edu/differential-tuition/
Special Course and Program Fees
The tuition and fees estimates on the previous page are base tuition and fees for all students. Some classes and programs require additional special course and program fees. You can find additional information about those fees on the Office of Financial Aid website.
Assistantships do not cover fees. Students who are receiving assistantships from their academic departments are responsible for paying fees themselves.
*The Immigration Services Fee
This is a fee our office manages. From Fall 2023 onward, this fee will increase to $175 per semester, for a total of $350 between Fall 2023 & Spring 2024. This fee is charged to all F-1 and J-1 students for each semester they are enrolled, including summer if summer coursework/CR occurs. So if you enroll in anything during Fall, Spring, and Summer, you will be charged a total of $525. Learn more about this fee on our FAQ page.
| Estimated Fees for 2023-2024 | Graduate & PhD Students enrolled in 9 credits | Undergraduate Students enrolled in 12 credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Fees | $1,866 USD | $1,866 USD |
| University Technology Fee | $64 USD | $64 USD |
| University Facility Fee | $428 USD | $570 USD |
| University Alternative Transportation Fee | $68 USD | $68 USD |
| Immigration Services Fee* | $350 USD | $350 USD |
| Total Estimated Fees | $2,776 | $2,918 USD |