Frequently Asked Questions

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications to the on-campus delivery program are due by December 1.

Applications to the online delivery program are accepted each semester.  Online application deadlines are:

  • Summer semester – February 15
  • Fall semester – June 1
  • Spring semester – October 15

All application materials will be submitted through the Colorado State University graduate application.

Official transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions (use institution code 4075).  Any transcripts that must be submitted in hard copy should be mailed to:

Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO  80523-1062

Yes, applicants from other graduate programs are welcome to apply for assistantships. If you are not applying to the Student Affairs in Higher Education degree program, there is an Assistantship Application you need to complete. This application is due by April 1 each year.

Please note, admitted Student Affairs in Higher Education graduate students have first priority for all Student Affairs assistantships. Interviews with graduate students from other programs will occur after all Student Affairs in Higher Education students have been placed (mid-April).

Absolutely! You can learn more and register on our Visit Days page.

Yes! The program welcomes international students. International applicants must submit official transcripts and related certificates, diplomas, or degrees in the native language. Records written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

International credentials will be converted to a U.S. grading scale. TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE English proficiency scores are required if you have not earned a degree at an English-speaking university or if the official language of your country is anything other than English. Official scores must be reported to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075) before the application deadline.

Minimum English Proficiency Scores:
TOEFL (paper based): 550
TOEFL (interest based): 80
IELTS: 6.5
PTE: 58

We do not use a specific form for letters of recommendation. These letters need to comment on the applicant’s ability to do graduate work and student affairs professional practice. When completing the Colorado State University admissions application, you will provide contact information for your references.  Your references will be contacted with instructions for submitting their recommendation.

Due to the nature of the on-campus program, we only accept applicants for the start of the following fall semester.  Applications to the online program are accepted each semester and reviewed on a rolling basis until the final application deadline is reached.

Most purpose statements are 2-3 double-spaced pages.

Transcripts from dual-enrollment high school credit and study abroad credit are not required.  Please contact the Office of Admissions (link to: gradadmissions@colostate.edu) to clear these schools from your application checklist.

Official transcripts for all other college credit are required, regardless of the number of credits earned.  If you earned transfer credit from another institution and this credit is reflected on your degree-granting institutions transcript, and official transcript from the original institution is still required to complete your application.

In order to complete your application, transcripts must be received by the application deadline. It is alright if your transcripts do not include final grades for the current semester. If you are selected for admission you will be asked to submit a final transcript once your degree is conferred.

Yes, you can revise your materials online any time before submitting your application.  Once you have reviewed your application and click the “Submit Application” button,  your application will be finalized and cannot be further revised.

Once you have reviewed and uploaded your final purpose statement, resume, and supplemental application questions, you are ready to submit your application.  Transcripts and recommendation letters do not need to be received before submitting your application.  The Office of Admissions staff will add these materials to your application as they arrive.  Remember, your application must be submitted and all materials by the application deadline.

Assistantship Information

Students are not required to have an assistantship, though they are strongly encouraged for students enrolled in the on-campus program. Unfortunately, online students are not eligible for assistantship positions.

Assistantships allow for application of academic gains to practical experiences. All 20-25 hour/week assistantships cover student tuition and provide a monthly stipend. View more information on assistantships at our Assistantship Information webpage.

There are many ways to be involved at Colorado State University. Students have chosen to advise student groups, join committees, participate in recreational sports, and seek out other professional opportunities. Students are also required to complete one, sixty hour practicum experience outside of assistantships.

Previous to arriving on campus, candidates will fill out an interest form indicating their preferences for assistantship interviews.  When scheduling assistantship interviews, your preferences will be taken into consideration to ensure you will interview with three of your preferred assistantships. We encourage you to conduct preliminary research on all of the offices you preference prior to arriving on campus.

When you arrive on campus, your packet of materials will include a schedule for assistantship interviews.

The interviews afford the opportunity to meet staff from all available assistantships, and sign-up for additional interviews should your schedule allow. Interviews are dedicated to individual meetings with supervisors.  The day concludes with post-interview assistantship rankings.

As candidates are invited to interview on-campus for admittance to the program, they will also interview for assistantship opportunities. Candidates will have an opportunity to preference available assistantships both before and after interviews to indicate their interest. Upon admittance to the program, assistantship supervisors use preference information to make mutually beneficial placements into assistantships.

Applicants to the Student Affairs in Higher Education master’s degree program are automatically considered for open assistantship positions; a separate application is not required.

Assistantships range from 20-25 hours per week. These assistantships allow students to focus on academic coursework and take advantage of other professional opportunities. Please note, not all positions may be available in a given year, and general responsibilities may shift as programs develop through the academic year.

Assistantships are offered for a 9-10 month period during the academic year (August to May). Some positions require summer employment, which will be compensated through a separate contract and remuneration. Please see individual position descriptions for more detailed information.

The Graduate School Assistantship Resources website provides helpful assistantship information, including minimum stipend guidelines.

The Student Affairs in Higher Education program and the Colorado State University Graduate School, and assistantship department will cover the cost of out-of-state tuition for non-residents for the first year.  In order to the assistantship to continue covering tuition costs, non-resident students will be asked to gain Colorado residency for the second year.

Program Information

The GRE is not required for admission.

Students earn a Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Our Program Chair is a scholar/practitioner faculty member who has been a practitioner in higher education administration for over 20 years. All of the other teaching faculty are also current practitioners in the field.

Students publish the Journal of Student Affairs with recent research from faculty, alumni, and students. Students are not required to write a thesis or professional paper, and instead complete a portfolio that assesses their professional knowledge and practice competencies.

Our students come to the program with varied experiences. Some of the students in our program are directly from their undergraduate experience, in which they have had student affairs experience. Other students have worked as professionals in student affairs or related fields and are returning to school to earn their master’s degree.