Admissions
Getting in, fall 2026
Colorado admits about 1 in 5 applicants (18%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 96% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (18% and 19%).
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
Colorado applicants were admitted at 19%, applicants from other states at 31%, and international applicants at 6.9%.
All applicants in the same class: 22%
Of those admitted, 30% from Colorado enrolled, against 26% from other states and 23% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
30% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 400 offered a place, 90 accepted, 20 admitted (22% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 36% admitted
272 of 764 early applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 1
Second round: apply by Jan 15; decisions by Feb 12
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Jan 8
Where you stand
How Colorado reads a record
and GPA are both important; class rank and tests are both considered. 68% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 28% of first-years sent an SAT and 12% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 23% whose high school reported a rank, 58% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
41% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 18% of first-year applicants
177 applied · 72 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 12 c completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by March 1, decisions by April 15, reply by May 1
- Spring entry: apply by October 15, decisions by December 1, reply by December 8
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by March 12.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $0 housing deposit.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: Two years.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.93
From the 87% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.044%
- 3.75–3.9923%
- 3.50–3.7419%
- 3.25–3.4910%
- 3.00–3.243%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 44.4% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 23.2% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 18.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 9.7% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 3.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
58% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 86% in the top quarter, of the 23% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Colorado College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1345 on the SAT, 175 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
34% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
69% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
46% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
28% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
66% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
53% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 28% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 12% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
140 studentssubmitted ACT
62 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Colorado College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Colorado College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Colorado College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Colorado College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Colorado College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)