Colorado State University System campuses are reporting growth in several populations central to their access missions and improvement in key student success measures for fall 2026 enrollment.
“The Colorado State University System continues to focus on providing access to an outstanding education to students from all walks of life, and our enrollment numbers reflect that demand, which is wonderful news,” CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank said. “At the same time, we are seeing very real impacts from such trends as the downturn in international enrollment, which has been a hallmark, particularly of our flagship campus, for more than a century. We are working hard to balance enrollment demand and costs to keep a CSU education affordable to Coloradans.”
At CSU in Fort Collins, increases were seen in undergraduate enrollment for Colorado students, including the size of the incoming class, the number of students from rural school districts, and first-generation undergraduates. CSU Pueblo recorded growth in Regional In-State Equivalent, rural and Pell-eligible enrollment, as well as stronger persistence data for students heading into their second year of college. CSU Global continues to serve working adults through flexible online programs, with significant increases in final fall enrollment and new student enrollment.
Colorado State University
CSU welcomed more than 5,400 new students, along with approximately 1,300 transfer students. Resident enrollment among new on-campus undergraduates increased 2.8%. Approximately one-third of students in the incoming cohort are first-generation students, and approximately one-third identify as racially minoritized.
CSU saw growth in several priority areas. Resident undergraduate enrollment increased 0.8%; enrollment among rural Colorado undergraduates increased 3.3% to over 1,500 students; and first-generation undergraduate enrollment increased 3.5% to more than 6,800 students.
Coming off a record number of graduates last year, CSU enrolled 33,461 total students this fall, a 2.8% decrease from fall 2025. Undergraduate enrollment declined 2.5% to 26,175, while graduate enrollment declined 4.2% to 6,640.
The overall decline reflects several factors, including strengthening graduation rates, graduation of large recent classes, smaller nonresident cohorts in recent years and continued pressure on international enrollment, which fell 7.7% among undergraduates and 13.4% among graduate students.
“Providing access to an excellent education for students across the state is central to our mission as Colorado’s only land-grant university. We are excited to have a record number of Colorado students in this year’s incoming class, along with growth in rural and first-generation students,” said Amy Parsons, president of CSU. “CSU is also graduating more students sooner, with gains in both four- and six-year graduation rates. This is positive news for students and their families. And though these gains contributed to lower overall enrollment this semester, higher graduation rates signal the kind of student success we want to see. Taken together, these results show strengths to build on in the coming year as we work hard to expand access and support our students through graduation.”
Four CSU colleges increased total enrollment from last year: the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. Enrollment in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program rose 3% to 627 students.
Colorado State University Pueblo
CSU Pueblo posted gains among several student populations central to its mission. Rural enrollment increased 10% while the number of Pell-eligible students grew 4%. First-generation students now represent 34% of enrollment, up from 33% last year, while students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups remained steady at 52%.
CSU Pueblo enrolled 3,761 students this fall, a 2% decrease from fall 2025. At the same time, the university saw strong growth in key strategic areas. Enrollment through the Regional In-State Equivalent (RISE) program, a strategic initiative designed to expand CSU Pueblo’s reach into targeted markets, increased 44% among new and continuing students. Student success indicators also continued to improve, with first-spring persistence among first-time, full-time students increasing from 83.2% to 86.5%.
“CSU Pueblo’s mission is not simply to provide access to higher education, but to support students through graduation and into meaningful careers,” said CSU Pueblo President Rhonda Epper. “We are encouraged by the growth in Regional In-State Equivalent (RISE) enrollment and among rural and Pell-eligible students, along with improvements in student persistence. Our goal is to build on that progress – growing new student pipelines while supporting our existing students to degree completion and into good jobs.”
CSU Global
CSU Global is a fully accredited online university designed for adult learners balancing education with other personal and professional responsibilities. The university offers rolling monthly start dates. Its fall reporting period includes students who began during the July, August and September start dates, consistent with last year’s reporting.
In the first three months of the fall trimester, CSU Global welcomed 2,330 new students, an increase of over 15% from the previous year. There was a 9.1% increase in new undergraduate students.
The Fall A, B and C terms served 13,725 active students across undergraduate and graduate programs and non-degree pathways, a 3.7% increase from last year.
Over 40% of students identify as members of racially minoritized groups and more than 49% are age 35 or older.
“Our enrollment numbers reflect the ongoing demand for high-quality, flexible online education that directly drives workforce success,” said Dr. Audra Spicer, CSU Global interim president and CEO. “CSU Global is proud to support thousands of students as they balance their academic pursuits with career and family obligations. Our enrolled students are taking a critical step toward better career prospects, and we are committed to providing industry-aligned programs and personalized support that helps people from their first course through graduation and beyond.”