Colorado State University

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related technical field required. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) required for regular admission; students with 2.5–2.99 GPA may be considered for provisional admission. Calculus through multivariable calculus and linear algebra required; discrete mathematics, data structures, and algorithms recommended. GRE General Test: department policy varies—check current CSU Computer Science graduate admissions page. International applicants: TOEFL 80 iBT (550 paper) or IELTS 6.5 minimum. Application deadlines: February 1 (fall priority); rolling thereafter.

About This Program

Colorado State University's MS in Computer Science is offered at the main Fort Collins campus by a department that spans systems, theory, human-computer interaction, bioinformatics, and machine learning research. Fort Collins sits in a growing technology cluster anchored by hardware, clean-tech, and cloud computing employers, and the program benefits from proximity to the Denver-Boulder metro corridor. Both thesis and non-thesis tracks are available, making the program accessible for students targeting research careers and industry-focused professionals alike.

Career Outcomes

Thesis or non-thesis 30-credit MSCS at Colorado State University in Fort Collins with specialization tracks in AI/ML, computer graphics, HCI, bioinformatics, and parallel computing—located in a growing Northern Colorado tech corridor.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. ML / AI Engineer
• 3. Data Scientist
• 4. Research Scientist
• 5. Systems Engineer

What You'll Learn

• Complete 30 credits with at least 18 at the 600 level, building depth in algorithms, theory, and systems.
• Specialize through electives in AI, machine learning, computer graphics, HCI, or computational biology.
• Pursue the thesis track with independent research and oral defense, or the non-thesis track with a comprehensive exam.
• Develop applied skills relevant to Northern Colorado's growing tech sector and the broader Denver-Boulder corridor.

Curriculum Highlights

The MS in Computer Science at Colorado State University is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Natural Sciences in Fort Collins, CO. The program requires 30 credit hours. The thesis track (Plan A) requires a minimum of 24 course credits plus 6 thesis credits (CS 699), culminating in an oral defense before a graduate committee. The non-thesis track (Plan B) requires 30 course credits plus passing a written comprehensive examination covering the student's program of study. All students must complete approved CS graduate coursework; at least 18 credits must be at the 600-level. Core areas include algorithms, theory of computation, operating systems, programming languages, computer architecture, and electives in AI, machine learning, computer graphics, human-computer interaction, computational biology, and parallel/distributed computing. Catalog: catalog.colostate.edu.

Top Employers

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (Fort Collins campus), Woodward, Broadcom, Spirent Communications, Colorado state government tech agencies, Denver-Boulder metro technology companies; verify current employer engagement through CSU Career Center.

Admissions

Bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related technical field required. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) required for regular admission; students with 2.5–2.99 GPA may be considered for provisional admission. Calculus through multivariable calculus and linear algebra required; discrete mathematics, data structures, and algorithms recommended. GRE General Test: department policy varies—check current CSU Computer Science graduate admissions page. International applicants: TOEFL 80 iBT (550 paper) or IELTS 6.5 minimum. Application deadlines: February 1 (fall priority); rolling thereafter.

Application Materials

• Official Transcripts: Required from all colleges/universities attended
• Statement of Purpose: Required (describe research interests and career goals)
• Letters of Recommendation: Three required
• CV/Resume: Required
• GRE General Test: Verify current requirement at grad.colostate.edu
• English Proficiency: TOEFL 80+ iBT or IELTS 6.5+ for international applicants
• Application: Via CSU Graduate School portal

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's in CS or related; minimum 3.0 GPA
• Prerequisite Coursework: Calculus, linear algebra, data structures, algorithms
• GRE/GMAT: Verify current policy with CS department
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international applicants (TOEFL 80+ iBT)