Colorado State University announced an agreement Aug. 10 with Denver Public Schools that will guarantee admission to its Fort Collins campus for qualifying high school seniors.
According to CSU SOURCE, the agreement will grant admission to seniors with a 3.0 grade point average or higher, with CSU Global also offering guaranteed admission and reduced tuition rates. CSU Pueblo will also be extending their direct admission program to DPS seniors, a program that automatically accepts qualifying seniors with a 2.3 GPA or higher and does not require a traditional college application or fee.
CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank told SOURCE the agreement will make higher education more accessible for students from all backgrounds in the years to come.
“CSU was founded in the 19th century to open the doors to a university education to talented people from all walks of life, and that’s exactly what this partnership does,” CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank said to SOURCE. “We’re proud that all three of our CSU campuses continue to look for bold and groundbreaking ways to uphold that critical access mission in the 21st century.”
DPS is the largest school district in Colorado, serving nearly 90,000 students across 193 schools. In an email statement to The Collegian, Heather Daniels, director of admissions at CSU, said the agreement expands upon an already existing relationship between CSU and DPS, bringing new opportunities for collaboration between the institutions.
“CSU already works very closely with DPS, and we enroll a lot of students from this very important district,” Daniels said. “Establishing a guaranteed admission program with them just furthers the partnership.”
In a statement provided to The Collegian, DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero said the partnership will allow every student at DPS a chance to pursue their goals, opening up new opportunities and pathways following graduation.
“Every student deserves a clear pathway to achieve their dreams after high school,” Marrero said. “This partnership with Colorado State University expands opportunities for our students to access higher education, remove barriers and thrive in college and beyond. We are grateful to CSU for investing in the future of Denver’s students.”
Scott Pribble, director of external communications for DPS, said in an email statement the partnership provides students with knowledge of their options beyond high school early on in their academic careers.
“This agreement removes the traditional friction, anxiety and financial costs of applying to college, giving qualifying seniors an assured pathway early in the school year,” Pribble said. “Guaranteed acceptance provides a boost of confidence for first-generation students and allows them to change mindsets from ‘Am I good enough to go?’ to ‘I am already accepted.’”
Daniels agreed, emphasizing that the agreement provides realistic options for students and eliminates the traditional anxiety of college admissions.
“They know that if they meet the GPA requirement, they will have a spot in the class,” Daniels said. “This removes barriers and helps students successfully navigate high school knowing what options they will have once they graduate. CSU can be a realistic next step for students, without the worry or concern if they can be admitted through the admissions process during their senior year.”
Pribble also acknowledged the agreement eliminates barriers that often discourage qualified students from pursuing higher education, making high-quality education more accessible and affordable.
“The agreement addresses documented state and national trends where fear of rejection, application complexity and perceived cost discourage qualified high school graduates, particularly first-generation and underrepresented students, from applying to four-year institutions,” Pribble said. “We are proud to partner with a wonderful school like CSU to provide an opportunity for students to continue their education.”
The partnership officially took effect in August, giving every student at DPS in the class of 2027 and beyond the chance to attend CSU.
Reach Claire VanDeventer at news@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
