Is Colorado State University-Global Campus Legit?

Attending an online college is a wonderful alternative for non-traditional students who cannot go to a physical school. One available option is Colorado State University-Global Campus.

Colorado State University-Global Campus is a legitimate online school because the institution itself and its various degrees are regionally accredited. In addition, CSU Global is a part of the Colorado State University System, which consists of three separate campuses, one of which is online.

Because of diploma mills, many are terrified of the thought of earning an online degree.

If you are thinking about giving Colorado State University-Global Campus a try, read on. Below, you will come across just about every important matter you need to know about this online institution. After checking out this article, you will be able to decide so much better if attending it is worth your time and money.

Is Colorado State University – Global Campus Accredited?

Colorado State University-Global Campus is a fully accredited online school. Its accreditor is the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Because HLC is recognized by both the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), it is a legitimate accreditor.

Prior to applying to any online school, there is one very important step students have to make. And it’s none other than checking whether or not the institution is accredited.

But having just any accreditor is not enough — the accreditor should be legit and recognized.

Colorado State University – Global Campus’ accreditor, as earlier mentioned, is USDE- and CHEA-recognized. HLC accredits academic institutions located in the North Central region:

• Arkansas
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• New Mexico
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

To date, HLC has accredited over 1,300 degree-granting institutions in the US.

Is Colorado State University – Global Campus Regionally or Nationally Accredited?

Colorado State University-Global Campus is a regionally-accredited online school. That’s because its accreditor, HLC, is a regional accrediting institution. There are different benefits associated with attending a regionally-accredited school, whether physical or online, such as CSU Global.

Accredited colleges and universities have either regional accreditation or national accreditation.

Generally speaking, it’s a much better idea to go to a regionally-accredited school, especially online. That’s because the credits you will earn from it are more widely accepted and thus easily transferable.

So, in other words, should you decide to transfer from CSU Global to another regionally accredited school, be it a physical institution or also online, chances are that your earned credits will be honored.

Similarly, it’s very much likely for you to enjoy the same perks if you transfer to CSU Global from another regionally accredited school.

Is Colorado State University – Global Campus a Diploma Mill?

Because it is accredited by an accreditor that’s recognized by both USDE and CHEA, Colorado State University-Global Campus is not a diploma mill. The different online programs offered by CSU Global are all accredited, which is why the resulting degrees are valuable and accepted by employers.

Many students are wary of adding online schools to their college list for fear of ending up with a bogus degree.

The good news is that CSU Global is very far from being a diploma mill. That’s because it’s a fully accredited institution offering online degrees. What’s more, it’s not just any accredited school — it’s a regionally accredited school by an accreditor that the USDE and CHEA acknowledge as a legitimate and qualified agency.

As a matter of fact, according to a survey published by CareerBuilder.com, up to 83% of participating executives say that online degrees are just as credible as those earned through traditional campus-based programs.

But since it’s not a diploma mill, CSU Global will require you to work hard for your degree. Failure to get passing marks will keep you from graduating.

On the other hand, a diploma mill will not require you to read, study or memorize anything. Providing your credit card number will be the most laborious part of earning a bogus degree.

Related Article: How to Know If a College is a Diploma Mill [10 Signs]

Colorado State University – Global Campus Rankings

Colorado State University-Global Campus is #10 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by US News. It shares the spot with others like Pennsylvania State University – World Campus and the University of Georgia. CSU Global is #7 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by the same ranking site.

US News is arguably one of the most popular and respected college ranking sites out there.

Because it includes Colorado State University-Global Campus in its rankings, you can have peace of mind that the online school is legitimate. It can also serve as an assurance that employers recognize degrees earned from it.

Other rankings of CSU Global by US News include:

• #11 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs
• #13 in Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans
• #18 in Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs
• #39 in Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs

What is CSU – Global Campus Known For?

Colorado State University-Global Campus is known for being the online campus of the Colorado State University System. Also, according to the institution itself, it’s considered the first and only regionally accredited public online university. Its online programs are top-ranked and career-relevant.

The most popular degrees at CSU Global are in the following order:

DEGREE	NUMBER OF GRADUATES
Business Management	496
Human Resource Management	358
Information Technology	316
Accounting	253
Healthcare Administration and Management	186
Management Information Systems and Business Analytics	123
Marketing	115
Criminal Justice	74
Human Services	67

Earlier, we established the fact that CSU Global is accredited by a USDE- and CHEA-recognized accreditor. This means that it’s not a diploma mill and the academic programs it offers are legit.

Being an online school offering accredited online degrees that are cheaper and more convenient to earn, CSU Global tends to attract a lot of non-traditional students. No matter if you have regular work to attend to or a family to look after, you could be one of the 18,000 students of the online school.

We will talk about the school’s student demographics in a few, so don’t stop reading now!

Acceptance Rate at CSU – Global Campus

Almost all applicants get admitted into Colorado State University-Global Campus. With an acceptance rate of 99%, the online school is one of the least selective institutions in the US and across the globe. A high school diploma or an equivalent is the most important admissions requirement.

When shortlisting institutions, especially match and safety schools, it’s a must to check out the acceptance rate beforehand. For most college-bound kids, any college or university with an acceptance rate of less than 20% is a reach school.

You can add CSU Global to your college list as either a match or safety school because of its high acceptance rate, which makes practically anyone who applies to it end up getting an acceptance letter. Of course, for that to happen, it’s important to meet the minimum requirements, such as having a high school diploma or a GED certificate.

Refrain from assuming that CSU Global is not a good online school for having a 99% acceptance rate.

Because it is a regionally accredited institution, CSU Global offers legitimate programs. And because it is a part of the Colorado State University System, CSU Global degrees are valuable and respected by employers.

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Colorado State University – Global Campus?

Like many colleges and universities, Colorado State University-Global Campus does not have a published minimum GPA requirement. However, it appears that the average GPA of accepted students is 3.15. This means that it’s a good idea for applicants to have a GPA that’s as close to 3.15 as possible.

When it comes to applying to a selective school, most of the time, having a high GPA matters a lot.

It’s a good thing that your chances of getting admitted into CSU Global are high even if your GPA is not one of the highest in your high school class.

As mentioned earlier, the average high school GPA of admits is 3.15, which is slightly higher than what’s considered the national average GPA of high school graduates: 3.0.

According to the College Board’s website, the average composite SAT score of students accepted into CSU Global ranges from 950 to 1140. On the other hand, the average ACT score of admits ranges from 17 to 22.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to Colorado State University – Global Campus?

The cost of attending Colorado State University – Global Campus range from $8,400 to $9,000. It depends on whether the student is taking an undergraduate or graduate program. The cost of an undergraduate program at CSU Global is $350 per credit. The cost of a graduate program is $500 per credit.

Whether applying to a physical or online school, the cost of attendance is an important consideration.

Generally speaking, it’s much cheaper to earn a degree online than in the traditional fashion. That’s because many of the expenses associated with going to a physical campus are eliminated, from transportation to room and board.

Needless to say, completing an online program from CSU Global is easier on the pocket than completing a traditional program from its physical campus or most other campuses. But despite being a public institution, online students at CSU Global pay the same — there are no such things as in-state and out-of-state costs.

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of attending CSU Global for one year:

EXPENSES	UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE	GRADUATE DEGREE
Cost per credit	$350	$500
Fees	$0	$0
TOTAL	$8,400 (24 credits)	$9,000 (18 credits)

And now, here’s how much earning a degree at CSU Global costs:

Undergraduate degree:

• Estimated with 90 transfer credits: $10,500
• Estimated with 60 transfer credits: $21,000
• Estimated with 30 transfer credits: $31,500

Graduate degree:

• Standard 36-credit program: $18,000
• Provisional 39-credit program: $19,500
• 60-credit Military and First Responder Psychology program: $30,000

What Kind of Students Attend CSU Global?

A vast majority of students earning an online degree from Colorado State University-Global Campus are non-traditional. Only around 11% of attendees are of traditional student age. Gender-wise, most of its students are females. On the other hand, race-wise, most of its students are white.

Online schools tend to attract non-traditional students, including those who are already working or have families. Also included are those who did not earn a standard high school diploma but an equivalent.

Students 24 years of age and older are considered non-traditional, too.

True enough, most of the students at CSU Global are students that fall under the non-traditional category. Based on age alone, it’s obvious that a great majority of those completing a degree from an online school are non-traditional students.

Just take a look at the following demographics based on age:

AGE GROUP	PERCENTAGE
35 and over	43%
30 to 34	22%
25 to 29	24%
22 to 24	9%
20 to 21	2%

And now, let’s take a peek at the student demographics based on race or ethnicity:

RACE/ETHNICITY	PERCENTAGE
White	65.80%
Hispanic	14.30%
African-American	8.40%
Asian	5.30%
Multi-ethnic	3.20%
Unknown	2.20%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	0.60%
International	0.20%

How Much Do Colorado State University – Global Campus Graduates Make?

According to the website of Colorado State University-Global Campus, those with an undergraduate degree earn an average of $54,145 annually a year after graduating from CSU Global. On the other hand, those with a graduate degree earn an average of $63,407 annually a year after graduating.

Because CSU Global is a fully accredited online school and also a part of the Colorado State University System, a degree earned from the institution can help increase a graduate’s job market value.

As a matter of fact, just a year after graduation, alumni members are said to earn more than average.

For instance, one year post-degree, it is said that people with an undergraduate degree from CSU Global make $54,145 per year. That’s 47% higher than the median annual income in the same career fields.

The figures, says the CSU Global Campus website, comes from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) itself.

Meanwhile, those with a graduate degree from CSU Global make $63,407 a year, which is 25% higher than the median annual incomes in the same career fields.

Degrees Offered at CSU – Global Campus

As of this writing, there are a total of 15 online undergraduate degrees Colorado State University – Global Campus offers. Similarly, there are also a total of 15 online graduate degrees available from CSU Global. Since the online school is accredited, its online degrees are all accredited, too.

Colorado State University offers almost 300 degree programs. They include over 70 majors with 140 concentrations and 80 minors. Due to this, students can create their personalized academic path.

Unfortunately, programs available from CSU Global are not as plenty.

Students interested to earn a degree from the online school have a total of 30 degrees to choose from — 15 undergraduate degrees and 15 graduate degrees. So, in other words, there is a possibility that the online degree you would like to have isn’t being offered at CSU Global.

Planning to apply to CSU Global? Here are the online degree programs to choose from:

Online bachelor’s degree programs

• Accounting
• Business Management
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Cybersecurity
• Finance
• Healthcare Administration and Management
• Human Resource Management
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Interdisciplinary Professional Studies
• Management Information Systems and Business Analytics
• Marketing
• Organizational Leadership
• Project Management

Online graduate degree programs

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
• Criminal Justice
• Data Analytics
• Finance
• Healthcare Administration
• Human Resource Management
• Information Technology Management
• Management
• Military and Emergency Responder Psychology
• Nursing
• Organizational Leadership
• Organizational Leadership – Executive Express Path
• Professional Accounting
• Project Management
• Teaching and Learning

How Does Colorado State University – Global Campus Fare Compared to Others?

Colorado State University – Global Campus is one of the few highly ranked online schools based in the US. Compared to other good online schools, there are many instances in which CSU Global is the better option. Before choosing the school, one must consider comparing it with similar institutions.

Wondering how CSU Global fares against other online schools? Let the following give you an idea:

• CSU Global vs. Western Governors University. Both CSU Global and WGU are regionally accredited online schools. Their acceptance rates are practically the same, too — 99% vs. 100%.

• CSU Global vs. Liberty University. Unlike CSU Global, Liberty University also offers traditional degrees. But keep in mind that CSU Global is part of the Colorado State University System that offers on-campus classes.

• CSU Global vs. Capella University. Capella University offers both online and traditional degrees, while CSU Global offers online degrees only. However, Capella is a for-profit school, which means it’s costlier.

• CSU Global vs. Strayer University. The acceptance rates at CSU Global and Strayer University are practically the same — 99% vs. 100%. However, Strayer offers face-to-face classes, too.

• CSU Global vs. Purdue University Global. Many things are shared in common by CSU Global and Purdue University Global. For instance, both are regionally accredited online schools and offer online degrees only.

Just Before You Apply to Colorado State University – Global Campus

Not all online schools are the same. While some are diploma mills, others are legitimate online colleges and universities offering degrees that are worth something. So, in other words, students who have graduated from them can come up with a resume that employers will accept and respect.

Loved what you just read about Colorado State University-Global Campus?

Then feel free to add it to your college list. But while it is definitely a legit online school, keep in mind that online learning is not for all students. Make sure that you can also handle the challenges and rigors associated with earning a degree online as you enjoy the many perks that come with it.

Related Article: Best Online Colleges in the US