Adams State University Partnership
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University
Earn a highly sought-after Colorado State University mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree from the Adams State University campus in Alamosa, Colorado.
Available beginning Fall 2022, students in the San Luis Valley can stay close to home and still earn a coveted CSU degree. Classes, lab experience, and student life will all happen on the beautiful Adams State University campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration for Fall 2022 courses will be available soon on ASU and CSU websites. Our Frequently Asked Questions below answer many questions we’ve received, and staff from both ASU and CSU can help with other questions you may have.
Academic and General Questions
Colorado State University and Adams State University have developed a partnership to offer a CSU mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree at Adams State (same degree as the one at CSU-Fort Collins, different location).
Yes. Students completing the program will receive a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from CSU.
At this time, the degree does not have an accreditation, as ABET requires students to graduate from the program before the accreditation is pursued. Therefore, we will apply for ABET accreditation after the first cohort of students graduates from the program.
The degree is delivered in its entirety on the ASU campus in Alamosa, Colorado.
ASU will provide all lower-division coursework (100- and 200-level) for the first two years. CSU faculty based in Alamosa will deliver all upper-division coursework (300- and 400-level) for the last two years. A small number of courses, such as senior technical electives, may be offered remotely.
A total of 129 credits are required to complete the degree, specifically 78 lower division credits and 51 upper division credits.
A program-specific advisor will support students throughout the entirety of the program, both while they’re an ASU student and as a CSU student.
Tutoring for courses delivered by ASU will be available through ASU tutoring options. CSU will provide tutoring for its courses.
Yes. The program will be delivered in renovated classrooms and labs that are designed for engineering students and classes.
You will have access to both ASU and CSU resources, although some resources may be available only through one institution or the other. We will make sure students know how and where to access the resources they need.
There are currently several STEM-affiliated clubs and STEM-oriented student support programs. Students can join the chemistry club or the student chapter of SACNAS. We expect to develop a club specific to engineering, but this will not begin until year 2024.
The field of mechanical engineering consists of problem solvers in materials and manufacturing, health, and energy. Mechanical engineering can take you to any end of the technology spectrum. Students can make an impact on the world in professional areas including air quality, energy, biomedical engineering, environment, robotics, advanced manufacturing, automotive, laser sensing, and aerospace.
Strong economic growth in the state of Colorado over the past decade has resulted in increased demand for engineers. A degree in mechanical engineering provides a well-defined career path and substantial earning potential with median starting salaries of $68,000 per year and an average annual salary of $103,180.
Financial Questions
Students will pay the applicable tuition rates depending upon their enrollment status. Specifically, students will pay the applicable ASU tuition rates directly to ASU for lower-division courses that ASU faculty teach (depending on in-state or out-of-state residency status). Likewise, students enrolled in upper-division courses will pay the applicable CSU tuition rates directly to CSU while they are enrolled in upper-division courses that CSU faculty teach. There may be some individual courses from the other institution during any of these years, for which students pay that corresponding rate. However, the Financial Aid Office will work with students to ensure their financial aid is applied to all courses, regardless of institution.
Course specific fees will be paid to the institution offering the course. General fees will be paid to ASU the first 2 years, and to CSU thereafter. ASU and CSU will work together to ensure that students can access all services on the ASU campus even when they are paying fees to CSU.
Financial aid will be processed by the ASU Financial Aid Office during the first two years of the program. The ASU team will work with CSU’s Financial Aid Office to process any aid needed for CSU tuition and fees related to CSU courses in which students enroll during the first two years.
After students have been admitted to the program and are enrolled primarily in CSU courses, they will receive their financial aid through CSU’s Financial Aid Office and will work with ASU’s Financial Aid Office to award aid for any ASU courses.
Yes! Even though students are enrolled in a CSU degree, they are students on the ASU campus and should take advantage of all events and services. Students will be able to attend events, use the library, and use the Rex Gym.
During the first two years, students will be eligible for ASU scholarships including ASU automatic scholarships. You can view ASU scholarship information here.
After admission to CSU, students will be eligible for CSU scholarships, including any specific to Mechanical Engineering. You can view CSU scholarship information here.
CSU students will not be eligible for ASU work study after admission to the CSU program, however they are eligible for ASU work study during the first two years of the program while completing lower division coursework. ASU and CSU will work to explore whether any exceptions are possible in the future.
Admissions Questions
Not yet. Forthcoming websites at ASU and CSU will provide registration information once available.
Adams State students should plan to apply by April 15.
Initially students will apply for admission to ASU as an engineering student. Upon successful completion of the lower-division courses, students will be evaluated for admission into the CSU Bachelor of Science program and associated transfer requirements into the upper-division courses.
If transferring to ASU from another institution, transfer credits will be evaluated by the ASU Transfer Coordinator in consultation with the ASU engineering faculty to determine which requirements have been met, and which courses students need to enroll at ASU.
If students have completed the ASU portion of the Mechanical Engineering coursework, and are applying to the CSU Mechanical Engineering program at ASU, they will apply directly to CSU following their transfer processes.
Students completing the first two years at ASU and applying for admission to the CSU degree program will automatically have their ASU credits transferred to CSU.
Should a student decide to transfer out of the engineering program into a degree offered by ASU in the first two years, they will still be considered an ASU student, and will just need to process a change of major. If a student has already entered the CSU Mechanical Engineering program, ASU will readmit the student to be degree-seeking at ASU and will help determine how to maximize existing credits toward their new chosen degree.
Yes! You can get a head start by taking the following courses that will later apply to the degree program:
- First Year Seminar
- Area I Communications: ENG 101 Comm Arts I, ENG 102 Comm Arts II
- Area II Arts & Humanities: 2 GT AH courses
- Area IV Social Sciences/History: 1 GT HI Course, 1 GT SS course
- MATH: 120 Calculus I, 121 Calculus II, 220 Calculus III, 327 Differential Equations
- CHEM 131/131L General Chemistry & Lab
- PHYS: 230/231 General Physics & Lab, 232/233 General Physics & Lab, 102 Intro to Engineering Design
Not yet. ASU students admitted into the program will need to wait until Fall 2023.
The student has been accepted to Adams State University.
The student is placed into College Algebra, Trigonometry, or Calculus. If they place below Calculus, the student will need to spend 3 years as an Adams State student. Any student with math placement below College Algebra will need to complete preparatory mathematics courses before being admitted to the program.
Have additional questions?
Email the program coordinators!
CSU: Engr-me_frontdesk@mail.colostate.edu
ASU: Matt Nehring, matt.nehring@adams.edu
