Graduate Program: Application Guide and Admissions Requirements
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
Students applying to graduate programs offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering will submit their online application via the CSU Graduate School web page, along with any applicable fees, test scores, transcripts, and other documentation.
The information below will help guide you through the process with details specific to our department.
CSU supports options for students to apply for free as part of our commitment to access. We have options for graduate students to apply for free through fee waivers, described below.
The Ways to Apply for Free information and FAQ webpage provides comprehensive details about eligibility, options, and deadlines.
Our Master's of Science (MS) and Doctoral (PHD) programs are our research-based degrees. Students in these programs will complete a thesis or dissertation.
Students should select these programs if they are interested in doing research as a student and exploring research careers. Students will work either as graduate teaching assistants or as graduate research assistants in these fully funded programs. MS and PHD programs are residential (on campus) only.
Our Master of Engineering (ME) programs are designed to help working professionals obtain additional credentials and training. Students take 30 credits of coursework only in these programs; no thesis or dissertation is required.
Students are not eligible for graduate assistantships in these programs. ME programs are offered online or in person.
The application deadlines listed for the Department of Mechanical Engineering override all deadlines published by any other CSU website or publication.
Fall Admission: July 1
Spring Admission: November 1
Fall Admission: January 1
Full consideration will be given to applicants who have submitted all documents by January 1. Applications received after January 1 will be considered only on a space-available basis.
Spring Admission: August 1
Full consideration will be given to applicants who have submitted all documents by August 1.
Initial application to AMP Program sent to the Graduate Program Specialist: Summer after your junior year for May graduates; spring of your final year for December graduates.
After you have been admitted to AMP, you must complete the standard application to the Graduate School by the below dates:
Fall Admission: February 1
Spring Admissions: September 1
The admissions decision is based on a comprehensive assessment of the applicant’s academic potential and the following criteria:
Graduate Admissions will notify applicants by email when the web applications are received and inform them at that time if items are missing. Applicants are encouraged to mail documents using companies with online tracking systems to verify receipt of documents.
International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements as determined by the Colorado State University Graduate School here.
Applicants may submit English proficiency scores directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Colorado State University, 1062 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062. The institution code is 4075. Photocopies will not be accepted.
Unofficial English proficiency scores are allowed at the department review level. Official English proficiency scores must be submitted in order for the department to recommend applicants for admission.
For documents that cannot be submitted through the application system, request that the documents be sent to the Office of Admissions:
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
Two professional recommendations are required. They must be uploaded directly to the online application system from the recommending party.
Recommendations should be from individuals who can accurately evaluate your skills as a student, engineer, scientist, and/or researcher.
One unofficial transcript from each college or university attended should be sent to Graduate Admissions in the Office of Admissions and must include all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Transcripts are not required from current CSU students. International students are required to provide English translations of all transcripts, diplomas, and graduation certificates in addition to the originals.
Official transcripts are required upon arrival to CSU. Official transcripts can either be sent directly to CSU Graduate Admissions prior to arrival or may be brought with you and delivered to the Graduate School upon arrival. Any official transcripts dropped off with the Graduate School will be returned to you.
International applicants will also need to obtain the appropriate immigration documents. Once you are admitted, you’ll receive emails with instructions on this process. You can also learn about the process on the International Student and Scholar Services website.
See the ‘Requirements’ section below for information on verifying English proficiency.
Click here to view your application status.
View at any time to ensure your application is complete or to check on updates.
Thank you for your interest in mechanical engineering graduate programs at Colorado State University!
Information about our admissions requirements and criteria, as well as application materials and deadlines, can all be found in the sections above on this page.
For M.S. and Ph.D. applicants: It is not required that applicants have secured a faculty advisor prior to submitting their application materials. However, it is helpful for you to identify a few faculty whose research interests align with your own. We only admit M.S. and Ph.D. students when we have a faculty match – that is, when faculty have the resources (time, funding, etc.) to admit another advisee. As such, it is strongly encouraged that you contact faculty members that perform research in your interest area to determine if your skills and interests match their needs in their programs.
You can find a list of our faculty here.
On the Student Opportunities page you can find a list of faculty who are actively seeking students for their research groups. Please note that this page may not include all open M.S. and Ph.D. positions within the department, and you should still identify faculty you are interested in working with in your application materials.
Our M.S. and Ph.D. students are supported by graduate teaching assistantships (GTA) and graduate research assistantships (GRA). The financial support provided typically includes full coverage of tuition along with a monthly stipend. Your application to the mechanical engineering graduate program serves as your application for teaching/research assistantships for your first academic year. To increase your chances of obtaining a GTA or GRA, it is strongly encouraged that you contact faculty members that perform research in your interest area to determine if your skills and interests match their needs in their research programs.
Typically, we do not provide GTA or GRA funding to students seeking a Master of Engineering (coursework only) degree. These students are generally self-funded. You might consider consulting the Financial Resources page for the Graduate School.
Information about our application deadlines and materials can be found in the sections above on this page.
Information about our graduate admissions criteria and requirements can be found in the sections above on this page.
Our Graduate Education Committee considers applications holistically. For example, a lower GPA can be outweighed by excellent letters of recommendation and research experience. Therefore, we cannot comment on individual parts of an application to determine admissibility.
For M.S. and Ph.D. applicants: Yes, our department is able to preliminarily review graduate applications with unofficial transcripts and English proficiency scores. The Graduate School considers applications incomplete without official English proficiency scores, therefore if you are recommended for admission, you will be required to submit official test scores for Graduate School review. Please see the above section on Application Materials for full information on transcripts.
For M.E. applicants: Official transcripts are required for application review. Unofficial transcripts will only be reviewed to verify prerequisites.
The GRE is no longer required by our department for admissions. Students who did take the GRE and have strong test scores may upload their test scores as supplemental materials to their application. Doing so may help strengthen your overall application package if your application may have weak areas.
The English proficiency requirement is established by the CSU Graduate School, not by our department. For their most up-to-date guidelines, visit this page.
For M.S. and Ph.D. applicants: Unfortunately we are unable to consider applicants who do not meet the minimum scores for English proficiency for our on-campus research programs. This is due to our inability to financially support those students until they meet all minimum requirements.
For M.E. applicants: The Graduate School allows for students with lower scores to be admitted conditionally and take additional coursework until students meet minimum requirements. A review of your full application materials is needed to provide further guidance.
First, visit this page to see if you are eligible for one of the fee waivers offered by the CSU Graduate School.
If you do not qualify for one of those waivers, the CSU Graduate School will be offering 3 free application days during the Fall 2024 semester. Please see their website for more information.
Yes, if your application has not already been considered for the current term. Email engr-me_graduate@mail.colostate.edu and notify them that you would like to defer your application to a future term. You will receive an email from the application system that contains a link which will allow you to update your application.
Your application can be considered for a different program if the incorrect major was selected at the time of application. However, please keep in mind that if your application occurred on or after a deadline as indicated in the sections above, your application would need to be considered for a future term for that program.
Email engr-me_graduate@mail.colostate.edu and notify them of the error. You will receive an email from the application system that contains a link which will allow you to update your application.
We generally do not advise applicants to apply for admission past the deadlines. For international students, it becomes even more difficult to approve applications after the deadline unless you already reside in the U.S. or are over six months from the desired start date of your program. This is due to the length of time that it takes to review applications, pair applications with faculty who have available spots in their research groups, approve applications through the Graduate School, and go through the visa process. Reviewing applications after the deadline is also unfair to the students who submitted their materials on time.
The US Department of Education operates the EducationUSA site, which has information on steps toward studying in the United States and financial aid.
