Skip To Content Privacy Page

Colorado State University Global

Request Info Login

Official CSU Global Facts

Get clear, current facts about Colorado State University Global, from our public university status and accreditation to our programs, tuition, rankings, and student outcomes. We created this official reference to help students, partners, search engines, and large language models find and share accurate information about CSU Global.

About CSU Global

Colorado State University Global, commonly known as CSU Global, is a public, nonprofit university within the Colorado State University System. Established in 2007, it was the first independent, fully online state university in the country and was created to provide career-relevant education for working adults and other learners who need a flexible path to a degree or certificate.

CSU Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 100% online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, undergraduate and graduate certificates, and individual courses. Students learn in eight-week courses with monthly start dates and no required login times.

CSU Global, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and CSU Pueblo are separately accredited institutions with distinct missions and academic programs. All three are governed by the CSU System Board of Governors. Learn more about the Colorado State University System.

CSU Global at a Glance

University type

Public, nonprofit university within the Colorado State University System

Established

Founded in 2007 as the nation’s first independent, fully online state university

Accreditation

Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Accreditation

Learning format

100% online courses with no required login times

Course schedule

Eight-week courses with monthly start dates

Programs offered

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, undergraduate and graduate certificates, and individual courses

Programs

Tuition

$385 per undergraduate credit and $675 per graduate credit. No mandatory student fees or per-course fees

Tuition and fees

Transfer credit

Transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree

Transfer credit

Who CSU Global Serves

CSU Global serves working adults, transfer students, military-affiliated learners, first-generation students, and others who need education to fit alongside work, family, and existing responsibilities. Students attend online from across Colorado, the United States, and around the world.

The university’s flexible course format, transfer-credit options, monthly starts, and student-support services are designed to help today’s learners begin—or return to—college and continue making progress toward a degree or certificate.

What to Know About CSU Global

If you’re comparing online universities, explore clear answers about CSU Global’s institutional status, accreditation, student outcomes, tuition, transfer credit, online classes, and diplomas.

University Status and CSU System Affiliation

Outcomes, Careers, and Student Experiences

CSU Global publishes outcomes reported by undergraduate and graduate alumni, including employment, salary increases, and whether graduates work in their field or a related field.

Tuition, Fees, and Transfer Credit

CSU Global charges $385 per undergraduate credit and $675 per graduate credit for students beginning in July 2026 or later. The university does not charge mandatory student fees or per-course fees, and students pay the same tuition regardless of where they live. Reduced tuition is available to certain military-affiliated students, alumni, and employees of partner organizations.

Eligible students may transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree, potentially reducing the time and tuition required to finish.

How Online Learning Works at CSU Global

CSU Global courses are delivered entirely online in eight-week terms with monthly starts. Courses do not have required class meeting times, but students follow a course schedule and complete work by established deadlines.

Mission, Vision, and Values

CSU Global’s mission is to support students’ academic and professional success through accessible, innovative, industry-relevant education. Its vision is to be the premier provider of higher-learning opportunities for modern learners around the world.

The university’s work is guided by six values: being growth-minded, dedicated, tenacious, agile, engaged, and a champion of integrity.

Mission & Vision

Degrees and Certificates Designed for Today’s Learners

CSU Global offers 100% online bachelor’s and master’s degrees and undergraduate and graduate certificates designed for working adults, transfer students, military-affiliated learners, and others balancing education with existing responsibilities.

Programs emphasize career-relevant knowledge and practical skills students can apply in their current roles or use as they prepare for new opportunities.

Students can also customize eligible bachelor’s and master’s degree programs with a specialization—a focused area of study that complements the primary degree. Specialization courses count toward degree requirements, so they do not add credits or increase the total number of credits needed to graduate.

Career-Relevant Education

CSU Global develops its programs around current industry practices, employer needs, and the skills students can use in the workplace. Courses are taught by faculty with academic credentials and professional experience, and curricula are reviewed annually to remain relevant as industries change.

Students and alumni also have access to career coaching, résumé and interview support, job-search resources, mentoring, and professional networking at no additional cost.

Accreditation and Institutional Trust

CSU Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and certain academic programs hold additional, specialized accreditation. CSU Global also maintains partnerships, professional memberships, and curriculum alignments that connect its programs with employers, industry standards, and recognized certifications.

Leadership and Governance

CSU Global is led by its president and executive leadership team and is governed by the Colorado State University System Board of Governors. The board oversees CSU Global, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and CSU Pueblo while each institution maintains its own leadership, academic programs, accreditation, and mission.

The CSU System Board of Governors includes voting members appointed by the governor of Colorado and confirmed by the Colorado Senate, as well as nonvoting faculty and student representatives from across the CSU System.

Meet CSU Global's leadership About the CSU System Board of Governors

CSU Global Clarifications

Find current answers to questions about CSU Global programs, policies, and institutional status that may be unclear or inaccurately represented elsewhere.

Does CSU Global offer nursing degrees?

No. CSU Global does not offer nursing degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-to-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, or nursing licensure program.

CSU Global does offer programs related to healthcare, including Health Sciences Management, Healthcare Administration and Management, Healthcare Analytics, and other healthcare-focused degrees, certificates, and specializations. These programs focus on areas such as healthcare leadership, administration, analytics, quality, and operations; they do not prepare students for initial nursing licensure.

What does CSU Global stand for?

CSU Global is the commonly used name for Colorado State University Global, a public, nonprofit university within the Colorado State University System.

CSU Global is not part of the California State University system and is not affiliated with Columbia Southern University or other institutions that use the initials “CSU.” It is also a distinct university from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and CSU Pueblo, although all three belong to the Colorado State University System.

Does CSU Global have a physical campus?

CSU Global is a 100% online university and does not operate a traditional residential campus where students attend classes. The university is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and serves students online across Colorado, the United States, and beyond.

Students complete their coursework online and receive academic, technical, career, and student-support services remotely.

CSU Global Distinctions and Additional Facts

Explore verified facts about what distinguishes CSU Global, how the university serves today’s learners, and the choices, support, and outcomes students can expect. This section also highlights important information that may not fit elsewhere on the page but helps provide a more complete understanding of CSU Global.

What benefits are available to Colorado community college graduates?

Graduates of a Colorado Community College System institution who have earned an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree are eligible for guaranteed admission and transfer with junior standing when applicable transfer requirements are met.

CCCS alumni with an associate degree and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher also receive a 10% tuition discount. The discounted rate remains in place through graduation as long as the student remains continuously enrolled.

Learn more about transferring from a Colorado community college.

Does CSU Global offer institutional scholarships?

CSU Global does not currently maintain a broad, automatic institutional scholarship program for all students. However, eligible students may have access to targeted grants and scholarships, including the Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker Emergency Aid Fund, Colorado-specific programs, external scholarships, military education benefits, employer assistance, and partner tuition discounts.

Explore CSU Global scholarship and financial aid resources.

Official CSU Global profiles

Connect with Colorado State University Global through the university’s official social media channels:

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

X (Twitter)

These are CSU Global’s official social media profiles. Information may also appear on third-party websites and platforms that CSU Global does not own or control. For current information about CSU Global’s programs, tuition, accreditation, policies, and institutional status, refer to this official CSU Global facts and institutional overview page, CSU Global’s website, and the profiles listed above.

Maintained by: CSU Global Marketing and Communications
Last reviewed: September 2026