Frequently asked MS/PhD Questions

Application process and program prerequisites

Is a GRE score required for admissions?
We are not requiring a GRE score for applicants applying for admission starting Fall 2025
(January 15, 2025 application deadline).

Do I need to take the TOEFL exam?

If you have a degree from a US institution you do not need to take the TOEFL exam. You also
do not need to take the TOEFL degree if you are from an English speaking country. You can find
a list of these countries on the Graduate School’s website. If you have a foreign degree and are
from a non-English speaking country, you must take the TOEFL exam.

What are the required TOEFL/IELTS scores?

The minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for admission without
condition is 80 (Internet-based) or 550 (paper-based). The minimum International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) score for admission without conditions is 6.5.

What is the deadline for my application to get into the upcoming Fall MS/PhD program?
Our application deadline is January 15th of that year. Decisions are typically made by mid to
late March. Please note that our program only starts in the Fall.

What is required for your application?

Test scores, resume, statement of purpose, transcripts and 2 letters of recommendation. Please
send official test scores and transcripts to CSU Admissions (not required for January 15, 2025
deadline). Please upload the other documents as PDFs.

What is Colorado State University’s code to send official GRE and TOEFL scores?
4075

What are the minimum requirements for your program?

The undergraduate major of a prospective student is not important. However, since some
undergraduate level exposure to certain concepts from mathematics and statistics is a
prerequisite for our MS/PhD program, it is desirable to have had at least three semesters of
calculus and a course in linear algebra, plus a minimum of six credits of upper division
statistics. Additionally, we expect students to have taken a proof-based Real Analysis or
Advanced Calculus course. Experience with at least one major computer programming
language is also recommended (e.g., R, Python, C++, julia, etc.).

Where should I apply?

Please apply on Colorado State University’s Graduate School website,
http://graduateschool.colostate.edu/for-prospective-students/apply-now/.

Should my transcripts be official or can I upload unofficial versions?

Our graduate committee will review unofficial transcripts. Please note however, that during your
first semester at CSU, the university must receive and review official transcripts.

Is there an application fee?

Yes, there is a $60 processing fee ($70 for international students). Colorado State University will
offer free application days for graduate admissions on December 1, 2024, and January 14-15,
2025. All applicants new to a graduate degree program at CSU can apply for free during these
days. We encourage students to take advantage of the December 1, 2024 free application day
to ensure a complete application by the January 15, 2025 deadline.

Can I receive an application fee waiver?

CSU supports fee waivers for Graduate School applicants who can demonstrate participation in
or affiliation with specific programs and/or partnerships. Fee waivers are not granted based
solely on financial hardship. Your application fee will be automatically waived if you earned a
bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally (HLC) accredited Colorado Institution or a U.S.
Land-Grant Institution. You will need to submit a fee waiver request form for all other program/
partnership affiliations. All program/partnership affiliations are verified and require you to upload
confirmation documents such as an offer letter.

What is the rate of admittance to your program?

We typically accept 5-8 new MS/PhD students per year. Incoming classes are a mix of domestic
and international students. We typically have 150-200 students apply each year, so our program
is quite competitive.

Do students need to identify an advisor before they apply to the program?

No, students are not expected to have an advisor identified at the time that they apply to our
program, and students are not accepted into the program to work with any specific faculty
member. Having a faculty advisor identified prior to applying does not impact the chances of
being accepted into the program. However, we are looking to accept students who have
interests that align with research being conducted in our department. Students may wish to
discuss their interests, how it aligns with current research being conducted in the department,
and potential faculty advisors in the personal statement portion of their application.

When is the best time to visit the department?

We host an admitted students day in February or March for students who have been admitted to
the program for the following fall. On the admitted students visit day, students will have an
opportunity to learn about coursework in the graduate program and research being conducted in
the department by current faculty and students. Admitted students will have the opportunity to
meet with faculty and current graduate students. In person visit days include tours of campus
and Fort Collins.
Financial support for graduate students
Does your program offer financial help?
Nearly all of the students in our MS/PhD program are funded either as Graduate Teaching
Assistants (GTAs) or Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs). Appointments are for the
nine-month academic year and provide for a monthly stipend, as well as the payment of tuition.
The assistantship is renewable each semester for up to 5 years, pending the availability of
funds, satisfactory progress toward your degree, and your compliance with program and
university guidelines including the Student Conduct Code. Students must also meet all
requirements of the graduate school to be eligible for funding, including maintaining a
cumulative GPA above 3.0. For other financial questions please contact the office of Student
Financial Services, http://sfs.colostate.edu/.

Are students in your program supported by Graduate Research Fellowships?

Many students are supported by Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) for part of their time
in the program. Typically, GRA funding comes via external funding (i.e., a grant) obtained by an
individual faculty member. The faculty member then coordinates with a student about funding
them as a GRA. GRA funding may be narrowly focused on a specific project or task, or may be
more broad, and may or may not be related to the GRA’s research.

Are students funded over the summer?

Most students are funded by the department over the summer. Summer funding is most
commonly one of two options: 1) a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) to teach summer
sections of undergraduate statistics classes or for curriculum development or 2) a Graduate
Research Assistantship (GRA) to conduct research with faculty in the department or
interdisciplinary teams. Students also may do summer internships, but these are arranged by
the student and not the department. Students work with their advisor, the graduate program
director, and department chair to find the right summer funding option.

Our graduate program (MS/PhD program)

How does your program work?
We offer a combined MS/PhD that is designed for students who want to receive a PhD in
statistics. While our program is not designed for terminal MS degrees, students are able to graduate
with an MS. All students must: 1) take a required set of courses, pass a qualifying exam, and
complete a doctoral thesis. All students who enter our program take a core set of courses. Most
of these courses are completed in the first two years. Information on courses required for the
MS and PhD degrees are available on our website
(https://statistics.colostate.edu/msphd-programs-in-statistics/). Students receive two attempts to
pass the qualifying exam. Students typically start working on their thesis in their second or third
year in the program.

When and how do students identify a thesis advisor?

Students typically identify an advisor during their first two years in the program. During the first
in the MS/PhD program all students enroll in STAT501, a 1-credit course where faculty introduce
their research program to students. It is typical that students then follow-up with faculty to
discuss potential thesis research projects.

How long does your program take?

Students typically complete a PhD in 4-5 years. Students who choose to get an MS degree en
route to the PhD or a terminal MS degree typically receive that degree in 2-3 years.