Mountain-High Finance and Accounting Programs at Colorado State University
Colorado State University is also featured in our ranking of the Top 35 Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs.
Colorado State University, through its College of Business, offers accounting and finance degree programs and certificates. Students can begin their experience at the high school level as the university offers a summer “camp” (the Global Business Academy) in business programs. Undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance begin with the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
The BSBA is a 120 credit-hour program that is offered either on campus or in a blended format with some courses offered at the Sturm Campus and some presented online. The degree path includes completion of the All-University Core Curriculum (general education) and the lower division business courses by the end of the second year. Students then are admitted to the College of Business. By the beginning of the junior year, students must declare a concentration.
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance Concentration requires 24 hours in the concentration in addition to in addition to 31 general education course credit-hours, 35 in the business core and electives. There are nine credits in general finance, plus the student’s choice of three options including corporate finance, investment analysis, and real estate finance.
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting Concentration also requires 31 hours of general education, 35 credit hours in the business core, electives, and 24 credit hours in the concentration.
Undergraduates may also earn certificates. These are available to those who do not want to earn a full minor or declare a full concentration. They take nine-to-twelve credit-hours to complete and are available online as well as on campus.
The Certificate in Financial Accounting and Reporting is a ten-credit-hour program that consists of Intermediate Accounting I and II and Advanced Accounting.
The Applied Management Accounting for Decision-Making is a nine-credit-hour program that requires students to complete Cost Management, Accounting Information Systems, Project Management for Information Systems and either Advanced Supply Management or Advanced Logistics. The certificate is not available to accounting majors.
The Master of Finance contains 30 credit-hours. It takes one year to complete but part-time students may take up to two years. The department has 16 Bloomberg Terminal licenses for student hands-on experiences. It is presented in a traditional face-to-face format with classes offered two-to-five times a week on campus.
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance consists of 11 credit-hours, all of which may be transferred to a master’s program if completed successfully. The certificate program gives students a broad background in business finance and investing that springboards them into either of two areas: Investment or Corporate Financial Management. The certificate may be completed in two-to-three semesters either online or on campus.
The Master of Accountancy program is available with three specializations: Taxation, Data Analytics and Systems, or Financial Analysis, Auditing and Reporting. Sample courses are Professional Ethics and Responsibilities, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Auditing, Oil and Gas Accounting, State and Local Taxation. The 30 credit-hours of the program are divided equally between core and electives. The Master of Accountancy is available only on campus.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is available online or on campus in the evenings. It contains 42 credit-hours and can be completed in 21 months or up to five years depending upon the student schedule. There is a specialization available in Marketing Data Analytics.
About Colorado State University
The main campus of this state university is in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the state’s Morrill Land Grant school. Founded in 1879, CSU was originally called Colorado Agricultural College. It was basically a college preparation academy. In 1935, the school became the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It became a university in 1957.
There are eight colleges that contain 150 programs through 55 academic departments that award bachelor’s degrees in 65 areas, master’s degrees in 55 areas and 40 doctoral degrees. Additionally, the school has a professional degree in veterinary medicine.
The US News and World Report ranks this school as 166th of National Universities. The total enrollment is about 33,690, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1. The four-year graduation rate of CSU is 46 percent.
Colorado State University Accreditation Details
- The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools of the Higher Learning Commission
- The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business
Colorado State University Application Requirements
First-time freshmen should complete the online application. If they are applying to more than one university, they may use the Common Application. If applying only to Colorado State University, they should use the CSU application. They must arrange for their high school to submit their official transcript and for the agency that administered the ACT or SAT to send those official results as well. Students must complete a personal statement and furnish a letter of recommendation. There is a non-refundable $50 application fee.
Graduate students apply to the CSU Graduate School online, as well as to their program. They must choose a start date and specify their program on the application. Additionally, they must arrange to have their official undergraduate transcript sent to CSU and pay the non-refundable $60 application fee. Individual departments or programs will have additional documentation that can be found on the department webpage.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Graduate and online programs are charged by credit-hour. For instance, the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance is $998 per credit. The MBA is $998 per credit as well. The school estimates the cost-of-attendance for undergraduate students as $26,231 per year. That amount includes tuition of $9,426, room and board costs of $11,964 as well as fees and personal expenses.
Students can get a start on their financial aid packages by completing the FAFSA form. The FAFSA program awards grants, subsidized and unsubsidized loans and work-study opportunities based on financial need. Schools use the data submitted on that form to qualify students for some university student aid as well.
Colorado has several state grants including the Colorado Student Grant, The TEACH Grant, and other programs. The state also administers grants and scholarships funded by private individuals unaffiliated with this university.
Colorado State University has several scholarships and grants that are awarded to students who qualify without additional applications. Merit Scholarships are awarded at CSU based on academic excellence. There are also departmental, activity and other private resources that may be found through an Internet search or through the school’s financial aid webpage.
Student loans, either through the school or through a private lending agency, are another option. Finally, students who are still short of meeting their scholastic debt at Colorado State University should consider taking a part-time job or a work-study opportunity to pay for their degree programs.
