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An application must be completed through the graduate school admissions website.

An application fee of $60 for domestic applicants and $80 for international applicants must be paid at the time of application.Ìý

We understand that this application fee presents a challenge for some applicants. Our community is committed to providing educational opportunities for a diverse range of applicants and strives to waive application fees whenever possible.Ìý

1. The Graduate School offersÌýapplication fee waivers to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who areÌýparticipants in the following programs. If you are affiliated with one of these programs, you will be able to indicate your involvement within the online application under ‘Additional Information.’ We ask that you describe your involvement with the program, and upload supporting documentation there.
   • AmeriCorps (currently serving)
   • Black in AI
   • Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Initiative (BUILD)
   • Científico Latino Graduate School Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)
   • Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
   • Gates Millennium Scholars
   • GEM Fellows
   • Leadership Alliance
   • Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)
   • Louis-Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
   • Math Alliance Scholars
   • McNair Scholars Program
   • Next Gen Pop Fellows (NGP)
   • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
   • Minority Access to Research Careers Scholar Program (MARC)
   • Peace Corps (currently serving)
   • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
   • SMART
   • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
   • Teach for AmericaÌý(currently serving)
   • Women+ of Color Project (W+OCP)
2. ​IfÌýyou are in the U.S. military you will receive an automatic fee waiver as a thank you for your service (active duty, veteran, previously served, and active reserve are all eligible for this automatic fee waiver).
3. Domestic PhD candidates with a 3.4 or higher undergraduate GPA who submit their application prior to November 15, 2025Ìýwill receive an automatic application fee waiver upon submission of the application. For more information, go to the CEAS Application Fee Waiver page.
4. International PhD candidates with the equivalent of a 3.4 or higherÌýundergraduate GPA who have completed their applications may apply for an application fee waiver by Nov. 15, 2025 by . We will notify applicants of the outcome of their waiver request the week of November 17th. Because application fee waivers are very limited, not every competitive applicantÌýwill receive a waiver.
   1. Faculty members may request a fee waiver for an international PhD candidate by emailing megrad@colorado.edu with the fullÌýname and emailÌýof the specific international student as it appears on their application.
5. Fee waivers are also available directly from the department for MS and PhD candidates who are not eligible for the Graduate School fee waiver;ÌýandÌýare a U.S. citizen,ÌýU.S. permanent resident, or DACA recipient;Ìýand meet any one of the following.
   1. The application fee is a financial hardship.
   2. You are a first-generation college student.
   3. You are/wereÌýinvolved in any organization aimed at increasing access to higher education and/or improving the higher education experience for students from underserved backgrounds. Some examples of organizations that meet this requirement include:
      • National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) members/participants
      • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
      • TRiO program participant
      • ​ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Guardian Scholars Program
      • Bill and Melinda Gates Millenium Scholars
   4. You are eligible for accommodations via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please note that students who chose not to utilize accommodations they were eligible for while an undergraduate are still eligible for a fee waiver.

To request a fee waiver from the department, please email an explanation or proof of your affiliation toÌýmegrad@colorado.eduÌýbefore you pay for your application fee.

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A complete academic CV detailing prior education, work and research experience, as well as honors, awards, publications, conference presentations and community engagement and outreach activities, must be provided.

A personal statement must be provided by each student that describes academic and research interests, prior research and professional experience, achievements and/or additional information that the admissions committee should be aware of. Students applying for the PhD program are encouraged to describe faculty and research groups with whom they are interested in pursuing research. The best personal statements tell a story and do not simply repeat information that can be found on the CV. Rather, the personal statement is where a student can outline their interests, future goals, and how their prior educational, research, and professional experiences have prepared and motivated them to pursue a graduate degree from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ.

Unofficial transcripts must be provided from coursework at all post-secondary institutions (including community college courses, courses taken for college credit during high school, and study abroad coursework, even if this coursework shows as transfer credit on another transcript). Applicants offered admission who choose to matriculate at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ will be required to provide official transcripts for all schools attended prior to the beginning of their first semester.

Three letters of recommendation must be included in the application. Names and contact information for recommendation letter writers are solicited as part of the online application process. The strongest letters come from instructors/professors, research advisors, work supervisors, and others who can provide detailed comments on the potential of the student to succeed in graduate-level engineering coursework and research.

If you are an international student, you submit an unofficial or official TOEFL,ÌýIELTS, or DuolingoÌýscore. If you are offered admission and wish to join our graduate program, you will beÌýrequired to provide official language scores in order to be issued an I-20 and apply for a visa.

The University of Colorado Boulder institution code is 4841.Ìý

This requirement is waived for international students 1) whose native language is English, 2) who have completed at least one year of full-time study at a U.S. institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language)Ìýat the time of submissionÌýor within two years from the desired admission term,Ìýor 3)Ìýwho are a citizen of one of the countries listed on theÌýGraduate School English Proficiency Requirements webpage.