Freshman Admission Requirements

Adams State University’s driving purpose is to provide equitable access to education. We promote successful and engaged lives by caring for, connecting with, and challenging our students, campus, and community. Our admissions processes consider both academic and personal attributes reflecting this purpose. All applicants are considered for merit scholarships between $1,000 and $3,000 per year based on cumulative GPA.

First-time Students

Apply anytime after completion of your junior year in high school. First-time admissions standards pertain to students who are applying to go to college right after high school graduation.

Application requirements

  1. Online Application for Admissions
  2. Official high school transcripts. All transcripts must arrive at Adams State in an unopened envelope from the sending institution.
  3. Optional SAT and/or ACT test scores.
    • Adams State University is test-optional. Test-optional means you can choose whether or not to submit your SAT/ACT scores to us to consider for your admissions decision.
    • Applicants who choose not to submit a test score for admission will not be negatively impacted.
    • All SAT/ACT scores must arrive at Adams State either on an official high school transcript or directly from ACT or College Board.
    • We encourage students with a GPA below 2.8 to submit SAT/ACT scores to be considered as a piece of their application, but it is not required.
    • We encourage students to submit SAT/ACT scores to be used for class placement.
    • We do not require the writing portion of either the SAT/ACT.
    • Our ACT code is 0496, and our SAT code is 4001.

Mail transcripts and SAT/ACT scores to:

Adams State University
Office of Admissions 
208 Edgemont Blvd, Suite 2190
Alamosa CO 81101

Applicants will be notified if additional information is needed.

It is recommended that applicants have completed the Colorado Higher Education Admission Recommendations (HEAR) during high school to be prepared for college:

  1. Four years of English
  2. Four years of mathematics (Algebra I and higher)
  3. Three years of natural/physical science (including two units lab-based science)
  4. Three years of social science (including one unit of U.S. or world history)
  5. One year of foreign language
  6. Two years of academic electives

Home School Students

First-time students who have completed their secondary education through alternative options such as home schooling should submit documentation of their work (e.g. transcript, portfolio, etc.) in lieu of high school transcripts above.

General Educational Development (GED) Students

First-time students who have completed the GED should submit an official GED score report in lieu of high school transcripts above. Students receiving a score of 150 or above in each content area on the 2014 GED (450 or greater on the 2002 version, or 45 or greater on the 1988 version) will be eligible for admission. This route to admission is not to be used by students with a diploma.

High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Students

First time students who have completed the HiSET should submit an official HiSET score report in lieu of high school transcripts above. Students receiving a score of 8 on each subtest, 2 on the essay, 45 combined score will be eligible for admission. This route to admissions is not to be used by students with a diploma.

Range of Admitted Students

Mid-50% High School GPA*

2.91 – 3.79, 4.0 scale, includes weighted GPA

*GPA and test score ranges of admitted freshmen from Fall 2021 data