Early Start Program

The Early Start Program is designed to give first-time traditional students valuable knowledge about their college journey. Sign up in your applicant portal with the email address and password you used to apply for admission.

You can cancel your ESP registration in your applicant portal by July 31 for a full refund. In the ESP section, click the maroon button and select 'cancel registration.'

Jump start your journey as a CMU Maverick | August 11-15

You will gain insight about how to be successful in college such as study skills, test-taking strategies and time management techniques. Your first class session is the afternoon of Sunday, August 11 and then you will meet for a full-day class session from Monday-Thursday.

Early arrival and move-in

You will move into your residence hall on Sunday, August 11 before your first class session that afternoon.
Earn college credit

You will complete the UNIV 101 First Year College Success course valued at two credit hours. If you are a Compass student, UNIV 101 will fulfill your UNIV 100 program requirement.
Get settled on campus

Meet new friends, engage in Student Life events and get familiar with campus before the first day of the semester on Monday, August 19.

The Early Start Program fee includes housing for on-campus residents, food and program materials. The program fee and tuition charge will be automatically added to your student account for Fall 2024.

On-campus resident program fee

$405

Plus two credits of tuition

Commuter student program fee

$350

Plus two credits of tuition

Contact your admissions counselor

Questions about the Early Start Program or your next steps to CMU? Our team is here to help.

Find your counselor

Engineering Summer Bridge Program

Engineering majors who have not taken precalculus have the option to sign up for the Engineering Summer Bridge Program.

The Engineering Summer Bridge Program registration will launch in your applicant portal in April. You will select the bridge program in the Early Start Program (ESP) registration form.

You may be eligible for a $1,800 scholarship through the Summer Bridge Program at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). To qualify for the Summer Bridge Program scholarship, you must meet three requirements:

Be admitted to one of these engineering degree programs at CMU:
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
Complete precalculus during summer 2024 at CMU, or another institution, and receive a grade of C or higher.
- If taken at another institution, the course must transfer to CMU as MATH 119. To verify course transferability, use the Transfer Equivalency Self Service (TESS) tool. Examples of approved courses include: MAT 1440 at any Colorado community college, MATH 1130 at CU Denver, MATH 127 at CSU and MATH 1150 at CU Boulder.
Complete the one-week in-person Introduction to Engineering (ENGR 101) course at CMU from August 11-16, 2024, and receive a grade of C or higher.
- If you earned a C or higher in your summer pre-calculus course, the cost of ENGR 101, as well as your room and board during the one-week program, are free as part of the Summer Bridge Program.

If you meet all three requirements, you qualify for this scholarship from CMU of up to $1,800 to reimburse the cost of the precalculus course.

Questions about this program? Please contact Sara Merry at [email protected].

If you are an engineering student who has already completed precalculus or you do not take precalculus over the summer, you can RSVP to participate in the Early Start Program detailed above.