Admission offices at the 23 campuses use three factors to determine eligibility.
Most applicants who are admitted meet the standards in each of the following areas:
Specific high school courses (referred to as the “a-g” courses)
Grades in “a-g” courses
Graduation from high school
Many CSU campuses have higher standards for particular majors or for students who live outside their local admission area. Because of the number of students who apply, several campuses have higher standards (supplementary admission criteria) for all applicants. See
Impaction at the CSU to determine if the campus or major you are interested in applying is impacted and may have higher or additional admission criteria.
Many CSU campuses use local admission policies for students who graduate or transfer from high schools and community colleges that are historically served by a CSU campus in that region.
See CSU Local Admission & Service Areas for each campus here (PDF).
FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA
The three factors used to determine the admissibility of nonresident students are the same as those used for California residents.
Nonresident students need to complete the same pattern of courses, but need a higher grade point average (GPA).
Please note that California residents receive priority whenever admission space is limited.
The CSU requires a minimum 15-unit pattern of courses for admission as a first-time freshman. Each unit is equal to a year of study in a subject area. A grade of C or better is required for each course you use to meet any subject requirement.
| a. |
History and Social Science (including 1 year of U.S. history or 1 semester of U.S. history and 1 semester of civics or American government AND 1 year of social science) | 2 |
| b. |
English (4 years of college preparatory English composition and literature) | 4 |
| c. |
Math (4 years recommended) of college preparatory math including or integrating topics covered in algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra.
| 3 |
| d. |
Laboratory Science (2 years of college preparatory science required with laboratory [1 biological and 1 physical]. Integrated science and interdisciplinary courses can meet this requirement.) | 2 |
| e. |
Language Other Than English (2 years or through the second level of high school instruction in the same language; American Sign Language and classical languages such as Latin and Greek are acceptable – See below about a possible waiver of this requirement).
| 2 |
| f. |
Visual and Performing Arts (1 year or 2 semester courses from the same discipline required including dance, music, theatre, visual arts or interdisciplinary arts.)
| 1 |
g.
|
College Preparatory Elective (additional year chosen from the University of California "a-g" list) | 1 |
There are career and technical education (CTE) courses that can be used to meet any of the subject area requirements listed above. Please refer to the
University of California’s Course List Search for the entire listing of approved courses.
WAIVER OF "LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH" REQUIREMENT
If you can demonstrate competency in a language other than English that is equivalent to or higher than that expected of students who have completed two years of language other than English study, you may be allowed a waiver for this language requirement. For further information, contact the CSU campuses to which you are applying.
HOW TO MAKE UP MISSING COURSES
If you didn't take all the required high school courses or earned D or F grades in some of them, you have several options to make up these courses and qualify for CSU admission.
You can complete appropriate high school courses with a grade of C or better either in summer school or in adult school. Courses in this category must be those found on the high school or adult school UC
"a-g" course lists. Some adult schools may not have “a-g” course lists.
You may also complete college courses with a grade of C or better in the missing subject areas. Finally, you can earn an acceptable score on examinations such as the SAT subject examinations, Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, or International Baccalaureate examinations.
If you are unable or do not choose to make up your subject deficiency, you may earn at least 60 units, including 30 semester units of general education from a California Community College or other college and transfer as an upper-division transfer student, where only your college performance is considered for admission.
ADMISSIONS APPEALS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
All students must be able to meet the academic, accreditation and technical standards required for admission or participation in their chosen program of study. Students with disabilities, therefore, are not excused from course prerequisites, GPA requirements or degree requirements. However, in some limited circumstances, substitution of course requirements based on a documented disability may be appropriate.
Such substitutions are granted only when it is clear that the student’s disability makes completion of the requirement(s) impossible and when the course in question is not a fundamental element of the curriculum. A course substitution means that the credit hours for the course are met through an alternate course. A course substitution may not alter or reduce the number of credits needed for degree completion or create a fundamental alteration in the program of study.
Students should visit their campus’s admissions website for the process to appeal an admission denial when the student’s disability directly impacts their ability to complete an admission requirement.
First-time freshmen must meet the following eligibility requirements: be a high school graduate or equivalent; complete the 15-unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory course; and earn a qualifying “a-g” grade point average (GPA) as described below.
Campuses will use a combination of students' “a-g" GPA and supplemental factors to determine admission eligibility. Supplemental Factors that campuses may use include: