Some CSU majors and locations may be more in demand than others, leading to more selective admissions in those areas. (These programs are officially designated as impacted.) As you get ready to apply to the CSU, learn whether your top choices are impacted, and research alternate choices as needed. If you’re interested in an impacted major or university, be sure to apply for admission during the priority application filing period.
If you're a first-time freshman or upper-division transfer student to the CSU, you can use this database to find out whether a degree program or university you're interested in is affected by impaction.
Use this chart to see at a glance which undergraduate programs are and are not affected across the 23-university CSU system.
Applying to your local Cal State location is always a good idea since students who apply from areas nearest a university are given priority admission. This is especially true for the most sought after universities, or those that are designated as impacted.
Certain students applying to the CSU may be referred to an alternate Cal State university if their preferred location is affected.