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CSU Admission Information

1. Prepare for Admission

The minimum you need to do to be considered for admission as a freshman is:

  • Complete 15 “a-g” courses
    1. 2 years of history/social science
    2. 4 years of English
    3. 3 years of math
    4. 2 years of lab science
    1. 2 years of a language other than English
    2. 1 year of visual and performing arts
    3. 1 year of college-prep elective from “a-g”
  • Earn a 2.5 GPA

Check the eligibility index at calstate.edu/apply/gpa-calculator for minimum combined GPA and test score requirements

To be considered for CSU admission as a junior transfer, you must fulfill the following:

  • Complete 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit with a GPA of at least 2.0.
  • Within the transferable courses, there must be 30 semester (45 quarter) units of general education work. General education courses in the written communication, oral communication, critical-thinking and mathematics sections of general education must be completed with a grade of C or better for each course.
2. Complete an Online Application:
calstate.edu/apply

Campuses e-mail applicants to request or clarify information; they often need a quick response. Provide an e-mail address that you’ll check regularly and keep until you enroll. Update your spam filters to ensure that you receive all CSU communications. Communication may also be sent by U.S. mail so be sure to keep your mailing address updated.

Application filing periods – First time freshman applicants must apply for the fall term.

Fall semester or quarter
October 1 – December 2
Winter quarter
June 1 – 30
Spring semester or quarter
August 1 – 31
Summer Semester or Quarter
February 1 – 28

The application fee is $70 for each CSU campus to which you apply. CSU will waive application fees for up to four campuses for qualified students who would otherwise be unable to apply for admission. You can apply for a fee waiver within the online application and be notified immediately whether you have qualified. You will need to provide your income and the number of people supported by that income.

Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services can help you apply. Call 559-265-4003.

3. After You Apply:

Log in to your application to review and, if necessary, change your telephone number, e-mail or mailing address. You can also apply to additional campuses if the period for applying is still open.

If you’re a transfer student, about five weeks after the filing period has ended, you are required to update your grades and course records. Please pay close attention to the deadlines posted at each campus. You are highly encouraged to send the information BEFORE the deadline.

Each campus that accepts you for admission will issue you an intent to enroll form or direct you to a website where you can declare your intent to enroll. You may accept admission to one campus only. You may be required to pay a nonrefundable deposit for acceptance. This will vary depending on the school. Housing and financial aid information will be included in your admission offer.

CSU Admission Information (cont.)

4. Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Disability Resources and Other Campus Support Programs

The Educational Opportunity Program designs, administers, and supports programs that deliver access and retention services to historically low income and educationally disadvantaged students. An EOP student has the potential to perform satisfactorily in the CSU but has not been able to realize this potential because of disadvantaged economic or educational background. This program provides admission, transitional, academic and financial assistance to EOP-eligible undergraduate students.

In addition to EOP, every CSU campus has services to support students with certifiable disabilities. Be sure to contact your campus as early as possible to learn more about your ways your campus can help you succeed.

Over 100 campuses across the state have programs specifically for foster youth.
Foster youth support programs go by various names including Nextup, Guardian Scholars, Renaissance Scholars or others. These programs can include peer advisors and personal counselors and can provide academic advising, housing assistance, tutoring, mentoring, financial assistance, special accommodations for students with disabilities, counseling, social activities, and many other resources.

For additional information regarding specific programs available,
please visit the California College Pathways website at cacollegepathways.org

5. Important Dates and Deadlines
October 1:
Applications accepted at calstate.edu/apply
October 1:
Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov)
Call FYSCP for help at 559-265-4003
December 2:
Application deadline for fall admission for most campuses.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 2
January 1:
Filing period opens for GPA Verification Form
(required of California residents for Cal Grant consideration)
Jan 1 – Feb 28:
Check for EOP application deadline for all campuses you apply to
March 2:
Deadline for applicants for all terms to submit FAFSA and GPA Verification Form
May 1 – June 30:
Deadline for admitted freshmen to submit the Statement of Intent to Enroll,
will vary depending on school
June 1:
Deadline for admitted transfers to submit the Statement of Intent to Enroll
July 1:
Final official transcripts due at campus admissions offices for students admitted for fall
August 1-31:
Application filing period for spring semester/quarter
6. Additional Resources

Early Assessment Program (EAP): designed to help high school juniors and seniors assess and polish skills before taking CSU classes csustudentsuccess.org

Compare CSU campuses: calstate.edu/attend/campuses/find-your-csu/Pages/default.aspx

Paying for a CSU education: calstate.edu/apply/paying-for-college

CSU Admissions Checklist

CSU Admission Requirements

High School Seniors

  • I will complete 15 “a-g” courses by the end of my senior year.
  • I have earned a C or better in all “a-g” courses.
  • I have checked the eligibility index to determine if I qualify for admission.

Transfer Students

  • I will complete 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit with a GPA of at least 2.0.
  • I will complete 30 semester (45 quarter) units of general education work.
  • I will complete courses in the written communication, oral communication, critical thinking and mathematics sections of general education with a grade of C or better for each course.
Apply Online
  • I have a copy of my transcript(s) to enter courses and grades from all schools I have attended.
  • I have applied to EOP by completing sections F & J on the application form and completing the EOP supplemental application on CSU Mentor.
  • My EOP application was submitted on this date: _______________________________________________________
  • My CSU application was submitted on this date: _______________________________________________________
  • My application ID number is _______________________________________________________________________
  • My e-mail address for my CSU application is __________________________________________________________
After I Apply
  • I have submitted my Transfer Academic Update, providing my grades for the last completed term and updating my planned coursework (transfer applicants).
  • I will notify the admissions office at each campus where I applied if I add or drop a course or fail to earn a C or better in a course.
After I Am Admitted
  • I have submitted my Statement of Intent to enroll by the stated deadline.
  • I have arranged to have final transcripts sent to the campus admissions office no later than the stated deadline (June 30 for fall enrollment).
  • I have applied for housing and arranged to have my deposit and prepayment made.
  • I have signed up for orientation.
  • I have completed the appropriate online pre-orientation preparation prior to attending the orientation.
  • I have contacted the disability services office (if applicable).
  • I have contacted the Guardian Scholars or Renaissance Scholars program (if applicable).

UC Admissions Checklist (cont.)

Financial Aid
I have reviewed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) worksheet at studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out in order to assemble the information that I will need to complete the FAFSA.
I have created my FSAID (studentaid.gov) to allow me to file a completed FAFSA beginning October 1 through June 30.
I have reported my entire taxed and untaxed income for the prior-prior year, even if I have not officially filed my income tax return yet. (If I do not file taxes, I have checked my W-2 to obtain the information to put on my FAFSA.)
I have filed a FAFSA (studentaid.gov) before March 2nd (priority deadline date may change).
I have submitted my application for Chafee funds to the California Student Aid Commission.
I have checked online to ensure that my FAFSA was successfully submitted and processed and that I have listed the colleges that I am most likely to attend and their federal Office of Postsecondary Education Identification Number (OPEID) numbers.
I have filed my income tax return for the previous year by April 15th, and I have updated the information on my FAFSA to correspond to the information on my income tax filing.
I have confirmed that my high school has sent my GPA to the California Student Aid Commission or that I have downloaded the GPA verification form (csac.ca.gov/pod/cal-grant-gpa-information), completed my part, and submitted it for my high school counselor to submit on my behalf to the California Student Aid Commission prior to March 2nd.
I have checked my e-mail and/or application account each week for the CSU campuses to which I have applied for admission for any messages, including information about financial aid.
I have received a copy of my Ward of the Court or Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Verification Letter.
I have turned in my Ward of the Court Letter or Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Verification Letter to the Financial Aid office of the college I am attending.
I have provided by required deadlines any additional documentation needed to complete my financial aid application process at each of the CSU campuses where I have applied for admission.
I have checked my application account at the campus where I have decided to attend to review and accept my financial aid offer and to sign a promissory note and complete online loan counseling sessions and other requirements, if I am agreeing to any student loans.
I have checked my online campus billing statement and have made sure that my financial aid has been disbursed and applied to my tuition, fees, and other campus charges in time to meet the campus payment deadlines.
I have opened a bank account so I can have a place to put my earnings when I work and so I can use the electronic funds transfer (EFT) when the amount of my financial aid awards exceeds my actual CSU expenses.
I have shared information about my personal bank account, confidentially, with the bursar at the CSU campus where I plan to enroll so that I am eligible for EFT.
Contact Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services for assistance completing your FAFSA at 559-265-4003
More Information for Foster Youth and Counselors Helping Them
To find campus support programs at your school:
cacollegepathways.org
College planning guide:
cacollegepathways.org/college-planning/
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