Prospective Students

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    I am a Future Freshman

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First-Time Freshman: I have been admitted

Fall Admitted First-Time Freshman

Congratulations on your admission to CSUN! Completing these steps will start you on the path to becoming a student at CSUN. Reserve your place in the fall class by submitting all of the following items to the Office of Admissions no later than the deadlines listed below. If all of the items are not received or postmarked by the date listed, your offer of admission may be canceled.

Step 1. Submit Your Intent to Enroll

 

June 1, 2024 — Intent to Enroll deadline for fall 2024 admission

Accept our offer of admission and submit your online Intent to Enroll. Log in to the CSUN Portal to submit your intent as follows:

  1. Go to the CSUN Portal.
  2. Log in with your CSUN user ID and password.
  3. In your portal Checklist under the Incomplete Tasks heading, select the Intent to Enroll link and accept your offer of admission!

Submitting your Intent to Enroll is free. If you plan to attend CSUN, do it today!

Step 2. Submit Your Final Transcripts

 July 15 — Final official transcript deadline for fall admission

Request official transcripts be sent to CSUN. You must request that official transcripts, on the high school or college's official letterhead, be sent directly from your school to the CSUN Office of the Registrar either electronically or in a sealed envelope. Please be sure to include:

  • Official high school transcript(s), including spring grades and high school graduation date. If you have attended more than one high school, you must submit official transcripts from all high schools attended.
  • Official college transcripts for courses taken while in high school, including spring grades. Please see "electronic transcripts" below.

No summer work after graduation will be accepted to meet fall admission requirements.

Transcript Tips

—Electronic transcripts

  • California community college transcripts: Save time with eTranscript California.
  • Other high schools and colleges: In your school’s transcript ordering system, choose “CSU Northridge” as the recipient. If this option is not available, use registrar@csun.edu as the recipient email address.
  • Please do not send identical, duplicate electronic and paper transcripts.

—Paper transcripts

  • For high schools and colleges that do not supply electronic transcripts, the school must send the transcripts in a sealed, unopened envelope directly to:

    California State University, Northridge
    Office of the Registrar
    18111 Nordhoff Street
    Northridge, CA 91330-8207

Step 3. Send Official Test Scores

The following test scores are optional. However, if you have taken any of these exams, please send us your official test scores to assist with your placement in math and writing courses and to possibly satisfy one or more of CSUN's lower-division General Education course requirements.

How to send your official test scores:

  1. Have your official AP, CLEP and/or SAT test scores sent to CSUN electronically using school code 4707.
  2. Have your official ACT test scores sent to CSUN electronically using school code 0400.
  3. Request and send paper transcripts for IB exams.

Step 4. Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

Make a Plan

You and your family should take into account your overall cost of attendance, including basic tuition and fees, housing, transportation, books and personal expenses when deciding how you will finance your CSUN education. By combining grants, loans, scholarships, part-time employment, savings and contributions from your family, it is possible to make this investment affordable.

However, this will take careful planning and not all students will qualify for grants and scholarships. Please contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department for assistance on how to finance your education.

For the most up-to-date information regarding tuition and fees, refer to the Student Finance - University Cash Services website.

Apply for Financial Aid

Federal and state financial aid programs (grants, part-time jobs and student loans) are awarded to students who apply and meet eligibility requirements.

To begin the financial aid application process:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as soon as possible.
    • The FAFSA and CADAA applications open in December for the coming 2024-2025 academic year.
    • The priority consideration filing deadline for both applications is April 2 for the 2024-2025 academic year for California.
  • Be sure to use the IRS data retrieval option to reduce errors and list CSUN's federal school code (001153) on your FAFSA.
  • By April 2, California residents need to submit a GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission to be considered for a Cal Grant.

Apply for CSUN Scholarships

CSUN scholarships are competitive and each requires a separate application and essay. Review each scholarship's application requirements carefully.

To begin the CSUN scholarship application process:

  • Go to myMatador Scholarships and log in with your CSUN user ID and password.
  • Apply by submitting a separate online application and essay for each scholarship for which you meet the eligibility requirements.

You will be notified of your eligibility by late spring. Check your CSUN Portal regularly for your application and award status and the CSUN Financial Aid & Scholarship Department website for additional scholarship opportunities posted throughout the year.

Apply for External Scholarships

Organizations other than CSUN award countless scholarships each year. Students are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Review the off-campus scholarships website for more information.

Guidelines for Financial Aid and Scholarships

Priority Deadlines

Financial aid and scholarship applications are reviewed and aid is awarded throughout the year based on available funding. Some grant funds are limited, so apply early and submit documents as soon as requested.

Your Financial Aid Award and Disbursement

Log in to the CSUN Portal to view your financial aid award. If you are registered for classes and your aid is available, University Cash Services will apply financial aid funds to any charges on your account and issue refunds for any remaining amount. Sign up for eRefund by early August to receive your refund amount via direct deposit.

When your financial aid is disbursed, amounts due from basic tuition and fees and housing will be deducted automatically from the awarded aid. University Cash Services will send you an email and you may view the transactions in your student account.

Step 5. Review Immunization Requirements

To promote public health and safety, the California State University (CSU) has long-established immunization requirements. Under the direction of the CSU Chancellor’s Office, students must meet the immunization standards by the end of their first and/or second semesters to avoid holds on class registration.

Find detailed requirements, updates and instructions at Klotz Student Health Center Immunizations, including:

  • A current list of required immunizations
  • A tutorial on how to upload proof of immunization or immunity through CSUN’s “myHealth Patient Portal”
  • Requirements for students enrolled in health care fields of study or teacher education programs

Resources:

Step 6. Get Ready for Your Academic Advising Appointment

All incoming freshmen receive academic advising before enrolling in classes. Most students are advised in the Matador Advising Hub. Student athletes, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and Liberal Studies ITEP freshmen are advised by specialized advising centers.

If you are a member of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, you will be advised by both the appropriate academic advisor and the NCOD: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

To prepare for advising, take these steps:

  1. Visit I’m a New Freshman to find your academic advising center.
  2. At the top of the page, select the button to download and review the New Freshman Advising Checklist in PDF for the semester of your admission — fall or spring.*
  3. Check your CSUN email for a message from your advising center to schedule an advising and class registration appointment.

Be sure to schedule your advising appointment as soon as possible after date provided in the above advising checklist, around:

  • Early November for spring admission
  • Early June for fall admission

With these steps, you'll be ready to enroll in your first-semester classes!

* Note: You can download and save the advising checklist PDF to your device or save it in your myCSUNbox for review there.

Step 6a. Prepare for Your Transition to College with a Summer Experience

As a first-time freshman entering CSUN this fall, you have exciting opportunities to participate in a low or no-cost transitional program during the summer before your fall classes begin.

Pathways to Excellence (P2E) is one such program, and it's FREE. As a P2E participant, you’ll get to know faculty, staff and other students while discovering valuable campus resources that will help you feel confident, empowered and ready for the adventure of your first-semester college courses.

Visit CSUN’s Pathways to Excellence website to learn more.

Step 7. Pay Tuition and Fees

Tuition and other fees are due at the time you register but no later than the deadlines in the CSUN fee payment schedule.

How to Pay Your Fees:

  1. Log in to the CSUN Portal.
  2. In the list of links below the Top Tools icons, select Make a Payment.
  3. On the Student Account Information page, review your Current Balance Outstanding.
  4. Select the CSUN Payment button.

For additional information regarding fee payment, visit the Important Fee Payment Requirements (PDF) document online. It's updated each term.

Please be aware of the student disclosure regarding the Schedule of Tuition and Other Fees.

Step 8. Attend New Student Orientation (NSO)

As a first-time freshman, you’re required to attend New Student Orientation (NSO), a summer orientation program designed to set incoming Matadors up for success.

You can register for NSO and learn more about dates, NSO schedules and other important information on the First-Time Freshman Orientation website. NSO is mandatory and fun!