Freshman Impaction

Impaction Supplementary Criteria

All first-time freshman applicants must meet the minimum standard CSU admission requirements described at First-Time Freshman Applicant. Freshman applicants affected by CSUN impaction must also meet CSUN's supplementary admission criteria described on this page to be considered for admission. 

Topics on this page:

• Fall 2023 Impaction
• Impacted Majors by Academic Year
• Does freshman impaction affect you?
• Local vs. Non-Local Area
• Impacted Major Admission
• Eligibility Index
• Fall 2023 Admission Criteria

Fall 2023 Impaction

Fall 2023 admissions information is now available at First-Time Freshman Applicant. Campus (local area) and competitive major impaction continue for fall 2023 with the following changes:

• The minimum eligibility index for California residents graduating from high schools within CSUN’s local admissions area is 2500.
• There are fewer impacted majors. Communication Studies, Health Administration, Public Health, and Radiologic Sciences are no longer impacted.

Currently, applications from first-time freshmen are accepted for admission to fall semesters only. Fall 2023 criteria will be published when the number and academic characteristics of the first-time freshman applicant pool are known.

Impacted Majors by Academic Year

Does freshman impaction affect you? 

To find out whether or not impaction affects you, take the following steps in the suggested order:

1.  Determine if you are a "local" or "non-local" applicant.

• If the California high school you’ve graduated from is inside CSUN’s local admission area, you will be considered a "local-area" applicant.
• If your high school is outside CSUN's local area but still in California, you will be considered a "non-local area" applicant.

2.  Determine if you will be applying to an impacted major.

• Choose your major carefully. Ask your high school counselor for tools to explore careers or contact a CSUN preadmissions counselor to talk through options.
• You can take the free O*Net Career Exploration Assessment to identify your interests and matching job zones.
• Visit the University Catalog for a full list of CSUN majors and options.

3.  You are NOT affected by impaction if you are a nonresident of California or a U.S. service member (active duty or veteran). Find application instructions at:

• Domestic Out-of-State Applicants (A higher eligibility index must achieved even without impaction.)
• International Admissions (A higher admission standard is already required.)
• Veterans Admissions

Local vs. Non-Local Admission

• Local area applicants must possess the following minimum eligibility index scores using the multifactor variables criteria at California Resident Applicants:
• Minimum 2500 for fall 2023 admission
• To be announced fall 2024 admission
• Non-local area freshman applicants from the rest of California must meet any CSUN supplementary admission criteria based on the eligibility index at California Resident Applicants. The supplementary eligibility index will be determined by the number and academic characteristics of the non-local freshman applicant pool. This supplementary eligibility index could require non-local area freshman applicants to possess a higher eligibility index than is required for local area applicants. Space permitting, non-local area applicants who achieve the supplementary eligibility index will be admitted until the freshman class is full.
• View a list and map of high schools/districts inside CSUN's local admission area.

Impacted Major Admission

The impacted, competitive majors may change annually. The academic department for each impacted major may set supplementary admission criteria for its applicants.

• If you are choosing an impacted major and you are a student from California, you will need to meet that major’s supplementary admission criteria if any.
• The number and academic characteristics apparent in the freshman applications from California residents will determine the need for supplementary admission criteria. In all majors except Music, this could mean achieving a higher admission eligibility index than is required for a non-impacted major. Space permitting, applicants who meet any supplementary criteria will be admitted first, until the impacted major is full.
• The list of impacted majors may change in future academic years.

Applying to Impacted Majors

The following impacted business majors and options admit applicants to the pre-major program. Then, after successfully completing the pre-major, students file for a change of major:

• Accountancy - Information Systems and Professional Accountancy options
• Business Administration - Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, and Risk Management/Insurance options

Applicants to the following impacted major are required to pass an audition:

• Music - See Audition & Placement

All other impacted majors admit applicants directly to the major program based on their CSU eligibility index.

Eligibility Index

The CSU statewide eligibility index is based on the multifactor admission criteria published at California Resident Applicants. GPAs are based on grades earned in college preparatory courses ("A-G" subject requirements) taken during the final three years of high school. Included in calculating GPA are any bonus points earned for approved honors courses.

Domestic out-of-state applicants, please review admission criteria at Out-of-State Applicants.

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Fall 2023 Admission Criteria for First-Time Freshmen

The following section describes admission criteria for Fall 2023 impaction. Please note, first-time freshman applications are currently not considered for spring admission to CSUN.

The academic characteristics of the non-local applicant pool, as well as the academic characteristics of California first-time freshman applicants to impacted majors, will determine the supplementary criteria for both kinds of impaction. 

The two tables below describe the admission requirements for Fall 2023 first-time freshman applicants who have graduated from California high schools located within and outside of CSUN’s local admission area. Table 1 shows the admission criteria for CSUN’s non-impacted majors and Table 2 the criteria for impacted majors. Please note:

• Applicants who meet the minimum Eligibility Index for their group will be admitted.
• These impaction criteria were set for Fall 2023 admission only and may vary for future admission cycles.
• The minimum standard CSU admission requirements are published at freshman applicant.

California Residents Applying to Non-Impacted Majors

California Residents Applying to Impacted Majors

All graduates of California high schools, regardless of location, who are applying to an impacted major must meet the higher, supplementary requirements for that major.

See Table 2 below for the minimum Eligibility Index admission criteria for local and non-local area applicants to impacted majors.

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