No matter what part of California you’re from, you’ll find a home at CSUN. Come visit our beautiful campus and discover why CSUN is one of the premier academic institutions in our state!
Fall freshman admissions
CSUN accepts freshman applications each year between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31 for admission to the coming fall semester.
You are considered a freshman if one of the following describes your situation:
- You have not yet graduated from high school but are on track to graduate with a high school diploma by spring of your senior year.
- You graduated from high school and received a diploma, but you have not taken any college courses following your high school graduation.
- You have earned a certificate for one of the California state high school proficiency exams — General Education Development (GED) or High School Equivalency test (HiSET).
To be considered for admission, freshman applicants will need:
- Unofficial transcripts. You will be required to enter all completed courses as well as those currently in progress and those you plan to take in the future.
- Social Security number, if you have one.
- Your citizenship status. This is for CSU tuition purposes and will not affect your admission application.
- Credit/debit card. The $70 application fee is due at the time of submission and can only be paid by credit/debit card. The online application will calculate your eligibility for an application fee waiver.
- Annual income. If you are a dependent, then report your parents’ or guardian’s income. If you are independent, report your income.
- If you are applying to the Educational Opportunity Program, you will be required to report your parents'/guardian’s educational and employment background and submit two letters of recommendation.
You must successfully complete the college preparatory subject requirements listed below (known as “A-G” in California) with a grade of C- or better. Because of the pandemic, any credit/pass grades that you earned for A-G courses you took winter 2020 through summer 2021 will be accepted as satisfying this requirement. Starting fall 2021, you must take A-G courses for a letter grade and earn at least a C- grade.
A-G College Preparatory Subject Requirements
- English: 4 years
- Mathematics: 3 years (algebra, geometry and intermediate algebra; 4 years recommended but not required)
- Social Science/History: 2 years (1 year U.S. history or U.S. history and government)
- Science: 2 years (1 year biological science with lab and 1 year physical science with lab)
- Foreign Language: 2 years in the same language (subject to waiver for applicants demonstrating equivalent competence)
- Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year (art, dance, drama/theater or music)
- Electives: 1 year (selected from English, advanced mathematics, social science/history, laboratory science, foreign language, visual and performing arts or any other courses approved and included on the UC/CSU "A-G" list)
No course work taken after graduation will be accepted to meet fall admission requirements.
The application period opens Oct. 1 at Cal State Apply.
The following information is for fall 2023 admissions. Any fall 2024 updates will be published here in coming weeks.
- All California State University (CSU) campuses use the Eligibility Index as part of the freshman admission decision.
- The minimum Eligibility Index scores for admission to CSUN depend on whether you're a California resident graduating from a high school inside our local admissions area, a California resident outside our local admissions area, or an out-of-state student.
- The minimum Eligibility Index score is 2500 for California students within our local admissions area. It is higher for California students outside our local area and for out-of-state applicants.
- The Eligibility Index is based on your high school grade point average (HSGPA) in all your college prep A-G classes. In some cases, points may be awarded through five (5) additional multifactor admission criteria.
- CSUN does not require the SAT/ACT for admission. However, if you have taken the tests, please send us your scores to assist with placement in math and writing courses if you are admitted. AP, CLEP and IB scores are also helpful for placement.
Calculating your Eligibility Index:
CSUN’s minimum Eligibility Index can be achieved in either of two ways:
- If HSGPA is 2.50 or better: A-G HSGPA x 1,000
- If HSGPA is less than 2.50: A-G HSGPA x 1,000 + (total multifactor eligibility points)
Examples:
– If your HSGPA is 2.50 or better, multiply your GPA by 1,000. For example, the Eligibility Index for a 2.50 HSGPA is 2500.
– If your HSGPA is less than 2.50, multiply your GPA by 1,000 and then add any points awarded for the multifactor admission criteria shown in the table below. For example, a student might have a HSGPA of 2.40, qualify for the Cal State Apply application fee waiver and have no parents who attended college. Therefore, add 2400 (GPA x 1,000) + 100 points (25 + 75), for an Eligibility Index of 2500.
– All California residents can gain points from the multifactor admission criteria in the table below.
- A minimum Eligibility Index higher than 2500 may be required depending on your California high school location and your chosen major. Please see the notes below the table.
CSUN Multifactor Admission Criteria with Point Values| Multifactor Criteria | Point Calculation and Values |
|---|
| CSU Admissions Requirement: High School GPA (HSGPA) | - Calculation: A-G Subjects HSGPA x 1,000
- Possible points, all freshmen: 2,000-4,000
- Possible points, less than 2.50 HSGPA*: 2,000-2,499
*See notes below this table. |
|---|
| CSU Admissions Requirement: A-G Subjects Course Work | - Calculation: Earn 10 points per course taken above 30 semesters (15 courses).
- Possible points: maximum 100 points
|
|---|
| Free and Reduced Lunch School (Underrepresented High School) | - 25 Points – Attended a Free and Reduced Lunch School
|
|---|
| First Generation Student (Parent Education Factor) | Parent/Guardian 1 and 2 education: - 75 Points – Some college, no college, or no degree
|
|---|
| Youth Services (Foster Youth) | - 25 Points – Is a Ward of the Court, Foster Youth or Unaccompanied Youth
|
|---|
| Cal State Apply Application Fee Waiver | - 25 Points – Received application fee waiver
|
|---|
- Local area Eligibility Index scores:
- Local area applicants graduating from California high schools inside CSUN's defined Local Admission Area must possess a minimum Eligibility Index of 2500.
- Non-local area applicants graduating from California high schools outside the defined Local Admission Area must meet a higher Eligibility Index. The Eligibility Index for this category changes annually. For students entering last fall 2022, it was 2750.
- Competitive majors. Some majors receive more applications than CSUN has spots to offer (the CSU calls this impaction). To qualify for admission to these majors, applicants must meet or exceed a higher Eligibility Index, which can change annually. Please visit CSUN's impaction website to learn more about these majors.
- Graduates of California high schools and California residents whose HSGPA falls below these required minimums can receive additional eligibility points if they meet any of the multifactor admission criteria listed in the table above.
No matter what part of the country you’re from, you’ll find a home at CSUN. Come visit our beautiful campus and discover why CSUN is one of the premier academic institutions in California!
If you are a resident of one of the member U.S. states or territories of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, you can enjoy reduced non-resident tuition rates by participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. Visit WUE at CSUN to learn more.
Fall freshmen admissions
CSUN accepts freshman applications each year between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31 for admission to the coming fall semester.
You are considered a freshman if one of the following describes your situation:
- You have not yet graduated from high school but are on track to graduate with a high school diploma by spring of your senior year.
- You graduated from high school and received a diploma, but you have not taken any college courses following your high school graduation.
- You have earned a certificate for one of these high school graduation equivalency exams: the General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency test (HiSET), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) or equivalent certificate awarded by other states.
- Unofficial transcripts. You will be required to enter all completed courses as well as those currently in progress and those you plan to take in the future.
- Social Security number, if you have one.
- Your citizenship status.
- Credit/debit card. The $70 application fee is due at the time of submission and can only be paid by credit/debit card.
You must successfully complete the college preparatory subject requirements listed below (known as “A-G” in California) with a grade of B or better. Because of the pandemic, any credit/pass grades that you earned for A-G courses you took winter 2020 through summer 2021 will be accepted as satisfying this requirement. Starting fall 2021, you must take A-G courses for a letter grade and earn at least a B grade.
A-G College Preparatory Subject Requirements
- English: 4 years
- Mathematics: 3 years (algebra, geometry and intermediate algebra; 4 years recommended but not required)
- Social Science/History: 2 years (1 year U.S. history or U.S. history and government)
- Science: 2 years (1 year biological science with lab and 1 year physical science with lab)
- Foreign Language: 2 years in the same language (subject to waiver for applicants demonstrating equivalent competence)
- Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year (art, dance, drama/theater or music)
- Electives: 1 year (selected from English, advanced mathematics, social science/history, laboratory science, foreign language, visual and performing arts or any other courses approved and included on the UC/CSU "A-G" list)
No course work taken after graduation will be accepted to meet fall admission requirements.
The application period opens Oct. 1. Cal State Apply
- All California State University (CSU) campuses use the Eligibility Index as part of the freshman admission decision.
- The Eligibility Index is based on your high school grade point average (HSGPA) in all your college prep A-G classes (or equivalents).
- CSUN does not require the SAT/ACT for admission. However, if you have taken the tests, please send us your scores to assist with placement in math and writing courses if you are admitted. AP, CLEP and IB scores are also helpful for placement.
Calculating your Eligibility Index
Multiply your high school GPA for the A-G subjects (or equivalents) by 1,000:
A-G subject HSGPA x 1,000
- Non-resident (out-of-state) applicants graduating from high schools outside of California must possess a minimum eligibility index of 3000 (or HSGPA of 3.0) in the A-G subjects.
