Returning to CSUN: I am a returning undergraduate student

Do I need to reapply to CSUN?

If you are returning to CSUN, you don’t need to reapply on Cal State Apply or pay the $70 application fee if:

• You left CSUN in good academic standing.*
• You left CSUN on academic notice.*
• You have not been previously disqualified (see section on this page below).*

For spring 2024 admission, just fill out this Welcome Back Form, and we'll get back to you with an admissions decision.

For fall 2024 admission, please fill out the new Welcome Back Form when it becomes available on Nov. 1, 2023.

Not sure if you need to complete a new application to return? Contact Records and Registration at registrar@csun.edu or call (818) 677-3700 during our business hours.

* Learn more about academic standing.

How to Return

1. Complete the Welcome Back Form by the deadline. 

Complete and submit the form to request readmission to fall or spring no later than the following dates:

• For spring 2024 admission – Complete and submit the Welcome Back Form for spring 2024 readmission no later than Oct. 31, 2023.

  When you return, your major will be the one you were pursuing when you last attended CSUN. You may request a change of major on the Welcome Back Form, but CTVA, Computer Science, Music and Nursing are not available.

• For fall 2024 admission – Complete and submit the new Welcome Back Form for fall 2024 readmission no later than July 15, 2024. Note: The fall Welcome Back Form will be available starting Nov. 1, 2023.

  When you return, your major will be the one you were pursuing when you last attended CSUN. If you’d like to change your major, we encourage you to consult with an academic advisor first. You will not be able to request a new major on the form.

2. Watch for our email confirmation. 

We’ll be in touch with any required next steps or documents, for example, transcripts for any course work you've completed since you last attended CSUN.

3. Reactivate your CSUN Portal and email account. 

Log in to the CSUN Portal. If you’ve forgotten your CSUN user ID or password, try the options at CSUN Account Information.

Check your application status in your CSUN Portal Checklist.

4. Send any additional transcripts when CSUN requests them. 

Once we’ve reactivated you in SOLAR, we will ask you to send transcripts of any course work you’ve completed since your last CSUN attendance. Here are a few transcript guidelines:

• If you are returning in good academic standing and have not taken courses elsewhere since you last attended CSUN, no transcripts are required.
• If you did take courses, send us your official transcripts for any college or university classes you have completed since you last attended CSUN when we ask you for them. We will also ask you to send preliminary transcripts for any course work now in progress.
• As soon as your in-progress course work is complete and grades are posted, send your final transcripts.

For transcript deadlines and instructions, see I Have Applied – Next Steps on this page.

Application Periods

At CSUN, we offer you a path to return after previous disqualification. Being disqualified means you must wait at least one semester before enrolling in CSUN courses through the regular process. You must also apply for readmission to CSUN.

You may apply to return to CSUN via Cal State Apply, the CSU's online application system, at these times:

• Spring readmission — File your application between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30
• Fall readmission — File your application between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31.

Please see important deadlines in the How to Apply section below.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for readmission, undergraduate and second bachelor's students must show improvements that prove their academic growth, which will continue when returning to CSUN. These include:

• Successfully completing courses in your degree program at another institution or through the Tseng College (extension) at CSUN
• Earning grades that demonstrate the ability to return to good academic standing in a reasonable timeframe if readmitted to CSUN

Complete each of the four basic subject courses required for CSU general education with a grade of C- or better:

• Written Communication
• Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
• Critical Thinking*
• Oral Communication (Speech)

*Students applying as Engineering or Computer Science majors do not have to complete Critical Thinking prior to readmission.

We strongly urge you to meet with a CSUN academic advisor in the college of your major to review your specific readmission requirements.

While you are preparing to demonstrate your progress, you should also begin your Cal State Apply application.

How to Apply

1. Review important deadlines. 

You'll need to wait at least one semester after being disqualified before reapplying to CSUN. Please review the application and questionnaire deadlines for fall and spring readmission in the two tables below.

TO RETURN TO CSUN IN SPRING 2024

If disqualified at the end of a spring term, the earliest you can return to CSUN is the next spring term. The Cal State Apply filing period will still be open, so an invitation code will not be necessary.

TO RETURN TO CSUN IN FALL 2024

• If disqualified at the end of a fall term, the earliest you can return to CSUN is the next fall term. You probably won’t know you’ve been disqualified until after the Cal State Apply filing period closes. So, you’ll need to request a Cal State Apply invitation code from the Office of Admissions. Please see the instructions after the fall table below.
• If you are a returning international student, you will not need an invitation code.

*To request the invitation code for fall 2024 readmission after Jan. 31, 2024:

• Email your request to admissions.transfer@csun.edu before March 25, 2024.
• Use the subject line: PD request for Cal State Apply invitation code.
• Include the following information in the body of your email:

• CSUN 9-digit student ID number
• Your full name
• Semester of disqualification
• Desired semester of readmission
• Your request for a Cal State Apply application invitation code
• You must begin your fall application within seven days of receiving the code from the Office of Admissions.
• Submit your Cal State Apply application by April 1.

2. Prepare application materials.

Before you apply, assemble the materials you'll need to complete your application. 

• A list of the courses you are taking or have taken since last attending CSUN.
• Social Security number, if you have one.
• Your citizenship status.
• A credit or debit card. The $70 application fee is due at the time of submission and can only be paid by credit or debit card. The online application will automatically calculate your eligibility for an application fee waiver.
• Annual income. If you are a dependent, then you'll report your parents’ or guardian’s income. If you are independent, report your income.

3. Begin your application on Cal State Apply. 

If you already have a Cal State Apply account, you can copy your existing application data to a new application.

• Learn more at Use an Existing Account to Reapply.
• You might also need to Reset Your Cal State Apply Password.
• If you last applied on CSU Mentor, start a new application.

Once you're ready, begin your application on Cal State Apply.

4. Fill out the Previously Disqualified Student Questionnaire online. 

While completing your Cal State Apply application to CSUN online, be sure to fill out the "Previously Disqualified Questionnaire." If you don’t, you’ll need to complete the PDF version of the questionnaire (see Step 5).

After you've answered the initial questions in Cal State Apply, the My Application home page will display four sections in a grid. Then:

• Select the Program Materials section.
• Choose the Questions tab inside the Program Materials section.
• Under the Previously Disqualified Question heading on the Questions tab, select the "yes" radio button if you are applying as a returning student who was previously disqualified at CSUN.
• When you select “yes,” the Previously Disqualified Student Questionnaire will display. Complete these questions as accurately as possible.

5. Submit your application.

After filling out the Previously Disqualified Student Questionnaire and all other required sections, submit your application via Cal State Apply. Please note: 

• If you do not complete the online questionnaire before submitting your application, you will need to prepare and submit the Previously Disqualified Student Questionnaire (PDF) and any attachments to the Office of Admissions no later than the fall or spring deadlines in the tables above.
• If the PDF questionnaire is required, you may email your completed Previously Disqualified Student Questionnaire (PDF) packet to admissions.transfer@csun.edu, mail it to the address on the form, or deliver it in person to Bayramian Hall (BH) Room 160 during business hours.

6. Create or update your CSUN Portal account. 

After you apply, watch for an email from our office with the info you'll need to create or update your CSUN Portal and CSUN email accounts. Once you've set up an account, you can check your application status. For login help, visit CSUN user ID and password.

You will be notified via CSUN email of your readmission decision as early as mid-April for fall admission and mid-November for spring admission. In progress course work and/or missing transcripts can delay the readmission review process.

7. Send us your official transcripts.

Send us official transcripts for any college or university courses you have completed since you last attended CSUN, as well as preliminary transcripts for course work now in progress. Please note: No transcripts are required if you have only taken courses in CSUN’s Tseng College since being disqualified.

For information on how to submit transcripts, see the I have applied - Next Steps section on this page.

Applications will be reviewed in the months following the application deadline. Initial admission decisions will be based on the information you reported on your application, the transcripts that you submit, and the academic qualifications of the applicant pool.

You will be notified via CSUN email of your readmission decision as early as mid-April for fall admission and mid-November for spring admission. In progress course work and/or missing transcripts can delay the readmission review process.

After You Apply

• Set up your CSUN Portal and CSUN email account. 

1. Locate the “Activate CSUN User ID and Password” email sent to you by the Office of Admissions after you submitted your application.
2. Visit the CSUN reset password page and enter your birthdate and your CSUN user ID, 9-digit student ID number, or CSUN email address. Select the Next button.
3. Once you select Next, an email or text message (your choice) with a temporary password will be sent to you.
4. Go to the CSUN Portal (login required).
   
5. On the account authentication screen, enter your CSUN user ID and the temporary password you received by email or text message.
6. Select Login.
7. For assistance, contact the CSUN IT Help Center.

• Check your application status periodically in the CSUN Portal (login required) and review your complete and incomplete tasks in My Checklist.
• Keep your personal contact information updated.
• Check your CSUN email often as it's our primary form of communication throughout the admissions process. If you forward your CSUN Gmail messages to another account:
• Be sure to add the CSUN sender's email address to your contact list.
• We recommend setting up automatic forwarding through your CSUN email account, where you’ll have the option to “Keep Gmail’s copy in the inbox.” Then, if a forwarded message is lost, you can still read the stored copy in CSUN email. Visit Gmail Help: Automatically forward mail to another email account.

Need help? Visit CSUN Account Information.

IMPORTANT — Send Us Your Transcripts

• Send us your official transcripts for any college or university courses you have completed since your last enrollment at CSUN.
• Send preliminary, work-in-progress transcripts now. As soon as your in-progress course work is complete and grades are posted, send final transcripts.
• If your current college or university is your degree school, have the final official transcript sent when the degree has been posted.
• If you are returning in good academic standing and have not taken courses elsewhere since your last attendance at CSUN, no transcripts are required.
• If you were previously disqualified and have only taken courses in CSUN’s Tseng College since your disqualification, no transcripts are required.
• All transcripts, preliminary and final, must be official.
• Electronic transcripts from California community colleges are preferred. Save time with eTranscript California.
• Paper transcripts must be received in sealed, unopened envelopes. Ask your previous schools to send your official transcripts directly to us.
• Please do not send identical, duplicate paper and electronic transcripts!
• Send official paper transcripts to:

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

NOTE: If you attended CSUN before 1992 and submitted official transcripts for transfer courses at that time, you must submit new transfer course transcripts.

Transcript Deadlines

Official transcripts must be postmarked to the Office of the Registrar, or hand delivered to Records and Registration, Bayramian Hall Lobby, by the following due dates:

Important:

All course work must be completed by:

• The end of the spring term before the fall semester in which you intend to enroll.
• The end of the fall term before the spring semester in which you intend to enroll.

Congratulations on your readmission to CSUN! Completing these steps will start you on the path to rejoining the CSUN family.

Step 1 - Submit Your Final Official Transcripts

Send your final, official transcripts as soon as your courses end and grades and degree (if applicable) are posted, but no later than the deadline for your semester of admission - by July 15 if you are applying for the fall semester and by Jan. 15 if you are applying for the spring semester. Send paper transcripts to the address below:

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

Save time! If you are transferring course work from a California community college, please review eTranscript California.

Step 2 - Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

When deciding how to finance your CSUN education, account for your overall cost of attendance including basic tuition and fees, housing, transportation, books and personal expenses. Consider grants, loans, scholarships, part-time employment, savings and contributions from your family to make this investment affordable.

The CSUN Financial Aid & Scholarship Department website provides many resources for planning ways to finance your education.

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 a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as soon as possible. TIPS:
• Be sure to use the IRS data retrieval option to reduce errors.
• Add CSUN's federal school code 001153 to your FAFSA college list.
• The FAFSA and CADAA applications open in December for the coming 2024-2025 academic year.
• If you’ve already submitted a FAFSA or CADAA application, log in to your account to add CSUN’s federal school code 001153 to the list of colleges you want to receive your information. Helpful: How do I add a college to my FAFSA form?
• File your FAFSA and CADAA applications by April 2 for priority consideration in the 2024-2025 academic year for California. You can request aid at any time and aid can be awarded all year long, but more aid is available if you apply by April 2.
• California residents should also file FAFSA or CAADA by April 2 to be considered for a State University Grant.

To apply for a Cal Grant:

• If you are a California resident applying for a new Cal Grant from the California Student Aid Commission, you must submit both the FAFSA or CADAA and your Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by April 2 to be considered for an award in the 2024-2025 academic year.
• You can apply for a Cal Grant at any time, however. Visit Cal Grant FAQs to learn more.
• If you already have a Cal Grant and want to renew it, you don’t have to complete the GPA Verification Form again. Just be sure to add CSUN’s federal school code 001153 to your FAFSA or CADAA application.

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 login with your CSUN user ID and password.
• Submit 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 your awarded aid. University Cash Services will send you an email and you may view the transactions in your student account.

Helpful: Financial aid guides and tutorials

Step 3 - Schedule an Academic Advisement Appointment

Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to set up your academic plan before enrolling in classes. Advisement depends on your academic college and major. 

• Check your CSUN email regularly for advisement information.
• Find your advisor at I’m a Continuing Student.

Step 4 - Register for Classes

Look for your registration appointment in the CSUN Portal under My Checklist. Clear any registration holds before registering.

Learn about self-service registration with these resources:

• Register for Classes
• How-To Guides
• My Checklist Guide 
• Registration Calendar

Step 5 - Pay Tuition and Fees

Tuition and other fees are due at the time you register but no later than the deadlines in the 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 CSUN Payment button.

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

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

Step 6 - Update Your Contact Information

So that we can keep in contact, please:

• Check your CSUN email often for the latest information.
• Verify your mailing address, phone number, alternate email address, and emergency contacts in the CSUN Portal. Learn how at Update Personal Information.

Best wishes for your return to CSUN!