Impaction continues for the fall 2022–spring 2023 academic year and after. For an overview, visit CSUN Impaction.
Great news! CSUN will consider applications from transfer students for admission to the spring 2023 semester.
All first-time transfer applicants need to meet the minimum standard CSU admission requirements described at Upper Division Transfer Applicant. Transfer applicants affected by CSUN impaction must also meet CSUN's supplementary admission criteria described on this page.
Topics on this page:
- Does transfer impaction affect you?
- Local vs. Non-Local Area
- Impacted Majors
- Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Admission Criteria — NEW!
Does transfer 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-area" or a "non-local area" applicant.
- If the majority of your transferable units come from one or more California community colleges inside CSUN’s local admissions area, you will be considered a "local-area" applicant.
- If the majority of your transferable units come from post-secondary institutions 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 college counselor for tools to explore careers or contact a CSUN preadmissions counselor to talk through options.
- Visit the University Catalog for a full list of CSUN majors and options.
- Find out which of the California community college Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T and AS-T) majors will transfer to CSUN.
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:
Local vs. Non-Local Area
- Local area applicants from schools inside CSUN's local admission area must first meet the standard minimum CSU admission requirements listed at Upper Division Transfer Applicant.
- Non-local area applicants from the rest of California must first meet any CSUN supplementary admission criteria based on the GPA in addition to the standard eligibility requirements listed at Upper Division Transfer Applicant. The supplementary GPA requirement will be determined by the number and academic characteristics of the non-local area applicant pool. Space permitting, non-local area applicants who achieve the supplementary GPA criteria will be admitted until the transfer admission capacity is full. This could require non-local area applicants to achieve a higher GPA than is required for local-area applicants.
- View a list and map of the California community colleges inside CSUN's local admission area.
Impacted Majors
For fall 2022 and spring 2023, several undergraduate majors are impacted. The academic department for each impacted major may set supplementary admission criteria for that major.
- If you are choosing one of the impacted majors listed below and you are a student from California, you will need to meet that major’s supplementary admission criteria if any.
- For fall 2022 and spring 2023, first-time transfer students within CSUN's local admission area will receive a 0.10 bump up to their transfer GPA.
- The number and academic characteristics apparent in the first-time transfer applications from California residents will determine the need for supplementary admission criteria. In all impacted majors except Music, this could mean achieving a higher GPA 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.
The impacted majors for fall 2022 and spring 2023 are listed below.
The following impacted business majors and their options admit applicants to the pre-major program. Then, after successfully completing the pre-major program, students file for a change of major:
1. Accountancy - Information Systems and Professional Accountancy options
2. Business Administration - Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, and Risk Management/Insurance options
The following impacted majors and their options admit applicants directly to the major program based on their GPA.
3. Biology B.A. and B.S.
4. Cinema and Television Arts
5. Communication Studies
6. Health Sciences - Health Administration
7. Kinesiology
8. Psychology
Applicants to the following impacted major are required to pass an audition:
9. Music - See Audition & Placement.
Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Admission Criteria for First-Time Transfer Students
The following section describes admission criteria for fall 2022 and spring 2023 impaction only.
The academic characteristics of the non-local applicant pool, as well as the academic characteristics of California transfer applicants to impacted majors, will determine the supplementary criteria for both kinds of impaction.
The two tables below describe the admission requirements for first-time transfer applicants who have completed the majority of their transferable units at one or more California community colleges 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 GPA for their group will be admitted.
- These impaction criteria have been set for fall 2022 and spring 2023 admission only and may vary for future admission cycles.
- The minimum standard CSU admission requirements are published at transfer applicant.
California Transfer Students Applying to Non-impacted Majors
California Community College Location | Minimum Admission GPA |
Inside CSUN's local area | 2.00 GPA |
Outside CSUN's local area | 2.50 GPA |
California Transfer Students Applying to Impacted Majors
If you are choosing one of the impacted majors listed in Table 2 below and you are a student from California, you will need to meet that major’s supplementary admission criteria if any. For Fall 2022, first-time transfer students within CSUN's local admission area received a 0.10 bump up to their transfer GPA.
See Table 2 below for the minimum GPA admission criteria for local and non-local area applicants to impacted majors.
Impacted Major | Local Area Minimum GPA Standard | Non-local Area Minimum GPA Standard |
Accountancy & Business Majors
| See Table 1 above for non-impacted majors. Apply to the Accountancy or Business Pre-Major. | See Table 1 above for non-impacted majors. Apply to the Accountancy or Business Pre-Major. |
Biology (B.A. and B.S.) | 2.20 GPA | 2.50 GPA |
Cinema and Television Arts | 2.70 GPA | 3.30 GPA |
Communication Studies | 2.20 GPA | 2.50 GPA |
Health Sciences Majors
| 2.20 GPA | 2.50 GPA |
Kinesiology | 2.20 GPA | 2.50 GPA |
Music | Pass audition. | Pass audition. |
Psychology | 2.20 GPA | 2.50 GPA |