Freshman Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for consideration for first-time freshman admission if they meet the following requirements:

1. Have graduated from high school, have earned a Certificate of General Education Development (GED) or have passed the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE);
2. Have a qualifiable minimum eligibility index (see “Eligibility Index” in this section); and
3. Have completed with grades of C or better each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory subject requirements, also known as the “a – g” pattern (see “Subject Requirements” in this section).

Eligibility Index

The Eligibility Index is the combination of the high school grade point average and scores on either the ACT or the SAT. Grade point averages (GPA) are based on grades earned in courses taken during the final three years of high school. Included in calculation of GPA are grades earned in all college preparatory “a-g” subject requirements, and bonus points for approved honors courses. Up to 8 semesters of honors courses taken in the last three years of high school, including up to two approved courses taken in the tenth grade can be accepted. Each unit of A in an honors course will receive a total of 5 points; B, 4 points; and C, 3 points.

A CSU Eligibility Index (EI) can be calculated by multiplying a GPA by 800 and adding your total score on the mathematics and critical reading scores of the SAT. For students who took the ACT, multiply the GPA by 200 and add ten times the ACT composite score. Persons who are California high school graduates (or residents of California for tuition purposes) need a minimum index of 2900 using the SAT or 694 using the ACT. The Eligibility Index Table illustrates several combinations of required test scores and averages. The university has no current plans to include the writing scores from either of the admissions tests in the computation of the CSU Eligibility Index.

Persons who neither graduated from a California high school nor are a resident of California for tuition purposes, need a minimum index of 3502 (SAT) or 842 (ACT). Graduates of secondary schools in foreign countries must be judged to have academic preparation and abilities equivalent to applicants eligible under this section. An applicant with a GPA of 3.00 or above (3.61 for nonresidents) is not required to submit test scores. However, all applicants for admission are urged to take the SAT or ACT and provide the scores of such tests to each CSU to which they seek admission. Campuses use these test results for advising and placement purposes and may require them for admission to impacted majors or programs. Impacted CSU campuses require SAT or ACT scores of all applicants for freshman admission.

Eligibility Index for California High School Graduates or Residents of California

GPA	ACT Score	SAT Score	GPA	ACT Score	SAT Score	GPA	ACT Score	SAT Score	GPA	ACT Score	SAT Score	GPA	ACT Score	SAT Score
3.00 and above qualifies with any score			2.81	14	660	2.60	18	820	2.39	22	990	2.18	26	1160
			2.80	14	660	2.59	18	830	2.38	22	1000	2.17	26	1170
			2.79	14	670	2.58	18	840	2.37	22	1010	2.16	27	1180
2.99	10	510	2.78	14	680	2.57	18	850	2.36	23	1020	2.15	27	1180
2.98	10	520	2.77	14	690	2.56	19	860	2.35	23	1020	2.14	27	1190
2.97	10	530	2.76	15	700	2.55	19	860	2.34	23	1030	2.13	27	1200
2.96	11	540	2.75	15	700	2.54	19	870	2.33	23	1040	2.12	27	1210
2.95	11	540	2.74	15	710	2.53	19	880	2.32	23	1050	2.11	28	1220
2.94	11	550	2.73	15	720	2.52	19	890	2.31	24	1060	2.10	28	1220
2.93	11	560	2.72	15	730	2.51	20	900	2.30	24	1060	2.09	28	1230
2.92	11	570	2.71	16	740	2.50	20	900	2.29	24	1070	2.08	28	1240
2.91	12	580	2.70	16	740	2.49	20	910	2.28	24	1080	2.07	28	1250
2.90	12	580	2.69	16	750	2.48	20	920	2.27	24	1090	2.06	29	1260
2.89	12	590	2.68	16	760	2.47	20	930	2.26	25	1100	2.05	29	1260
2.88	12	600	2.67	16	770	2.46	21	940	2.25	25	1100	2.04	29	1270
2.87	12	610	2.66	17	780	2.45	21	940	2.24	25	1110	2.03	29	1280
2.86	13	620	2.65	17	780	2.44	21	950	2.23	25	1120	2.02	29	1290
2.85	13	620	2.64	17	790	2.43	21	960	2.22	25	1130	2.01	30	1300
2.84	13	630	2.63	17	800	2.42	21	970	2.21	26	1140	2.00	30	1300
2.83	13	640	2.62	17	810	2.41	22	980	2.20	26	1140	Below 2.00 does not qualify for regular admission
2.82	13	650	2.61	18	820	2.40	22	980	2.19	26	1150

The CSU uses only the ACT score or the SAT mathematics and critical reading scores in its admission eligibility equation. The SAT or ACT writing scores are not currently used by CSU campuses.

Provisional Admission

CSUN may provisionally admit first-time freshman applicants based on their academic preparation through the junior year of high school and planned coursework for the senior year. The campus will monitor the final terms of study to ensure that admitted students complete their secondary school studies satisfactorily, including the required college preparatory subjects, and graduate from high school. Students are required to submit an official transcript after graduation to certify that all coursework has been satisfactorily completed. Official high school transcripts must be received prior to the deadline set by the University. In no case may documentation of high school graduation be received any later than the census date for a student’s first term of CSU enrollment. A campus may rescind admission decisions, cancel financial aid awards, withdraw housing contracts and cancel any university registration for students who are found not to be eligible after the final transcript has been evaluated.

Applicants will qualify for regular (non-provisional) admission when the University verifies that they have graduated and received a diploma from high school, have a qualifiable minimum eligibility index, have completed the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory “a – g” subjects and, if applying to an impacted program or campus, have met all supplementary criteria.

Subject Requirements

The California State University requires that first-time freshman applicants complete, with grades of C or better, a comprehensive pattern of college preparatory study totaling 15 units. A “unit” is 1 year of study in high school.

• 2 years of social science, including 1 year of U.S. history, or U.S. history and government
• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math (algebra, geometry and intermediate algebra)
• 2 years of laboratory science (l biological and 1 physical; both must have laboratory instruction)
• 2 years in the same foreign language (subject to waiver for applicants demonstrating equivalent competence)
• 1 year of visual and performing arts: art, dance, drama/theater or music
• 1 year of electives: selected from English, advanced mathematics, social science, history, laboratory science, foreign language, visual and performing arts or other courses approved and included on the UC/CSU “a – g” list

High School Students

High school students may be considered for enrollment in certain special programs if recommended by the principal and the appropriate campus Department Chair and if preparation is equivalent to that required of eligible California high school graduates. Such admission is only for a given specific program and does not constitute a right to continued enrollment.

Transfer Policies of CSU Campuses

Most commonly, college level credits earned from an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency are accepted for transfer to campuses of the CSU; however, authority for decisions regarding the transfer of undergraduate credits is delegated to each CSU campus.

California Community Colleges and other authorized certifying institutions can certify up to 39 semester (58.5 quarter) units of General Education-Breadth (GE-Breadth) or 37 semester (55.5 quarter) units of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for transfer students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for any CSU campus prior to transfer.

“Certification” is the official notification from a California Community College or authorized institution that a transfer student has completed courses fulfilling lower-division general education requirements. The CSU GE-Breadth and the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification course lists for particular community colleges can be accessed at www.assist.org.

CSU campuses may enter into course-to-course or program-to-program articulation agreements with other CSU campuses and any or all of the California community colleges, and other regionally accredited institutions. Established CSU and CCC articulations may be found on www.assist.org. Students may be permitted to transfer no more than 70 semester (105 quarter) units to a CSU campus from an institution which does not offer bachelor’s degrees or their equivalents, for example, community colleges. Given the university’s 30-semester (45-quarter) unit residency requirement, no more than a total of 90-semester (135-quarter) units may be transferred into the university from all sources.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants who have completed fewer than 60 transferable semester college units (fewer than 90 quarter units) are considered lower-division transfer students. Applicants who have completed 60 or more transferable semester college units (90 or more quarter units) are considered upper-division transfer students. Applicants who complete college units during high school or through the summer immediately following high school graduation are considered first-time freshmen and must meet the CSU minimum eligibility requirements for first-time freshman admission. Transferable courses are those designated for baccalaureate credit by the college or university offering the courses and accepted as such by the campus to which the applicant seeks admission.

Lower-Division Transfer Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for CSU admission consideration as a lower-division transfer student if they have a grade point average of at least 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted.

1. Will meet the freshman admission requirements (grade point average and subject requirements) in effect for the term to which they are applying (see “Freshman Requirements” section); or
2. Were eligible as a freshman at the time of high school graduation except for missing college preparatory subject requirements, have been in continuous attendance in an accredited college since high school graduation, and have made up the missing subject requirements with a 2.0 or better GPA.

Applicants who graduated from high school prior to 1988 should contact the Admission Office to inquire about alternative admission programs.

Lower-division applicants who did not complete subject requirements while in high school may make up missing subjects in any of the following ways:

1. Complete appropriate courses with a grade of C or better in adult school or high school summer sessions.
2. Complete appropriate college courses with a C or better. One college course of at least 3 semester or 4 quarter units will be considered equivalent to one year of high school study.
3. Earn acceptable scores on specified examinations, e.g., SAT subject tests.

Please consult with the CSU campus admission office, to which you are applying for further information about alternative ways to satisfy the subject requirements.

Due to increased enrollment demands, most CSU campuses do not admit lower-division transfer applicants.

Upper-Division Transfer Requirements

Generally, applicants will qualify for consideration for upper-division transfer admission if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. They have a grade point average of at least 2.0 (C or better) in all transferable units attempted;
2. They are in good standing at the last college or university attended; and
3. They have completed at least sixty (60) transferable semester (90 quarter) units of college coursework with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher and a grade of C or better in each course used to meet the CSU general education requirements in written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning, e.g., mathematics.

The 60 units must include at least 30 units of courses, which meet the CSU general education requirement, including all of the general education requirements in communication in the English language (both oral and written) and critical thinking and the requirement in mathematics/quantitative reasoning (usually 3 semester units) OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements in English communication and mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning.

Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T)/Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act (SB 1440)

The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees offered at the California Community Colleges (CCC) are designed to provide a California community college student a clear transfer preparation and admission pathway to the CSU degree majors.

California Community College students who earn an associate degree for transfer (AA-T or AS-T) are guaranteed admission with junior standing to a CSU and given priority admission over other transfer applicants when applying to a local CSU campus, or non-impacted CSU program. AA-T or AS-T admission applicants are given priority consideration to an impacted campus/program or to campuses/programs that have been deemed similar to the degree completed at the community college. Students who have completed an AA-T/AS-T in a program deemed similar to a CSU major are able to complete remaining requirements for graduation within 60 semester (90 quarter) units. Visit the Associate Degree for Transfer website for more information.

Provisional Admission

CSUN may provisionally or conditionally admit transfer applicants based on their academic preparation and courses planned for completion. The campus will monitor the final terms to ensure that those admitted complete all required courses satisfactorily. All accepted applicants are required to submit an official transcript of all college level work completed. Campuses may rescind admission for any student who is found not to be eligible after the final transcript has been evaluated. In no case may such documents be received and validated by the University any later than a student’s registration for their second term of CSU enrollment.

Test Requirements

Freshman and transfer applicants who have fewer than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of transferable college credit are strongly encouraged to submit scores, unless exempt (see “Eligibility Index” in this section), from either the ACT or the SAT of the College Board. Persons who apply to an impacted program may be required to submit test scores and should take the test no later than November or December. Test scores also are used for advising and placement purposes. Registration forms and dates for the SAT or ACT are available from school or college counselors or from a CSU campus testing office, including the CSUN Testing Center. Or students may write to or call:

The College Board (SAT)
Registration Unit Box 6200
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6200
(609) 771-7588
www.collegeboard.org

ACT Registration Unit
P.O. Box 414
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 337-1270
www.act.org

English Language Requirement

All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English and who have not attended schools at the secondary level or above for at least three years full time where English is the principal language of instruction must present a score of 61 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some majors and some campuses may require a higher score. A few campuses may also use alternative methods of assessing English fluency: Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP). Each campus will post the tests it accepts on its website and will notify students after they apply about the tests it accepts and when to submit scores.

CSU minimum TOEFL standards are:

Level	Internet	Paper
Undergraduate	61	500
Graduate	80	550

For the tests accepted by CSUN, see the International Admissions website.

Systemwide Placement Test Requirements

The CSU requires that each entering undergraduate, except those who qualify for an exemption, take the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination and the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) prior to enrollment. These placement tests are not a condition for admission to the CSU, but they are a condition of enrollment. These examinations are designed to identify entering students who may need additional support in acquiring college entry-level English and mathematics skills necessary to succeed in CSU baccalaureate-level courses. Undergraduate students who do not demonstrate college-level skills both in English and in mathematics will be placed in appropriate remedial programs and activities during the first term of their enrollment. Students placed in remedial programs in either English or mathematics must complete all remediation in their first year of enrollment. Failure to complete remediation by the end of the first year may result in denial of enrollment for future terms. Students register for the EPT and/or ELM. CSUN may establish deadlines by which new students must register for and/or take placement exams as a requirement for enrollment. Questions about test dates and registration materials may be addressed to:

•  CSUN Testing Center
• Bayramian Hall (BH) Room 190
• (818) 677-2369
• www.csun.edu/testing

English Placement Test (EPT)

The English Placement Test (EPT) is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of students entering the California State University. The CSU EPT must be completed by all non-exempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 147 or above on the EPT will be placed in college-level composition classes.

Exemptions from the EPT are granted only to those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level English courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken along with the English Language Arts California Standard Test in grade 11
• A score of “Conditionally ready for college-level English courses” or “Conditional” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken in grade 11, provided successful completion of the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC), AP English, 1B English or an English course approved for extra honors weight on the University of California “a-g” Doorways course list
• A score of 500 or above on the critical reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
• A score of 22 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) English Test
• A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition or Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program
• Completion and transfer to CSU of the credits for a college course that satisfies the CSU General Education requirement in English Composition, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better

Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Placement Examination

The Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination is designed to assess and measure the level of mathematics skills acquired through three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics coursework (Algebra I and II, and Geometry) of students entering the California State University (CSU). The CSU ELM must be completed by all non-exempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 50 or above on the ELM will be placed in college-level mathematics classes.

Exemptions from the ELM are granted only to those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level Mathematics courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11 in conjunction with the CST in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II
• A score of “Conditionally ready for college-level Mathematics courses” or “Conditional” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11 along with the California Standards Test in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II, provided successful completion of a CSU-approved 12th grade math course that requires Algebra II as a prerequisite
• A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
• A score of 550 or above on a College Board SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
• A score of 23 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) Mathematics Test
• A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam
• A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics examination
• Completion and transfer to CSU of a college course that satisfies the requirement in Quantitative Reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better

Early Start Program

Entering resident freshmen who are not proficient in math or English will need to start the remediation process before their first regular term.

The goals of the Early Start Program are to:

• Better prepare students in math and English writing before the fall semester of freshman year;
• Add an important and timely assessment tool in preparing students for college; and
• Improve students’ chances of successful completion of a college degree.

Newly admitted freshman students who are required to complete Early Start will be notified of the requirement and options for completing the program as part of campus communications to newly admitted students.

Adult Students

As an alternative to regular admission criteria, an applicant who is twenty-five years of age or older may be considered for admission as an adult student if he or she meets all of the following conditions:

1. Possesses a high school diploma (or has established equivalence through either the General Educational Development or California High School Proficiency Examinations).
2. Has not been enrolled in college as a full-time student for more than one term during the past five years.
3. If there has been any college attendance in the last five years, has earned a C average or better in all college work attempted.

Consideration will be based upon a judgment as to whether the applicant is as likely to succeed as a regularly admitted freshman or transfer student and will include an assessment of basic skills in the English language and mathematical computation.

Graduation Requirement in Writing Proficiency

All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. Information on currently available ways to meet this graduation requirement may be obtained from the Learning Resource Center and the Testing Center.

 

Related Topics

Admission Procedures and Policies

International (Foreign) Student Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Application Procedures