FAQs

This guide will help answer frequently asked questions about the application and admissions process.

Admissions

Freshmen

Financial Aid

Transfer Students

CSU Mentor

 

Admissions

How do I apply?

Simply complete the California State University Undergraduate Application for Admission. The application is available online at www.csumentor.edu. Check the priority filing periods and deadlines. We strongly encourage you to submit your application during the initial filing period of October 1 to November 30.

What if I cannot afford the application fee?

There are a limited number of circumstances under which various student fees may be waived. The CSU provides for a waiver of the admission application fee for California residents if payment of the fee would constitute a financial hardship. If you are filing your application online, then the fee waiver process is built into CSUMentor so you will not need to file a separate Request for an Application Fee Waiver. You can use the fee waiver to apply to four CSU campuses. The campus will inform you if you do not qualify for the fee waiver.

What is an impacted program?

An impacted major or program is one where more applications are received from students during the initial filing period than the campus can enroll. These high-demand majors or programs will have additional admission criteria above the minimum CSU admissions standards. Several campuses within the CSU have impacted programs. If you are interested in applying to one of these programs, you need to file an admission application during the initial filing period to each campus that you may want to attend.

Freshmen

How can I improve my chances for admission?

The key to improving your chances for admission is under your control. Working hard, earning good grades and taking the right classes in the a-g course pattern will improve your chances for admission. Taking either the SAT or the ACT on a timely basis is also helpful. Remember that you must meet the minimum CSU admission requirements, but high-demand majors and competitive admission campuses may require higher standards.

Do I need to pass the high school exit exam to be eligible for admission?

Freshman applicants must submit a final transcript showing that they graduated from high school.

What are the basic freshman admissions requirements?

The CSU uses a combination of your high school grade point average and your score on either the SAT or the ACT. Your GPA and test score are added together to compute an Eligibility Index. The requirements for an out-of-state nonresident student are higher than the requirements for California residents. A chart showing the California resident Eligibility Index and nonresident Eligibility Index is available for your reference. Remember, the indices in these tables are the minimum scores. Higher GPA and test scores may be required for admission to high-demand majors and campuses. Information on the Eligibility Index is available here.

Financial Aid

What is financial aid?

Student financial aid is money to help students meet college expenses. Federal and state governments, colleges and universities, and organizations attempt to make sure that college is affordable for all students by providing student financial aid to help meet college costs for students who do not have sufficient resources.

What types of financial aid are available?

  • Grant: A grant is considered “gift aid,” and it does not need to be paid back after you graduate.
  • Loan: A loan is financial aid that must be paid back. Payments on student loans typically begin six months after you graduate or are no longer enrolled at least half time.
  • Work Study: Work study is a financial aid program designed to provide part-time employment.
  • Scholarship: A scholarship, like a grant, does not have to be paid back. Each scholarship is different and may include financial need, academic achievement and merit, among other qualifications.

Do I qualify for financial aid?

Eligibility for financial aid varies somewhat between programs, but the basic requirements for most student aid programs are as follows:

  • Have financial need, except for some scholarship and loan programs;
  • Have a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent (i.e., GED certificate);
  • Be enrolled as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at an eligible institution;
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
  • Have a valid Social Security number;
  • Meet satisfactory academic requirements; and
  • Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Males, who are at least 18 years of age, but not yet 26 years old, must be registered with the Selective Service.

How do I apply for financial aid?

The U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA website and CSUMentor’s FAFSA transfer module provide online applications available here. Or, you can get a copy of the FAFSA from your high school or college counselor. FAFSA forms are also available from the financial aid office at any college or university, trade and technical schools, and many public libraries.

What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. By completing the FAFSA, you are applying for federal and state student grants, work study, and student loans. You will need to file the FAFSA each year that you wish to receive financial aid. Check for any deadlines for filing the FAFSA.

What is a Cal Grant?

Cal Grant awards are state-funded monetary grants given to students to help pay for college expenses. The awards do not have to be paid back.

How can I get the most financial aid available?

File the FAFSA as soon as possible during the priority filing period. You must have your school submit a verified GPA before the close of the filing period. Respond promptly to all instructions or requests for additional information from the financial aid office.

Are grades or GPA considered in determining eligibility for financial aid?

While your grades do not play a major role in determining eligibility for financial aid, academic criteria do come into play. Students must meet the institution’s admission criteria that typically include some consideration of grades or other measures of academic achievement or potential. Cal Grant A requires you to have a minimum 3.0 GPA from high school, and Cal Grant B requires that you have a minimum 2.0 GPA from high school.

How do I apply for scholarships?

Most colleges have their own application form for campus-specific scholarship fund(s) that they administer—be sure to obtain one and file by the specified deadline. However, most colleges require you to also file a FAFSA. If you are a high school senior, you should contact your advisor/counselor to make sure you are being considered for local scholarships. Check directly with clubs, fraternal organizations, unions and other sources that might be particularly relevant to your specific interests and qualifications. Visit your local library or check references on the Internet.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

When can I transfer from a Community College to a CSU?

Most students transfer after completing a minimum of 60 transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units and certain courses required for admission. If you meet these unit minimums, your college work will be used to determine your transfer eligibility.

How can I determine if all my college coursework will transfer?

This is an important issue that requires your careful attention. All California Community Colleges have lists of courses that will transfer to the CSU. You may also consult your college counselor or transfer center to help determine which courses will be accepted for transfer credit by the CSU. You can also find lists of transferable courses at www.assist.org.

What is ASSIST?

ASSIST is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer in California. You may visit the site at www.assist.org. It is important that you consult with the campus to which you are planning to transfer to identify the specific courses necessary to meet the transfer requirements.

How can I improve my chances for admission?

The key to improving your chances for admission is under your control. Working hard, earning good grades and taking the right classes will improve your chances for admission. Taking the appropriate general education courses is critical, and, for some majors, it is also important to complete lower-division major requirements to be admitted to an impacted program and to keep on track for timely graduation. Meeting minimum CSU admission requirements qualifies you for admission, but high-demand majors and competitive-admission campuses may require higher standards. It is best not to depend on meeting the minimum standards.

What courses should I take before I transfer?

There are a number of important things you need to remember when selecting courses. Students who transfer with at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) have the best chance to be admitted to a CSU campus. For most students who transfer with at least 60 transferable semester units, it is important to take courses to meet general education requirements. You are advised to complete at least 30 units of general education coursework, including general education courses that meet the general education requirements in written communications, critical thinking, oral communication and mathematics. You should also consult a counselor or ASSIST to determine which lower-division major courses might be advisable to take prior to transferring to a CSU campus.

CSUMentor

What is CSUMentor?

CSUMentor is a free online resource designed to help students and their families learn about the CSU system, select a CSU campus to attend, plan to finance higher education and apply for admission. Personal data entered by the user is not released without the user’s express consent and direction.

What resources does CSUMentor offer?

  • Explore CSU Campuses
  • Allows you to research all 23 CSU campuses:
    • Plan for College
      • Allows you to create a high school or transfer planner that will make it simple for you to apply to the CSU campus of your choice
    • Apply Online
      • The electronic version of the CSU Admission application
    • Financial Aid
      • Allows you to learn more about the financial aid process and apply online
    • Ask an Expert
      • Gives you an opportunity to ask questions that you could not find an answer to

Is CSUMentor free?

Yes, CSUMentor is free to use. The student will only pay the application fee charged directly by the CSU campus when an application for admission is submitted.