California State University (csu)

Eligibility Requirements

-Minimum eligible GPA 2.0 (high school GPA is based on grades earned after 9th grade in all A-G College Subject Requirements)

-SAT or ACT (CSU’s superscore SAT and ACT exams)

- Enter code (3594) when ordering SAT official scores to ensure all CSUs receive scores

Calculating GPA

Transcripts will typically have three or four categories of GPA depending on your how your district displays GPA on transcript reports: Unweighted GPA, Academic GPA, Weighted GPA CSU/ College Prep GPA

Calculate GPA for students using the CSU GPA Calculator

Side note: The eligibility index might vary depending on the previous entering freshman class.

Eligibility Index

The Eligibility Index will help determine if student is eligible for admissions to the CSU. Please note that impacted campuses and majors will require a higher eligibility index.

Eligibility Index Formula

SAT: (College Preparatory GPA x 800) + SAT Critical Reading + SAT Math

*Include the highest individual SAT scores

ACT: (10 x ACT composite score) + (200 x high school GPA)

eligibility-index.pdf

CSU Local Admission and Service Area

If a campus is impacted, students who are applying from schools and areas that are nearest to the CSU will receive “local preference” or “priority admission”. Please be advised that major impaction will also determine if a student is accepted regardless if they are local applicants. Refer to the CSU Local Admission and Service Area to view the CSUs your site receives "local preference."

CSU Service Area.pdf

CSU application window: October 1st - November 30th

Cost: $70 per campus (Fee waivers are embedded within the application)

23 campuses

Educational Opportunity Program

EOP provides support services to first generation, low-income, underrepresented students at the college level. Services include admission counseling, academic advising, peer mentoring, courses offered in conjunction with academic departments, student success workshops, tutoring, Graduation Writing Test preparation, and supplemental financial assistance.

How to apply:

Applicants must complete the EOP portion on the CSU application. The EOP portion is optional, but encourage all low-income, first-generation students to complete the application.

Materials:

-2 letters of recommendation from teacher, mentor, coach, supervisor

5 EOP Biographical Questions (500-1000 characters):
- Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. (500 characters max)
- Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. (1000 characters max)
- Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? (1000 characters max)
- List any volunteer, extracurricular activities, or work experience in which you are or have been involved in the past two years. (500 characters max)
- Is there any additional information you would like EOP to consider in determining your admission to the program? (1000 characters max)