Applicant FAQ
SAT/ACT Test Scores
For Fall 2021, the CSU will temporarily suspend the use of ACT/SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses for the 2021-2022 academic year. This temporary change of admission eligibility applies only for the Fall 2021 admission cycle.
Am I given priority if I apply early?
No. Application dates will not be a factor in your admission decision.
Do I have to pay my application fee immediately?
No. You can submit your application and pay the $70 fee later online. Application fees are due within 30 days after you have submitted your application.
I made a mistake on my application, what do I do?
You cannot make changes to your application once it has been submitted. You will need to email the Office of Admissions at [email protected] and provide the details of changes/corrections that you would like to have considered. Our office may request official transcripts to verify changes made. Requests to make changes/correct errors must be received within 30 days of the submitting your application.
When do I send transcripts?
Freshmen, Transfers, and Graduate applicants will have different dates for transcripts. The deadline for transcripts will be clearly posted on your my.csumb dashboard when you first log in.
Can I email or fax you my transcripts?
No. Transcripts must come to our office in a sealed envelope with a school official’s signature on the actual transcript. We will not consider faxed or emailed transcripts official.
When do I send test scores?
High school seniors must send their test scores by the end of December to guarantee that the scores will be included in their evaluation.
My grades have improved since I applied, can I resend transcripts?
You may, but the university will typically evaluate students based on the time they applied. There is no guarantee that new grades will be taken into account.
What classes do you look at when calculating my GPA?
For high school seniors, only your sophomore and junior college preparatory grades will be calculated. Your senior grades will be added to your GPA calculation after graduation to verify your eligibility.
For college transfer students, we will evaluate you based on all college transferable coursework.
For graduate students, we will evaluate you based on your most recent 60 units of college level coursework.
When will I receive an admission decision?
Fall undergraduate applicants will receive admission decisions in February through March. Graduate applicants are admitted after their program reviews their application material. International applicants are admitted on a "rolling" basis after they apply.
I’m applying to a graduate program, do I still apply on calstate.edu/apply?
Yes, all grad students apply on Cal State Apply and send transcripts to the Office of Admissions. We will verify that you have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in your last 60 units.