Transfer Application and Admission

Cal State LA will be opening Spring 2024 admission to domestic upper-division transfer applicants for select majors.

• Applicants must apply via the online Cal State Apply application between August 1-31, 2023.
  • For Spring 2024 admission consideration, all admission requirements must be completed by the end of Summer 2023.
• The following major is CLOSED for Spring 2024 admission:
  • Nursing - Basic Pre-Licensure BSN
• Due to the short application period, Spring 2024 admission is not available to international applicants who require a 'F' visa to study in the United States of America.

As you review the information below, please take note of the following:

• Applicants must apply via the online Cal State Apply application between October 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023. Deadline extended to December 15, 2023 for all programs except Nursing BSN.

• Applicants must apply via the online Cal State Apply application. For some tips on how to complete the application, visit our Application Tips webpage.
• The Cal State Apply application requires you to enter all college coursework so have your transcripts handy and make sure you have adequate time before the deadline to complete your application.
• Most admission decisions are made using self-reported information in the Cal State Apply application. Please answer questions accurately and completely. Failure to do so will negatively affect admission eligibility.
• To facilitate transfer success, all Cal State LA majors have major-specific requirements for admission that focus on lower-division preparation in the major. Please visit the Major-Specific Criteria webpage for the latest information about these requirements.

To be considered for transfer admission you must meet the following minimum requirements by the end of the prior Spring term for Fall admission, and by the end of the prior Summer term for Spring admission:

• Complete 60 transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units, which must include a minimum of 30 semester units or 45 quarter units in courses approved to meet CSU General Education (GE) requirements.
• Complete with a grade of 'C-' or better by the end of the prior Spring term for Fall admission or by the end of the prior Summer term for Spring admission the CSU GE requirements in Written Communication, Oral Communication, Critical Thinking*, and Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning.
• Have a minimum, overall college GPA of 2.00 or higher in all transferable college coursework attempted.
• Be in good standing at the last college or university attended in a regular session.
• If your college coursework was not taken at an institution where English is the only language of instruction, you will have to satisfy the English Language Proficiency requirement.

*The CSU Critical Thinking course requirement is waived for most Engineering and Computer Science majors. Please see the Major-Specific Requirements for Admission for details.

Be Aware: Cal State LA does not accept Lower Division Transfer Applications (applicants who completed less than 60 transferable semester units).

Cal State LA serves as a model of access and attainment—the success and graduation of our diverse student body remains our number one priority. Our success as an engine of social mobility was confirmed in a study by The Equality of Opportunity Project that ranked Cal State LA number one in the U.S. for the upward mobility of its students. Our transfer admission criteria align with our commitment to provide access and timely graduation for students.

Applicants who meet the minimum Cal State LA criteria above will be considered for admission based on their selected major and whether they are considered 'local' based on their community college or military status.

Review the Major-Specific Criteria webpage for your major's specific requirements.

Be Aware: Students are offered admission to a specific major. Once a student has enrolled at Cal State LA, changes of major are limited based on both the admission requirements of the major and Cal State LA's Timely Graduation policy. Acceptance of the offer of admission indicates the student plans to pursue the major as stated in the admission offer.

Transfer applicants must declare a specific major on the application, and may not be considered Undeclared. Applicants cannot select an alternate major. Transfer applicants must meet minimum CSU Upper Division Transfer eligibility requirements to be considered. Admission determination is then based on the major-specific criteria listed.

All Cal State LA majors have Major-Specific Requirements for Admission, which are focused on transfer student preparation that predicts success in the major and promotes timely degree completion. The criteria listed will be reviewed annually for future admission cycles. For Fall term admission, coursework must be completed no later than the prior Spring term. For Spring term admission, coursework must be completed no later than the prior Summer term.

Local applicants

Except for Nursing, CSU eligible applicants who are considered local based on their community college, or their military veteran status, will be offered admission if they meet the required minimum cumulative GPA, required major preparation, and the required general education courses listed. We encourage local area applicants to also complete any recommended courses to promote timely graduation even though they will not be used in the admission determination.

Non-local applicants

CSU eligible non-local applicants who meet the required minimum cumulative GPA, required major preparation, and the required general education courses listed will be admitted on a space-available basis based on their cumulative GPA and any recommended courses specified in the criteria.

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) recipients

While the ADT is not required for admission except for Psychology, priority consideration is granted to applicants who are on track for completing the specific AA-T/AS-T degree listed by the end of spring for Fall admission, or the end of summer for Spring admission. In this case, the Transfer AA/AS curriculum is used in lieu of the specific required and recommended courses listed. Under CSU guidelines, the minimum required cumulative GPA has been adjusted as indicated. Non-local applicants will also benefit from a 0.1 GPA bonus used in the ranking of non-local applicants.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements

If space is available after all students meeting the required minimum major GPA and required major and general education preparation or the indicated Transfer AA/AS degree have been accommodated, then CSU eligible students without the minimum requirements will be considered based on a ranking of the criteria completed with local applicants receiving a 0.25 GPA bump.

1. Explore and choose a major to declare on your application
2. Apply online at Cal State Apply by the deadline
3. Update the transfer coursework reported on your application
4. Submit official transcripts or other documents only if requested

STEP 1: Explore and choose a major to declare on your application

Cal State LA requires applicants to declare a major on the application for admission consideration. Applicants must thoroughly educate themselves on their intended major's requirements for admission and degree completion prior to submitting an application for admission. Applicants will not be asked for an alternate major. Changes of major cannot be requested once the application has been submitted. In addition, once a student has enrolled at Cal State LA changes of major are limited based on both the admission requirements of the major and Cal State LA's Timely Graduation policy.

STEP 2: Apply online at Cal State Apply by the deadline

Applicants must apply between October 1, 2023-November 30, 2023 for Fall 2024 admission; or August 1-31, 2023 for Spring 2024 admission. To apply to Cal State LA, visit Cal State Apply. You will be required to enter all of your college coursework as part of the application process. In addition, applicants will have to report their progress in meeting the Major-Specific Requirements for Admission. Applicants must ensure all information is reported accurately. Failure to do so may affect their admission decision. Once the application is submitted, we will send you a notification by email to acknowledge the receipt of your application.

STEP 3: For Fall applicants, update the transfer coursework reported in your application

You will be required to update your academic course information to be considered for admission:

• For Fall admission: Transfer coursework must be updated in January so that Fall grades and Spring enrollment can be included.
• For Spring admission: No transfer update is required. If offered admission, official transcripts with grades thru the preceding summer must be submitted by November 1st.

Additional information may also be requested of some applicants at this stage in the process. Please do not submit transcripts or other documents unless requested.

STEP 4: Submit official transcripts if offered admission

Cal State LA makes transfer admission decisions based on self-reported information from the application. In order to verify eligibility, admitted students will be required to submit official transcripts from all colleges attended. Admission decisions are conditional and may be withdrawn for students who misreported, missed the document deadline, or are not on track to meet the terms of the admission offer. Admitted students wishing to accept our offer will need to submit all official transcripts within 30 days of the admission offer.

Additional documents may be required in certain circumstances:

• Students earning an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) will be required to verify that they are on-track for completion of the degree by the end of Spring for Fall admission, or by the end of Summer for Spring admission.
• Students who are eligible to receive credit based on Advanced Placement, CLEP, or International Baccalaureate assessments will need to have official test scores sent to Cal State LA. Be aware that credit granted by another institution does not 'transfer' to Cal State LA for test credit.
• For purposes of determining California residency, some students may be required to submit additional documents. Review the Residency webpage for information regarding the establishment of California residency.
• Veterans of the United States Armed Forces should submit discharge papers (Form DD 214). This should include descriptions of the types of training you received while in the service. Such training, in some cases, may count as credit transferable to Cal State LA. Additionally, Veterans and active duty military should also submit their military transcripts (e.g. AARTS, SMART, or Community College of the Air Force) displaying additional coursework that may be transferable.

Cal State LA uses email as the official means of communication with applicants. Initial admission communications are sent to the email reported in the Cal State Apply application. Applicants are required to maintain a current email address on file with the University, and to check their email regularly.

Throughout the admissions process, the Office of Admissions and Recruitment will send communications to the "preferred" email address as indicated in your GET Student Center. You may update your email address at any time by visiting your Golden Eagle Territory (GET) Self-Service Student Center.

To help prevent these important emails from being flagged as spam/junk mail by your email provider, please mark the calstatela.edu domain as a safe sender in your email account.

Offers of admission are normally made in February and March for Fall admission, and in October for Spring admission. All offers of admission will be provisional and subject to verification based on official transcripts. Admission offers may be withdrawn if the GPA, completed courses, or course grades are lower than what is reported or if you miss any admission deadlines. Please make sure to report accurate information on your application.

How do I accept the offer of admission?

To accept the admission offer, admitted students must pay the non-refundable $100 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (ECD) by May 1st for Fall admission; or November 1st for Spring admission. The deposit will offset a portion of the student's State University Fee. This is in addition to submitting documents to confirm the admission decision within 30 days of the admission offer.

What if I am not offered admission to Cal State LA?

In addition to applying to Cal State LA, we hope you have considered applying to one or two other colleges so that you will have alternatives in the event that you are not offered admission.

Can I appeal my admission decision?

If you believe you are eligible for Cal State LA admission, you may appeal our decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 15 days of the date of the denial notification and must include a basis for the appeal and supporting academic records. We will respond via email to your appeal request within four to six weeks. Only one appeal may be submitted for an academic term. For more information, visit the Admission Appeals webpage.

Here are some important items to consider if you are offered admission and decide to attend Cal State LA:

Financial Aid: Check out Financial Aid to explore the programs that can assist in making Cal State LA affordable. Be sure to review the application procedures and priority deadlines.

Campus Housing: Living on campus offers numerous opportunities for students to build lifelong friendships, develop as leaders and achieve academic success. We offer apartment-style residence halls that are a short walk to class, the University-Student Union, and various campus resources. To learn more, visit the Housing and Residence Life webpage.

Admitted Student Information: If you have already been offered admission, refer to the Information for Newly Admitted Transfers.

College Test Credit: Students who are eligible to receive credit based on Advanced Placement, CLEP or International Baccalaureate assessments will need to have official test scores sent to Cal State LA within 30 days of the admission offer. Be aware that credit granted by another institution does not 'transfer' to Cal State LA for test credit, and if the exams were taken more than 4 years ago, please plan ahead. Archived test records may take up to 3 weeks to be sent to Cal State LA.

Orientation, Advising, and Registration: To help ensure a smooth transition to Cal State LA, new transfers are required to participate in a one-day Golden Eagle Orientation during the summer. Additional information will be sent beginning in May for fall admission (or in November for spring admission) to students who have accepted the offer of admission. For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Orientation webpage.