Admissions Requirements

First-Time Freshmen
Lower Division Transfers
Upper Division Transfers
Second Bachelor's Degrees
Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate 

 

First-Time Freshmen

Fullerton is an impacted campus for all first time freshmen. Impaction means that there are more applications for a campus than can be accommodated. In order to ensure that capacity is not exceeded, more rigorous standards are applied to the freshmen applicant pool. Impacted criteria may include local vs. out of local and major program impaction. This means that all freshmen applicants, whether in our local admissions area or outside of our local admissions area, and depending on major, must anticipate meeting higher levels of competition than the minimum eligibility index required by the non-impacted campuses of the CSU. The actual competition cannot be set until after the initial filing period has closed and we are able to assess the size and quality of the freshmen pool.

Once enrolled, students may be required to meet admissions requirements to change majors. Change of major may not be permitted into specific programs after an applicant submits application. CSU Fullerton does not use alternative major for admission consideration.

All first-time freshman applicants must apply during the initial admission application-filing period (October 1 through November 30 for fall) to be considered for admission. SAT or ACT scores are required regardless of GPA and must be received by CSU Fullerton. All subject matter requirements must have been completed by high school graduation. Subject matter requirements must be met with a C or better and may not be completed during the summer term immediately preceding fall admission.

There are three geographic areas of impaction:

• The local area- includes all high schools in Orange County, Walnut, Whittier, Chino Valley, Corona, Norco and Alvord School districts.
• Other California area- all other areas of CA outside of those mentioned above Out of state and International Please note the local area guidelines and the other CA area guidelines pertain to CA residents.
• Out of state students, non-CA residents and international students fall into the third area of consideration.

Local admissions area freshmen will need to present a strong high school record, with appropriate courses and grades and good SAT or ACT scores so that their eligibility index comes in above 2900 - the CSU minimum criterion. Local area freshman applicants are high school graduates within the geographic purple area depicted below.

Out of local area applicants will need to meet an even higher threshold of competition. Fall out-of-local quality indicators will be similar to last fall; however it is likely that local area quality indicators will rise resulting in reducing the number of local students admitted. The competition for the incoming fall term may be more competitive or less competitive.

A small portion of the freshman class may be admitted based on an eligibility index and additional characteristics including special talents, first generation college status, socioeconomic factors, and indications of overcoming educational obstacles.

Information on A-G high school course validation see Validation of High School Coursework.

For additional information regarding Undergraduate Students see the Catalog.

Lower Division Transfers

CSU Fullerton does not accept lower division transfer applicants.

Upper Division Transfers 

For Spring 2013, it is important to review the following important update.

CSU Fullerton is an impacted campus at the transfer level. Impaction means that there are more applications for a campus than can be accommodated. In order to ensure that capacity is not exceeded, more rigorous standards are applied to the transfer applicant pool. Impacted criteria may include local vs. out of local and major program impaction.

The local area for Cal State Fullerton includes all Orange County Community Colleges. Students must have earned the majority of units from an Orange County Community College to be considered a local applicant. Cal State Fullerton is impacted for all majors. Therefore, the GPA requirement will be determined based on the number of applications received and will not be determined until after the filing period is over.

Once enrolled, students may be required to meet admissions requirements to change majors. Change of major may not be permitted after an applicant submits an application for fall or spring consideration. CSU Fullerton does not use alternative major for admission consideration.

In addition to the GPA requirement, an applicant must be in good standing at the last college or university attended (eligible to re-enroll) and have earned 60 or more transferable semester units (90 or more quarter units), and completed at least 30 semester units of college coursework with a grade of "C" or better in each course to be selected from courses in English, arts and humanities, social science, science and mathematics at a level at least equivalent to courses that meet general education requirements. The 30 units must include all of the general education requirements in communication in the English language and critical thinking (at least 9 semester units) 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. CSU general education requirements ("Golden Four") are designated as Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, and Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning.

Transfer applicants applying for Fall term must complete the Golden Four courses no later than the end of the Spring term.

Transfer applicants applying for the Spring term must complete the Golden Four courses no later than the end of the Summer term.

Applicants applying to impacted majors will be considered for admission based on meeting minimum CSU criteria and the supplemental criteria for the specific major. Former CSU students who are seeking readmission after academic disqualification must meet the GPA standards in place for their major at the time of reapplication.

For additional information regarding Undergraduate Students see the Catalog.

Second Bachelor's Degrees

CSU Fullerton does not accept second bachelor's degree applicants with the exception to Nursing.

Graduate / Post-Baccalaureate

For Spring 2013, it is important to review the following important update.

The University accepts applications from graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants for the spring term beginning August 1st and the fall term beginning October 1st. The Admissions Office continues to accept and review applications until enrollment goals have been met. Please be advised that due to enrollment pressures, we anticipate closing many admission categories quickly. Apply early!

Information regarding more detailed admission requirements, degrees offered, program adviser contacts, e-mail addresses and phone numbers may be obtained on the Graduate Studies Website at www.fullerton.edu/graduate. 

Graduate applications are available online at www.csumentor.edu. Please note that some departments require additional application information and maintain earlier departmental deadlines. This information is available through links on the Graduate Studies Website noted above and through department information on the University Catalog Website.

For additional information regarding Graduate Students see the Catalog.