Transfer Admission Requirements
Transfer Admission Requirements for California Residents
All of the campuses of the California State University welcome applications from prospective transfer students.
If you complete college units after the summer following graduation from high school, you are considered a transfer student. The number of units you will have completed at the time you enter a CSU determines the admission standards that will apply to your application. It is important to identify which set applies to you.
California resident upper-division transfers: The majority of transfer students from the California Community Colleges enter the CSU as upper-division transfers. In fact, over 50,000 students transfer annually to one of the CSU campuses. CCC students receive the highest priority consideration for admission to the CSU.
Upper-division transfers must complete at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units before transfer.
California resident lower-division transfers: A smaller number of transfers will enter as lower-division transfers (those who have earned 59 or fewer semester or 89 or fewer quarter units). Some CSU campuses do not accept lower-division transfers, so be sure to check with the campus if you are considering transfer as a lower-division student or consult the information available at 
www.csumentor.edu/Filing_Status.
Admission offices at the 23 campuses use a common set of factors to make admission decisions for each category of transfer students. All campuses have higher standards for out-of-state students and international students. Some campuses have higher standards for particular majors. Finally, a few campuses or programs use higher standards for all applicants.
Transfer Admission Requirements for Students who are Not Residents of California
The admission standards for nonresident students are somewhat higher than those for California residents. In addition, California residents receive priority whenever admissions spaces are constrained.
Nonresident upper-division transfers: If you are transferring as an upper-division applicant, you are required to have an overall transfer grade point average (GPA) of 2.4 in addition to the coursework required for resident students.
Nonresident lower-division transfers: If you wish to transfer as a lower-division transfer student you must meet the same admission requirements as resident students. You may also be required to meet the freshman admission requirements for students who are not residents of California.
Please note that the high school coursework requirements are the same as for resident students; however, in the scholarship requirements (grades and test scores), the required eligibility index is higher for nonresident students.
Transfer Admission Requirements for Students from Other Countries (International Students)
Admission requirements for international students are somewhat different than for U.S. students. Information for international students is available on CSUMentor.
Please note that California residents receive priority whenever admission space is limited.
