Cal State school applications open soon. What parents and students need to know
College application season is a stressful time for high school seniors. The process requires time and research to make the right decision for your educational future.
As California’s 23 state schools begin their application period on Oct. 1 for the Fall 2023 school year, The Bee gathered key application requirements to help students and their parents navigate this time. Here’s what we found:
Application requirements
- Prospective students can begin the application process by creating an account on the Cal State Apply website.
- Applications will open Oct. 1 and will close Nov. 30.
- CSU campuses no longer require SAT and ACT scores for admissions. However, if you do decide to submit test scores they will be used to determine your level of general education mathematics and English classes.
- A 2.50 GPA is recommended to make your application more competitive. For non-California residents, GPAs of 3.00 or higher are recommended.
- Completion of certain high school coursework, known as the a-g course curriculum, is required which includes: two years of history; four years of English; three years of math; two years of lab sciences; one year of performing arts; and one year of a college prep elective.
Application fees
College applications can add up, especially at $70 per application, but there are fee waivers available. Upon filling out the CSU application, the system will determine if you are eligible to qualify for fee waivers. Just be sure to click on the “check my fee waiver status” before submitting your application. With the fee waiver you have the opportunity to get the fees for four applications waived. Below are some requirements to be eligible for fee waivers according to the CSU website.
- You must be an undergraduate student and not an extension student.
- A California resident for a minimum of a year
- Either a U.S. Citizen of a qualifying AB540 non-resident
Academic calendar
CSU schools operate on a semester system, except for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which uses quarters. The semesters breaks the year into two sessions. The fall semester starts in August and runs through December. The spring semester starts in January and ends in May.
Campus snapshot
Below you’ll find popular majors, tuition costs and university population numbers on each of the 23 CSU campuses, based on information from the Cal State Apply website.
Cal Poly Humboldt
Popular majors: psychology, art and biology
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,863
School population: 5,739
Chico State
Popular majors: business administration, social sciences and health professions
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,972
School Population: 14,000
Sacramento State
Popular majors: business, communications and criminal justice and safety studies
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,418
School population: 31,573
Sonoma State
Popular majors: business administration, psychology and biology
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 7,182
California State University, Maritime Academy
Popular majors: marine transportation, mechanical engineering and business administration
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School Population: 873
California State University, East Bay
Popular majors: business administration, health sciences and criminal justice
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $6,995
School Population: 12,000
San Francisco State
Popular majors: psychology, marketing and communication studies
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,522
School population: 24,000
San Jose State
Popular majors: Business administration, psychology and engineering
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,899
School population: 36,000
Stanislaus State
Popular majors: business administration, psychology, criminal justice
Full time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 10,000
California State University, Monterey Bay
Popular majors: Business management, marketing and relates support services
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 7,000
Fresno State
Popular majors: Liberal studies, business administration, biology and per-health
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 24,000
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Popular majors:Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Biological Sciences
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $11,022
School population: 21,000
California State University, Bakersfield
Popular majors: business administration, liberal studies, psychology
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 11,000
California State University, Channel Islands
Popular majors: natural resources and conservation, psychology and history
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $6,802
School population: 6,000
California State University, Northridge
Popular majors: Psychology, Cinema & Television Arts, Criminology & Justice
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $13,134
School population: 38,000
California State University, Los Angeles
Popular majors: Sociology, Business Administration - Management, Psychology
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 27,000
California State University, Long Beach
Popular majors: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 33,000
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Popular majors: business administration, psychology, criminal justice administration
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 17,000
California State University, Fullerton
Popular majors: Psychology, Kinesiology, Accounting
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $6,956
School population: 39,000
Cal Poly Pomona
Popular majors: hospitality management, accounting and marketing management
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $7,438
School population: 26, 000
California State University, San Bernardino
Popular majors: Business management, marketing and related support services
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,742
School population: 19,000
California State University, San Marcos
Popular majors: social sciences, business management and marketing
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $12,832
School population: 16,000
San Diego State
Popular majors: business administration, management and operations and psychology
Full-time undergraduate tuition: $8,174
School population: 34,000
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Cal State school applications open soon. What parents and students need to know."
CORRECTION: CSU schools operate on a semester system, except for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which uses quarters.