Transfer Student: I Want to Apply

We’re so glad you are exploring California State University, Northridge (CSUN) as your next institution of higher education. Visit our beautiful campus in person or virtually to discover why CSUN is one of the premier academic institutions in California and the nation!

CSUN is accepting applications for fall and spring admissions! To support incoming students following the recent public health situation, all California State University campuses are being flexible with certain admission requirements. Learn more at Community College Guidance for Incoming Transfers.

Keep reading to find out what you need to do for transfer student admission.

California Resident Applicants

Upper-division transfer admission

CSUN accepts upper-division transfer applications each year for fall and spring admission during the filing periods shown in the table below. Start preparing today to become a CSUN Matador!

Am I an upper-division transfer student?

An upper-division transfer applicant has completed at least 60 transferable units and met the standard CSU requirements described below. CSUN does not currently accept lower-division transfer applications.

I plan to earn an Associate Degree for Transfer

Unlike regular AA or AS degrees, the Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) earned at a California community college come with certain guarantees for easier transfer and faster degree completion at the California State University. Confirm that your AA-T/AS-T major is approved for transfer to CSUN by reviewing the list at ADT Applicant and California Promise.

What materials do I need to apply for admission?

• Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. You will be required to enter online all courses you have completed, those currently in progress and those you plan to take before attending CSUN. All courses required for admission must be completed by the end of the spring term. No summer coursework will be considered for admission purposes.
• Optional Test Scores. Report results from Advancement Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams you may have taken as they can help satisfy admission and college preparatory subject requirements. Send official AP and CLEP score reports to CSUN using school code 4707. Request and send paper transcripts for IB.
  • Note: Due to the pandemic, CSUN will honor all existing transferable credit articulation for spring 2020 and spring 2021 AP exams on which scores of 3, 4 or 5 are earned — regardless of the test delivery method.
  • Social security number, if you have one. This is for CSU tuition purposes and will not affect your admission application.
  • Your citizenship status. This is for CSU tuition purposes and will not affect your admission application.
  • Credit/debit card. The $70 application fee is due at the time of submission and can only be paid by credit/debit card. The online application will calculate your eligibility for an application fee waiver.
  • Annual income. If you are a dependent, report your parents' income. If you are independent, report your income.
  • If you are applying to the Educational Opportunity Programs, you will be required to report your parent's/guardian’s educational and employment background and submit two letters of recommendation.

  The application periods open on Cal State Apply as follows:

  • Oct. 1 for the coming fall admission
  • Aug. 1 for the coming spring admission

  What are the upper-division transfer eligibility requirements?

  Please note the following timelines for completing admission criteria:

  • For fall admission, complete requirements by the end of the spring term following when you applied for admission. No summer course work you complete after you apply will be considered for admission.
  • For spring admission, complete requirements by the end of the prior fall term.

  All upper-division transfer students need to meet the minimum criteria listed below:

  1. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units) with a GPA of 2.0 or better.
     • Competitive majors. Some majors receive more applications than CSUN has spots to offer (the CSU calls this impaction). To qualify for admission to these majors, applicants must meet or exceed higher GPAs. The GPA thresholds are set annually. Read more at Transfer Impaction.
  2. Be in good standing at the last college or university attended in a regular session.
  3. Have completed each of the CSU General Education courses (known as the “Golden Four” or “Basic Skills”) in Writing, Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning), Critical Thinking, and Speech Communication with a grade of C- or better. Students applying as engineering or computer science majors do not need to complete Critical Thinking prior to admission.
  4. Submit all official college transcripts, including preliminary (work-in-progress) and final transcripts with grades posted, to the Office of the Registrar before the deadlines at I Have Applied. Please note:
  • Electronic transcripts:
    • If possible send your California community college transcripts with eTranscript California.
    • For other colleges, choose "CSU Northridge" as the recipient in your school's transcript ordering system. If this option is not available, use registrar@csun.edu as the recipient email address.

    California State University, Northridge
    Office of the Registrar
    18111 Nordhoff Street
    Northridge, CA 91330-8207

    • Please do not send identical, duplicate paper and electronic transcripts!

    Admission is provisional until all eligibility requirements and deadlines have been met, including those for applicants choosing an impacted major.

    Out-of-State Applicants

    No matter what part of the U.S.A. you’re from, you’ll find a home here at CSUN. Visit our beautiful campus in-person or virtually to discover why CSUN is one of the premier academic institutions in California and the nation!

    If you are a resident of one of the member U.S. states or territories of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, you can enjoy reduced nonresident tuition rates by participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. Learn more at WUE at CSUN.

    Fall Upper-Division Transfer Admission

    CSUN accepts upper-division transfer applications each year during the filing periods shown in the table below. Start preparing today to become a CSUN Matador!

    When to Apply

    Term of Admission	Application Filing Period
    Fall admission	Oct. 1 through Jan. 31
    Spring admission	Aug. 1 through Aug. 30

    Who is an upper-division transfer student?

    An upper-division transfer applicant has completed at least 60 transferable units and met the standard CSU requirements described below. CSUN does not currently accept lower-division transfer applications.

    What materials do I need to apply for admission?

    • Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. You will be required to enter online all courses you have completed, those currently in progress and those you plan to take before attending CSUN. All courses required for fall admission must be completed by the end of the spring term. No summer course work will be considered for admission purposes.
    • Optional Test Scores. Report results from Advancement Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams you may have taken as they can help satisfy admission and college preparatory subject requirements. Send official AP and CLEP score reports to CSUN using school code 4707. Request and send paper transcripts for IB.
      • Note: Due to the pandemic, CSUN will honor all existing transferable credit articulation for spring 2020 and spring 2021 AP exams on which scores of 3, 4 or 5 are earned — regardless of the test delivery method.
      • Social security number, if you have one.
      • Your citizenship status. This is for CSU tuition purposes and will not affect your admission application.
      • Credit/debit card. The $70 application fee is due at the time of submission and can only be paid by credit/debit card.
      • Annual income. If you are a dependent, report your parents' income. If you are independent, report your income.
      • If you are applying to the Educational Opportunity Program, you will be required to report your parent's/guardian’s educational and employment background and submit two letters of recommendation.

      The application periods open on Cal State Apply as follows:

      • Oct. 1 for the coming fall admission
      • Aug. 1 for the coming spring admission

      What are the upper-division transfer eligibility requirements?

      All courses required for fall admission must be completed by the end of the spring term. No summer course work will be considered for admission purposes.

      All upper-division transfer students need to meet the minimum criteria listed below:

      1. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units) with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. A higher GPA is could be required for out-of-state applicants.
      2. Be in good standing at the last college or university attended in a regular session.
      3. Complete each of the CSU General Education courses in Writing, Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning), Critical Thinking, and Speech Communication with a grade of C- or better. Students applying as Engineering or Computer Science majors do not have to complete Critical Thinking prior to admission.
      4. Submit all official college transcripts, including preliminary (work-in-progress) and final transcripts with grades posted, to Admissions & Records before the deadline.
         • Electronic transcripts: In your school’s transcript ordering system, choose “CSU Northridge” as the recipient. If this option is not available, use registrar@csun.edu as the recipient email address.
         • Paper transcripts: For colleges that do not supply electronic transcripts, have the school send official transcripts in a sealed, unopened envelope directly to:

      California State University, Northridge
      Office of the Registrar
      18111 Nordhoff Street
      Northridge, CA 91330-8207

      Admission is provisional until all eligibility requirements and deadlines have been met, including those for applicants choosing an impacted major.