CSU Transfer Requirements

CSU Transfer Requirements

The California State University system, also known as CSU, offers many pathways to transfer to one of their fantastic campuses. As such, many students submit transfer applications in the hope of becoming a CSU transfer. If you’re intrigued by the idea of transferring to a CSU, then you’ll need to learn about the CSU transfer requirements. 

Indeed, the CSUs are some of the most transfer friendly colleges in the U.S.–but that doesn’t mean you should go into the process unprepared. Acing your CSU transfer, including fulfilling all of the transfer requirements before the CSU transfer application deadline, isn’t simple. So, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to do your research if you want to successfully complete each step of the application process.

In this CSU transfer guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about CSU transfers and the CSU transfer requirements, including:

• A breakdown of the CSU system
• The best CSU campuses
• CSU transfer requirements
• Different types of CSU transfers
• Lower-division and upper-division CSU transfer requirements
• Cal State transfer application deadlines
• How to transfer to a CSU
• Tips on transferring colleges, and more!

Now, before we get into the CSU transfer requirements, let’s learn more about the actual CSU system. 

What is the CSU?

Let’s start by answering the obvious question: What is CSU? CSU stands for the California State University system. The CSU system is the largest four-year public university system in the U.S. It’s made up of 23 campuses across California and educates over 450,000 students each year. Becoming a CSU transfer is common, especially if you’re from a California community college. In fact, 92% of CSU transfers started their college experience at a California community college. 

It’s important to note that the CSUs are different from the UCs, California’s other public university system. While there are only 9 undergraduate University of California schools, there are more than twice that many CSU schools. Compared to the UCs, CSUs are more focused on pre-professional skills and preparing students to enter the workforce. CSUs are also more affordable, especially for in-state students. 

The CSU system is composed of many transfer friendly colleges. It also offers many helpful resources to walk potential students through the CSU transfer requirements. Even though the CSU transfer requirements vary among schools, there are great tools available to help students prepare for the CSU transfer application deadline. 

What schools are in the CSU System?

If you want to be a CSU transfer, you should first learn about the 23 different CSU campuses. When completing the CSU transfer application, you’ll need to apply to a specific campus. Therefore, make sure you research all the options and choose the best fit for you and your educational goals. 

Here’s a list of the 23 campuses that make up the CSU system: 

CSU transfers to any of the many campuses will continue their studies in an exciting and diverse college environment. In fact, multiple CSU campuses were included in lists of the top colleges in 2024 by Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Money Magazine. Furthermore, all 23 campuses were included on CollegeNet’s social mobility index, meaning that fulfilling the CSU requirements will pay off dividends for your career and future financial prospects. 

CSU System Map

As future CSU transfer students, you’ll want to explore each campus and consider characteristics like size, location, and available majors to start. While all the CSUs are located in California, the CSU system has campuses all over the state.

CSU transfers have the choice of campuses on the coast, inland, and in northern and southern California. There are 11 CSU campuses in Northern California, including Cal State East Bay, Chico State, and Cal Poly Humboldt.  In the South, there are 12, including Cal State LA, San Diego State, and CSU San Bernardino. 

If you want to be a CSU transfer and study in one of California’s cosmopolitan cities, you’re in luck: CSU has campuses in San Francisco, LA, San Diego, San Jose, and more. So, no matter where you want to be in California, CSU has a campus for you. 

But with so many options, you may be wondering which school to choose. Next, we’ll discuss CSU rankings and which of the CSUs are considered the best.

Which California State University is the best?

According to U.S. News’ California State University ranking on their list of Best Colleges in California, the top three CSUs are Long Beach, Fullerton, and San Bernardino. 

CSU Long Beach is located in southern California. Beach, as the school is casually known, is located right on California’s coast. If you’re looking for a school with value, the Long Beach California State University ranking is #1 for social mobility according to U.S. News. And, if you meet these CSU transfer requirements, you can study at a school like CSULB where you’ll be encouraged to dream big and push boundaries, just as their motto states–with “no barriers.”

If you become a CSU transfer at Cal State Fullerton, you’ll attend school in the heart of Orange County. About an hour south of LA, Cal State Fullerton is ranked #70 on the U.S. News’ Best Public Schools list. At Cal State Fullerton, the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill include the completion of 60 semester transferable units. This means that Cal State Fullerton only accepts upper-division CSU transfers. We’ll get more into the difference between upper-division and lower-division transfers later. 

If you’re a lower-division CSU transfer, or a student who’s taken fewer college-level courses before transferring, then you’ll have to look for a school that has lower-division CSU requirements transfer students can qualify under. CSU San Bernardino is one of those schools. San Bernardino is located in Southern California and is near many great hiking trails and natural areas you can explore. 

Choosing the best CSU for you

When researching different CSU campuses you might see the phrase “impacted” program on their websites. This means that these campuses receive a high number of transfer applications. In some cases, only certain majors are “impacted,” and the admissions team might require additional materials from applicants to make an informed decision. Look to see if your intended major is impacted, and consider what this might mean for your application.

Ultimately, the best CSU for you depends on your criteria and what is important to you. There are many factors to consider when looking to complete a CSU transfer. You should think about your preferences, interests, and career goals when making the decision, as well as what campus’s lifestyle and culture is a good match for your own.

In the next part of our CSU transfer guide, we’ll go over a few different scenarios you might find yourself in as a CSU transfer.

Can I transfer from one CSU to another?

Yes, you can certainly transfer from one CSU to another. While the CSUs are transfer friendly colleges, transferring colleges will look different depending on which campus you want to study at and where you are transferring from. 

As previously stated, the CSU transfer requirements will be different at every campus. Even though all the CSUs belong to the same system, you’ll need to prepare differently for your CSU transfer based on which campus you’re looking to matriculate to. Make sure to plan ahead of time for the CSU transfer requirements and confirm which of your coursework will count for the CSU transfer requirements. 

If you’re anxious about fulfilling the CSU transfer requirements, you can use the free online tool: ASSIST. ASSIST is a system for California’s public universities that can help you determine comparable coursework between different schools. 

Additionally, when you’re trying to complete a CSU transfer to another CSU, you’ll need to be clear about why it is critical to your education and career path to transfer campuses. What does your intended campus have that your current one doesn’t? These are the kinds of things you should be asking yourself before the Cal State transfer application deadline—maybe even before you reach the CSU application login page.

CSU to CSU transfers are just one type of transfer situation. Next, let’s discuss some of the most common scenarios CSU transfer students might find themselves in.

CSU Transfers – Three Different Scenarios

Most students who become CSU transfers fall into one of three categories:

• Community college → CSU
• CSU → CSU
• UC →CSU 

The first category of CSU transfer is from a community college to a CSU. This is the most common type of CSU transfer. In fact, community colleges in California have offices that can help you fulfill the CSU transfer requirements. 

The second type of CSU transfer is from one CSU to another. As we discussed earlier, this is totally normal. But, you’ll have to make a good case when you’re completing your transfer application for CSU admissions as to why your next CSU campus is a better fit than your current one.

The third type of CSU transfer is a transfer from a UC to the CSU. Even though UCs are also public universities in California, that doesn’t mean that your CSU application will necessarily be similar. Be sure to look up the Cal State transfer requirements ahead of time, and prepare for CSU admissions by working with your current campus to determine how your credits will transfer. 

Now, let’s look at each of these scenarios in more detail and how they might impact your CSU transfer application. 

Community College to CSU Transfer

There are many reasons why students become CSU transfers from community colleges. Community colleges provide opportunities for students who are juggling work or other obligations while they’re attending college. Some also choose to first attend community college to save money or if they didn’t get into their first choice school as a freshman.

Whatever your reasons, by completing the CSU transfer requirements, California community college students can transfer to a 4-year institution that prioritizes social mobility and diversity. Like community college, most CSUs are far more affordable than other 4-year institutions. If you are an in-state applicant, many CSU transfers will pay less than $10,000 a year–and that’s without any additional scholarship funds. 

Prioritizing transfers from CCCs

Luckily for students at community colleges, the CSU transfer process actually prioritizes community college applicants. The CSUs are committed to admitting students from underrepresented backgrounds and low-income communities, and it’s part of their mission to help students reach their academic and career goals. As previously stated, the vast majority of transfer students come from California community colleges. 

Additionally, California community colleges are well-versed in the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill in order to apply, so they are prepared to help students in the process. There are also programs offered to community college students that help them fulfill the Cal State transfer requirements early. The Transfer Success Pathway program allows incoming community college freshmen to apply to transfer early, essentially guaranteeing them a spot in their chosen degree program at a CSU. 

Transferring as a CCC student

The path to becoming a CSU transfer should begin long before you plan to apply. This may seem daunting. However, California community colleges offer plenty of resources to transfer students, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of them! If possible, start looking at the Cal State transfer requirements during your first year at community college. Even if you don’t know for sure yet whether you’d like to become a CSU transfer, it’s important to keep the CSU transfer requirements in mind when you select your classes—just in case. 

Community colleges have many resources for future CSU transfer students, like the CSU transfer planner. This planner is made for CSU transfer students who are figuring out how to fulfill the CSU transfer requirements before completing their CSU application. Remember, you can start planning out your transfer journey as soon as you start college. Utilizing resources such as the CSU transfer planner make the process super straightforward and approachable. 

CSU Transfer to Another CSU

As we briefly discussed, another category of CSU transfer students is students who transfer from one CSU to another CSU. Sometimes, this happens because a student attends one CSU campus, and then takes some time off, and reapplies—either to the same campus or a different one. 

This is important: even if you are reapplying to the CSU you have already attended, you’ll be applying as a CSU transfer. This means you’ll need to fulfill at least some of the CSU transfer requirements, even though you’ve already completed a CSU application during your first round of college admissions. 

Some CSU transfers want to complete the Cal State transfer requirements and matriculate to a new campus for many of the same reasons as other students transferring colleges. Maybe you didn’t spend as much time on your application during your first round of college admissions as you would’ve wanted, campus life wasn’t what you hoped it would be, or you’re aiming to get into a college higher on the California State University ranking. Whatever the motive, you can transfer to a different CSU campus for a different experience. 

Requirements can vary by school and by program, so make sure that you study the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill early—long before the Cal State transfer application deadline, and even before you create your CSU application login. You can start preparing early with ASSIST, where you can look through the different CSU transfer requirements for different campuses and view articulation agreements by major. From there, you can see how your current coursework would fulfill the Cal State transfer requirements for your intended campus. 

UC to CSU Transfer

Transferring from a UC to a CSU is less common than the other scenarios, but it is still feasible. There are many reasons why students may want to pursue CSU admissions after going to a UC, including affordability, location, and the ability to be a commuter student. The first time that students undergo the college admissions process, they don’t always know what they’re looking for in a college—and that’s okay!  

However, if you’re transferring from a UC to a CSU, it might be a bit harder to complete the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill. The Cal State transfer requirements are created with community colleges in mind, so the credit system and other CSU transfer requirements might be less easily applicable to your coursework. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to fulfill the CSU transfer requirements.

If you’re trying to transfer from a UC to a CSU, make sure that you check with the CSU campus that you’re planning to transfer to before you start planning for your CSU transfer application deadline. By talking to admissions officers on the campus, you can ensure that you don’t miss any of the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill.

There might even be some additional CSU requirements transfer students from UCs have to keep in mind. This is why it’s important to start preparing in advance of the CSU transfer application deadline if you plan on transferring colleges. 

Next in our CSU transfer guide, we’ll go over the difference between CSU transfer requirements for upper-division and lower-division transfers. 

CSU Transfers: Lower-Division Transfer vs. Upper-Division Transfer

The Cal State transfer requirements vary depending on the type of CSU transfer student you are. Generally, there are two types of CSU transfer students: Lower-Division and Upper-Division.

Put simply, you will be placed into one of these categories based on the number of college credits you have. Unfortunately, if you don’t meet the credit requirements of either of these CSU transfer groups, then you won’t be able to transfer to a California State University—that is, of course, until you meet the minimum number of credits. 

So, how can you determine which type of CSU transfer you are? To start, let’s look at each group’s CSU transfer requirements.

While there are certainly some lower-division transfer students, the majority of CSU transfer students are considered upper-division transfers. In fact, some campuses won’t even consider lower-division applicants. So, let’s turn our attention to this more common group of transfer applicants.

In addition to the above, the CSU transfer requirements for upper- and lower-division students can vary by campus. For example, Cal State East Bay has many of the same general requirements listed above, but lower-division transfers cannot apply to their Nursing or Pre-Nursing programs. And as previously mentioned, some campuses won’t even accept lower-division transfers. As such, it’s important to check what CSU requirements transfer students to your campuses of interest are required to meet.

While lower-division and upper-division are the most common CSU transfer students, there are other types. If you don’t fall into one of these two categories, you may have slightly different CSU transfer requirements. So, it’s important to review the official CSU transfer guide and other resources to know which category you fall into. 

Now let’s take a look at another type of transfer student. 

CSU Transfers: Associate Degree for Transfer

Another pathway to becoming a CSU transfer is the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Program. In this case, you’ll earn an Associate Degree from a California Community College then transfer to a Bachelor’s Degree program in a related area. This is an excellent option for students interested in working towards two degrees simultaneously. Additionally, if you meet the minimum CSU transfer requirements, you have priority in admissions—however, it may not be to your first choice campus. 

Associate Degrees for Transfers (ADT) must be completed at a CCC (California Community College). Therefore, this pathway is most advantageous to California residents. If you transfer into a related Bachelor’s program at a California State University, you’ll be able to graduate with both an Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree with just a total of 120 credits. If you’re a California resident interested in becoming a CSU transfer, then gaining an ADT and then transferring is an excellent option. 

ADT transfer requirements

Here are the CSU transfer requirements for ADT: 

• Earn an approved ADT by enrollment
• Completed 18 semester units in major of interest 
• Completed approved General Education course requirements
• Submit all required materials by the specified Cal State transfer application deadline
• Meet minimum CSU transfer requirements and specific program/major requirements

CSU is considered to be among the many transfer friendly colleges in the nation. This means that there are various routes to becoming a CSU transfer. However, there’s no way of gaining CSU admissions without completing the CSU transfer requirements by the specified CSU transfer application deadline. So, let’s check out some of the steps involved in completing the Cal State transfer requirements below. 

Understanding the CSU Transfer Process

Transferring colleges may seem like a tedious process. But, in reality, it’s quite similar to applying to college the first time around. And, it’s made simpler by transfer friendly colleges like CSU.

Consider that there are four main types of CSU transfer students: upper-division, lower-division, CCC Associate Degree for Transfer, and CCC Transfer Success Pathway. The last type are students who have dual admission in a California Community College and CSU. This allows students to study their Bachelor’s degree at one of the many CSU campuses. 

Beginning the CSU transfer process

First, you’ll need to understand which type of CSU transfer you are. This is the first step towards meeting all of the CSU transfer requirements and the Cal State transfer application deadline. 

From the start, CSU transfers are able to use the CSU Transfer Planner which will help keep them organized. The CSU Transfer Planners is an online tool where students can learn more about the 23 CSU campuses and their individual CSU transfer requirements. You can save degree programs of interest if you’re still deciding what to study. And, you can also keep track of your college coursework so you know what credits are transferable. Most importantly, the CSU Transfer planner gives students useful tips on the CSU transfer process and application. 

Exploring CSU transfer requirements

Of course, as a CSU transfer, there are plenty of Cal State transfer requirements. However, the CSU requirements transfer students must fulfill are all centralized in a single application: Cal State Apply.

In addition to the CSU Transfer Planner, resources such as this detailed CSU transfer guide can help make the application process easier. And, each campus’s admissions website usually has a detailed breakdown of the CSU requirements transfer students must meet in order to apply. For example, you can check out Santa Monica College requirements here.

While many CSU requirements transfer students must meet may be similar at different campuses, they can also vary. For example, LACC could have different CSU transfer requirements than Cal Poly Pomona. If you meet all of the CSU transfer requirements, then you’re ready to complete your application.

How do I transfer to a CSU?

As a hopeful CSU transfer, you’ll complete your application using the CSU transfer application portal: Cal State Apply. Through this application, with your CSU application login, you can apply to any of the 23 CSU campuses. Since the transfer application is just as involved as a first-time college application, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to complete it and submit all of the CSU transfer requirements. 

Below are the general CSU transfer steps, but you can check out the CSU transfer guide for a more detailed description of the process. 

While these are the general steps in the application process, there may be additional steps depending on your program’s specific CSU transfer requirements. As some of the best colleges in California, according to the California State University ranking, meeting the minimum CSU transfer requirements is just the start of building a successful application. Once you’ve met the general Cal State transfer requirements, you can then focus on crafting an applicant narrative that makes a clear and compelling case for your transfer.

What are the CSU Transfer Requirements?

As previously mentioned, the CSU transfer requirements will vary slightly depending on the type of CSU transfer student you are as well as the campus to which you’re applying. However, in general you’ll need to submit transcripts, meet a minimum GPA requirement, and submit everything by the Cal State transfer application deadline. Additionally, many campuses have major specific CSU requirements transfer students will need to keep in mind.

When considering the Cal State transfer requirements, students will need to research based on their campus of interest. CSU transfer requirements will vary slightly based on each campus, so check out each admissions website for the detailed CSU transfer requirements. For example, CSU Long Beach doesn’t accept lower-division transfer applicants. Therefore, if this is your top-choice campus, you’ll need to be sure you meet the upper-division CSU transfer requirements.

Impacted majors and programs

Additionally, certain programs are more selective than others. These “impacted” majors or programs are those that are the most popular in the CSU transfer application process.

These will vary based on campus and can change yearly. You may be surprised to learn an entire campus can be impacted! CSU Fullerton is currently an impacted campus, meaning it receives a high quantity of qualified candidates each application cycle. As such, the CSU admissions process for transfers to Fullerton is more competitive compared to other CSU campuses. 

You can look up impacted majors to see if your program qualifies as such—if so, you’ll need to prepare the most competitive CSU application possible to stand out of the crowd! Simply meeting the CSU transfer requirements won’t be enough to gain college admissions to these selective programs. 

What GPA do you need to transfer to CSU?

Both upper-division and lower-division transfer students will need a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to be considered as a potential CSU transfer student. Your overall GPA is calculated based on all of your transfer units attempted. There are also minimum grade requirements for certain general education courses that a CSU transfer must meet in order to be considered for admission. 

However, remember that simply meeting the minimum CSU transfer requirements may not be enough to get accepted into your dream CSU campus. For example, the College of Marin admissions’ site recommends transfer students aim for a minimum 2.5 GPA. So, the CSU requirements transfer students must meet with their GPA is technically a 2.0, you’re unlikely to gain admissions just meeting that minimum. 

As previously discussed, majors or campuses that are in high-demand may have more competitive CSU transfer requirements. As such, simply meeting the minimum won’t help you stand out in the CSU admissions process as there will be many other applicants with stronger GPAs. Consider your qualifications as well as your campus and program of choice when deciding where to apply as a CSU transfer. And, while at your current institution, aim to do the best you can in your courses. This will help you have a competitive GPA and overall application when applying for transfer to one of the many CSU schools. 

When are CSU transfer applications due?

The CSU transfer application deadline will depend on your intended enrollment term as well as the campus to which you are applying. Therefore, it’s always important to double-check your campus’ CSU transfer requirements as well as their CSU transfer application deadline. 

However, each term has a Priority Application Filing Period. Students should explore each campus’ application filing status. Below are the general priority filing periods for each enrollment term: 

• Fall: October-November of the prior year
• Winter: June of the prior year
• Spring: August of the prior year
• Summer: February

After the initial filing period, some campuses continue to accept applications. Essentially, this is similar to rolling admissions, where they will continue to evaluate applications on a space-available basis.

For some high-demand, or “impacted”, majors and programs, you must apply during the Priority Application Filing Period. If you’re applying to a high-demand campus, you should also apply during the Priority Application Filing Period. If possible, consider the CSU transfer application deadline to be during the priority filing deadline. Doing so will give you a higher chance of gaining college admissions to your dream campus and program.

Transferring colleges can certainly be stressful. However, staying organized and prepared will help you stay on top of your CSU transfer requirements and deadlines!

CSU Transfer Requirements – Final Thoughts

In general, CSU schools are transfer friendly colleges, especially for California residents. However, the California State University rankings show that these universities are among the best in California—and the nation! Therefore, gaining admission to one of these schools may require more than simply fulfilling the CSU requirements transfer students need to apply (especially if you’ve got your sights set on a high-demand program or campus!)

In this CSU transfer guide, we’ve given you information about the CSU system, transfer types, and transfer application so you can create your CSU application login and navigate the process with confidence. As you consider transferring colleges, be sure to take advantage of each campus’s tips, and feel free to refer back to this CSU transfer guide at any time. When exploring campuses, consider more than just the California State University ranking. This will allow you to be certain when choosing your campus and program as you begin the application process.

Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the CSU transfer requirements, don’t hesitate to reach out to CollegeAdvisor! Our expert advisors can guide you through each step of completing the CSU transfer requirements and navigating the transfer application process.

This article was written by Rachel Kahn and Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.