Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Please note: Since education systems and schools vary by country, your grades and scores from your particular school may not necessarily reflect the evaluated grades for admissions eligibility at CSULB.

Freshmen

Students who have not completed any coursework at a college or university after high school graduation are considered First Time Freshmen. See below for CSULB admission criteria for Freshmen.

Minimum GPA for all majors including STEM: 3.0, or a "B" grade according to the CSULB GPA scale.

All first-year student applicants must submit the following items:

  1. File a CSULB application through Cal State Apply.
    • Please note the Application and Document Deadlines
    • Spring application period: August 1 – October 1*
    • Fall application period: October 1 – April 1*
    • *BA in Music and BA in Dance have an earlier deadline.
  1. Submit original and certified English copies of transcripts from all institutions attended:
    • You must list all high schools/secondary institutions attended on your application to avoid a delay in processing.
    • Transcripts must show grades through the first half of your final year. Please do not send transcripts until those grades are posted to avoid having to submit multiple transcripts.
    • Students with “O” levels must provide scores for at least 5 subjects completed. In addition, please provide scores for least 2 “A/AS” subjects completed.
  2. Meet CSULB English Language Requirements
    • If you have already taken an English Exam, please send your official test score to CSULB.  Please also submit an unofficial copy of your test scores with your supporting documents.
    • Visit English Language Requirements to find the list of countries for which we waive the English demonstration. 
  3. First-year student STEM applicants must have at least three years of high school math.

Undergraduate Transfers

Students who have completed at least 60 transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units are considered “undergraduate transfer” students. See below for CSULB admission criteria for undergraduate transfers.

Please view the major-specific requirements, including Golden 4.

Admission criteria include the following:

Transfer application is only open to Junior/Senior upper-division students who have completed at least 60 transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units. These units must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university to be considered transferable. The number of transferable units will be determined by the International Admissions office.

Minimum GPA requirement for transfer students varies by semester and program. Please check Major Specific Requirements to learn more. 

Transfer application deadlines can be found under Application and Document Deadlines.

Admission Criteria for transfer students differ depending on your current status:

International students (requiring an F-1 visa) who have completed only coursework from the United States, or have a combination of foreign and U.S. coursework:

  • File a CSU Long Beach application through Cal State Apply
    • Spring application period: August 1 – August 31 (Priority Deadline)
    • Fall application period: October 1 – November 30 (Priority Deadline)
  • Complete a Supplemental Application
    • The supplemental application will only be accessible through an email invitation after submitting the Cal State Apply application. Filing period may vary from year to year.
    • Spring Supplemental Application period: September 2 – September 21
    • Fall Supplemental Application period: January 4 – February 1
       
  • Submit all original and certified English copies of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended:
    • For Fall Admission, transcripts must show units through the end of Spring Term.
    • For Spring Admission, transcripts must show units through the end of the previous Summer Term.
    • Please do not request transcripts until the above terms have been met.
    • Applicants submitting electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions (National Clearinghouse, Parchment, etc.) must submit transcripts to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu.
       
  • Meet CSULB English Language Requirements
    • Applicants transferring from a domestic U.S. institution with over 60 transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units may qualify for an English waiver.
    • CSULB waives the English Language requirement for students from certain countries. Please see English Language Requirements page for more information.
       
  • Complete the four foundation courses (known as the “Golden Four”) with a grade of “C” or better:
    • Oral Communication
    • Written Communication
    • Critical Thinking
    • College Level Mathematics
       
  • Complete Major Specific Requirements with a “C” or better grade.
    • Check your major's required courses.
    • Due to the large number of applications, it is highly recommended that you complete both the required and recommended major-specific courses listed in the link above.

* Students attending a California College or University are encouraged to use ASSIST to determine transferable coursework.

International transfers who require an F-1 visa and have only foreign coursework from outside the United States:

  • File a CSU Long Beach application through Cal State Apply.
  • Submit original and certified English copies of transcripts from all institutions attended (high schools and colleges/universities):
    • For Fall Admission, transcripts must show units through the end of previous Spring Term.
    • For Spring Admission, transcripts must show units through the end of the previous Summer Term.
    • Please do not request transcripts until the above terms have been met to avoid having to submit multiple transcripts.
  • Meet CSULB English Language Requirements
    • Please send your official score to CSULB.  Please also submit an unofficial copy of your test scores with your supporting documents.
  • Complete College Level Mathematics.