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Freshmen Student Admissions

Make your way forward at a University that’s centered on you. Here’s how to apply to Cal State Channel Islands.

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Should I apply as a first year or a transfer?

You are a freshman student if…. You are a transfer student if…
You would be attending college for the first time, whether you are just graduating high school, are a GED recipient or are a nontraditional student. You’ve studied at another college or university after graduating from high school and want to earn a bachelor’s degree at Cal State Channel Islands.

Important dates and deadlines

March 17, 2025
Application deadline for Fall 2025
TBD 2025 date
Scholarship application deadline for Fall 2025

Admissions requirements

A freshman student is a student who has earned no college credit after the summer immediately following high school graduation. You’re eligible for admission as a freshman student if you:

  • Have or will have graduated from high school or equivalent; and
  • Meet at least a 2.5 GPA or greater for California residents and graduates of California high schools or a 3.0 or greater for non-residents or graduates from non-California high schools; and
  • Have or will have completed 15 year-long college preparatory courses with a grade of C- or better upon graduation of high school (see table)

 

College prep course requirements

Years Required

Subject

Notes

2

U.S. History and Social Sciences

Must include 1 year of U.S. History OR 1 semester of U.S. History and 1 semester of Government; and 1 year of history/social science from either the “a” or “g” category

4

English

4 years of college preparatory English composition/literature (including no more than 1 year of Advanced ESL/ELD)

3

Mathematics

 A minimum of Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra II OR integrated math sequences

2

Laboratory Science

1 year physical and 1 year biological (one course from the “d” subject area and the other from the "d" or “g” area)

2

Language Other than English

2 years of the same language; American Sign Language is acceptable

1

Visual and Performing Arts

1 year or 2 semester-long courses in the same discipline, including from Dance, Music, Theatre, Drama, & Visual Arts

1

College Prep Electives

Chosen from the "a-f" courses beyond those used to satisfy the requirements of the "a-g" subjects, or courses that have been approved from the U.C. "a-g" list

 

 

Students who don’t meet the outlined GPA requirements may be evaluated on supplemental factors.

 

We’ll consider the following supplemental factors:

 

Supplemental factor: Academic achievement

  • Admissions Requirement "A-G" (10th- 12th grade) GPA
  • Admissions Requirement: "A-G" coursework beyond the minimum 30 semesters

 

Supplemental factor: Community commitment

  • Graduating from a

 

Supplemental factor: Other applicant attributes

  • First-Generation College Student (either parent/guardian has not obtained a bachelor’s degree)
  • Educational Programs Participation (e.g. AVID, Upward, Bound, Talent Search or Education Opportunity Center, Puente Project, MESA, etc.)

California State University no longer uses ACT or SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all campuses. 

 

If accepted to a Cal State school, these test scores can be used as one of the measures to place students in the proper mathematics and written communication courses.

Cal State Channel Islands is proud to be part of a system-wide effort to streamline the admissions process for California's future students.

 

Our innovative automated admissions system automatically evaluates applications nightly and notifies applicants of their admission eligibility status via email. By providing real-time updates, we aim to reduce uncertainty and offer a more efficient and transparent admissions experience.

 

Please note that Automated Admissions is not a substitute for the traditional application review process. While it can provide an initial assessment based on self-reported information, it is essential to submit a complete application and meet all required criteria for a final admission decision.

Steps to apply

Ready to get started? Here are your next steps:

  • Complete your freshman student application at Cal State Apply
  • Pay your $70 application fee or request a waiver
  • Apply for financial aid
  • Review (such as checking your admission status and To Do list on myCI)
  • Get to know Cal State Channel Islands better:
    • Schedule a campus visit (or take a virtual tour)
    • Attend an
  • Contact the admissions team if you need help along the way

We can’t wait to learn more about you and your goals!

Start your application

Freshman student admissions FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions we get from first year student applicants.

Your Dolphin login information was emailed to the address provided on your admission application.

 

If you can’t find this info, please send a request to admissions@csuci.edu from the same email address you used on your Cal State Apply admission application. Be sure to include your full legal name and student ID number.

 

We are unable to reply to messages sent from a different email because we must validate your identity before releasing confidential account information.

You can find your Dolphin ID number on the myCI student portal. Click on the link “Demographic Data” under personal information, and the student ID should be listed there.

You can check your admission status and To Do list at myCI, our student portal. You should receive an email with instructions on you to access and set up myCI within three to six weeks of submitting your application at Cal State Apply.

You may apply for financial aid between October 1 and March 2. .

No. If you have applied for admission to Cal State Channel Islands, you are also eligible to apply for a scholarship. Please refer to the for full details.

If admitted to Cal State Channel Islands, you will meet with an academic advisor and be guided into classes when attending your advising and registration session.

On-campus housing is guaranteed to all new students who apply for housing by the priority deadline. View the for application instructions.

Once you have applied to Cal State Channel Islands, you will see a “yellow triangle” in the admissions section of myCI. This indicates that your application is still in progress. If you are admitted, the yellow triangle will change.

 

In the meantime, you can ignore the yellow triangle—but you should pay close attention to items on your To Do list on the right-hand side of dashboard.

Connect with Admissions

Email

admissions@csuci.edu

Phone Number(s)

Main: 805-437-8520
Text: 805-819-5714