Admitted First-Time Freshmen
Congratulations on Your Admission!
We’re excited to know you’ll be joining the CSUN Matador family. To secure your place as a newly admitted first-time freshman, you’ll need to complete these steps.
Steps to Finalize Your Admission
To accept your admission offer, submit your Intent to Enroll by the deadlines:
- Fall: May 1
- Spring: Nov. 1
Log in and submit your Intent to Enroll using your CSUN user ID and password. Log in to the CSUN portal using your CSUN user ID and password. The Intent to Enroll option is found under Incomplete Tasks on your student checklist. Please note the CSUN Portal is typically unavailable Wednesdays, 8 p.m. to midnight, due to maintenance.
Submitting your Intent to Enroll is free. If you plan to become a CSUN Matador, submit your intent today!
To verify your final admission eligibility for the fall semester, send us your final, official transcripts by July 15. Please note:
- Final transcripts must include spring grades and your high school graduation date. If you attended more than one high school, you must submit official transcripts from each school you attended.
- If you took courses at a college/university while in high school, submit official college transcripts as well.
Tips on Sending Transcripts
- Electronic transcripts
- We must receive electronic transcripts directly from your high school, district or college. We do not accept transcripts via email.
- To send California community college transcripts, save time with eTranscript California.
- To send other high school and college transcripts from 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.
- Please do not send identical, duplicate electronic and paper transcripts.
- Paper transcripts
- Ask your school(s) to send any paper transcripts in sealed, unopened envelopes directly to our address below:
California State University, Northridge
Office of the Registrar
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8207
The following test scores are optional. If you’ve taken these exams, submitting scores can assist with your placement in math and writing courses. Some test scores may also satisfy one or more of CSUN's lower-division General Education course requirements.
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB) exams (IB)
- ACT and/or SAT. These tests are not required for admission to CSUN but are helpful for placement.
How to send your official test scores:
- Have your official AP, CLEP and/or SAT test scores sent to CSUN electronically using school code 4707.
- Have your official ACT test scores sent to CSUN electronically using school code 0400.
- Request and send paper transcripts for IB exams.
Start Planning Early
- Before developing a plan to finance your education, review CSUN’s estimated cost of attendance which includes basic tuition and fees, books, housing, transportation and personal expenses.
- Through the combination of grants, loans, scholarships, part-time employment, savings and contributions from family, a college education at CSUN is affordable. With much of the grant and scholarship aid eligibility based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) need, it’s important to start planning early.
- For additional information on financing your education, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department. Visit the Student Financial Services website for the latest on tuition and fees.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To be considered for federal financial aid, as well as state aid for California residents, you’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
.Federal and state financial aid include resources such as grants, part-time job opportunities and student loan for eligible students. Learn more about types of aid at Financial Aid Basics.
Important Deadlines:
- FAFSA and CADAA applications must submitted by March 3 for the coming fall 2025 and spring 2026 academic year in California.
- California residents wishing to be considered for a Cal Grant must submit a GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission by March 3 for the coming 2025-2026 year in California.
- FAFSA Tip: Use the IRS data retrieval option to reduce errors and list CSUN's federal school code 001153 on your FAFSA.
How to Apply for CSUN Scholarships
To apply for institutional scholarships, login to myMatador Scholarships with your CSUN user ID and password. You will see the list of scholarships including eligibility and application requirements for each one. Please note that each CSUN scholarship requires a separate application and essay.
Students awarded CSUN scholarships will be notified in late May.
Log in to your CSUN Portal for updates on your application and award status. Visit CSUN on-campus scholarships for additional scholarship opportunities posted throughout the year.
How to Apply for External Scholarships
In addition to the scholarships available through CSUN, a number of external companies and organizations offer scholarships each year. To maximize external scholarship possibilities, apply for as many relevant scholarships as possible.
To learn more about external scholarships, visit our off-campus scholarships website.
Guidelines for Financial Aid and Scholarships
Based on available funding, financial aid and scholarship applications are reviewed and awarded throughout the year.
Log in to the CSUN Portal to view your Financial Aid awards. For navigation help, visit Financial Aid How To Guides.
If registered for classes and your aid is available, University Cash Services will apply financial aid funds to any charges on your account and issue refunds for any remaining amount. University Cash Services will send you an email once your funds have disbursed.
To receive your refund via direct deposit, sign up for eRefund by early August.
To promote public health and safety, the California State University (CSU) has long-established immunization requirements. Under the direction of the CSU Chancellor’s Office, students must meet immunization standards by the end of their first and/or second semesters to avoid holds on class registration.
Visit the Klotz Student Health Center Immunizations page for information on required immunizations, a tutorial on how to upload proof of immunization or immunity through CSUN’s “myHealth Patient Portal,” as well as any additional requirements for students enrolled in health care fields of study and teacher education programs.
Resources:
- For help clearing immunization and other holds, see the View Holds How-To Guide.
- To review CSU vaccination policies, visit Health Screening (CSU Immunization Requirements).
As an incoming freshman, you’ll receive academic advising from one of CSUN’s advising centers before enrolling in classes.
To find your advising center and prepare for your meeting, take these steps:
- Visit I’m a New Freshman.
- At the top of the page, select the button to download and review the New Freshman Advising Checklist in PDF for the semester of your admission — fall or spring.*
- Check your CSUN email for a message from your advising center to schedule an advising and class registration workshop. Be sure to schedule your advising appointment as soon as possible after the date indicated in the above advising checklist, which will be around:
- Early June for fall admission
- Mid-October for spring admission
Notes:
- If you are a member of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, you will be advised by both the appropriate academic advisor and the NCOD: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
- Download and save the advising checklist PDF to your device for reference.
With these steps, you'll be ready to enroll in your first-semester classes!
Tuition and other fees are due at the time you register, but no later than the deadline, about one week before weekday classes begin. Find the exact deadline by semester at payment due dates.
How to Pay Your Fees:
- Log in to the CSUN Portal.
- In the list of links below the “Top Tools” icons, select “Make a Payment".
- Review your “Current Balance Outstanding”.
- Select “CSUN Payment” button.
For additional information, visit the Student Finance and University Cash Services website.
Please be aware of the student disclosure regarding the Schedule of Tuition and Other Fees.
As a first-time freshman, you’re required to attend New Student Orientation (NSO), an orientation program designed to set incoming Matadors up for success. NSO is held a few weeks before classes begin.
For more information and to register for NSO visit First-Time Freshman Orientation.
Prepare for Your Transition to College with a Summer Experience
As a first-time freshman entering CSUN this fall, you have exciting opportunities to participate in a low or no-cost transitional program during the summer before your fall classes begin.
Pathways to Excellence (P2E) is one such program. As a P2E participant, you’ll get to know faculty, staff and other students while discovering valuable campus resources that will help you feel confident, empowered and ready for the adventure of your first-semester college courses.
Visit CSUN’s Pathways to Excellence website to learn more.