Freshman Impaction

Impaction Supplementary Criteria

All first-time freshman applicants must meet the minimum standard CSU admission requirements described at First-Time Freshman Admissions. Freshman applicants affected by CSUN impaction must also meet CSUN's supplementary admission criteria described on this page to be considered for admission. 

Topics on this page:

• Fall 2024 Impaction
• Impacted Majors by Academic Year
• Does freshman impaction affect you?
• Impacted Major Admission
• Eligibility Index
• Fall 2024 Admission Criteria - NEW!

Fall 2024 Impaction

Please note these important changes for fall 2024 and spring 2025 impaction: 

• CSUN has removed local-area (regional) impaction for both first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students. All California applicants will need to meet the same minimum standard CSU admissions criteria.
• Applicants will also need to meet the supplementary criteria for the four impacted academic programs if they choose one of those majors. Supplementary criteria for impacted majors will be published here at a later date.

Fall 2024 admissions information is now available at First-Time Freshman Applicant. All California applicants graduating from California high schools must possess a minimum eligibility index score of 2500 using the multifactor variables criteria at California Resident Applicants.

Currently, applications from first-time freshmen are accepted for admission to fall semesters only.

Impacted Majors by Academic Year

Does freshman impaction affect you? 

To find out whether or not impaction affects you, take the following steps in the suggested order:

1. Determine if you will be applying to an impacted major.

• Choose your major carefully. Ask your high school counselor for tools to explore careers or contact a CSUN preadmissions counselor to talk through options.
• You can take the free O*Net Career Exploration Assessment to identify your interests and matching job zones.
• Explore your options with CSUN's Majors & Programs search tool.

2.  You are NOT affected by impaction if you are a nonresident of California or a U.S. service member (active duty or veteran). Find application instructions at:

• Domestic Out-of-State Applicants (A higher eligibility index must achieved even without impaction.)
• International Admissions (A higher admission standard is already required.)
• Veterans Admissions

Impacted Major Admission

The list of impacted, competitive majors may change annually. The academic department for each impacted major may set supplementary admission criteria for its applicants.

• If you are choosing an impacted major and you are a student from California, you will need to meet that major’s supplementary admission criteria if any.
• The number and academic characteristics apparent in the freshman applications from California residents will determine the need for supplementary admission criteria. In all majors except Music, this could mean achieving a higher admission eligibility index than is required for a non-impacted major. Space permitting, applicants who meet any supplementary criteria will be admitted first, until the impacted major is full.
• The list of impacted majors may change in future academic years.

Applying to Impacted Majors

The following impacted business majors and options admit applicants to the pre-major program. Then, after successfully completing the pre-major, students file for a change of major:

• Accountancy - Information Systems and Professional Accountancy options
• Business Administration - Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, and Risk Management/Insurance options

Applicants to the following impacted major are required to pass an audition:

• Music - Refer to Audition & Placement.

Cinema and Television Arts (CTVA), the remaining impacted major, will set supplementary criteria (a higher eligibility index) and admit applicants directly to the major program based on their CSU eligibility index.

Eligibility Index

The CSU statewide eligibility index is based on the multifactor admission criteria published at California Resident Applicants. GPAs are based on grades earned in college preparatory courses ("A-G" subject requirements) taken during the final three years of high school. Included in calculating GPA are any bonus points earned for approved honors courses.

Domestic out-of-state applicants, please review admission criteria at Out-of-State Applicants.

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Fall 2024 Admission Criteria for First-Time Freshmen

The following section describes admission criteria for Fall 2024 impaction. Please note, first-time freshman applications are currently not considered for spring admission to CSUN.

The two tables below describe the admission requirements for Fall 2024 first-time freshman applicants who have graduated from California high schools located within and outside of CSUN’s local admission area. Table 1 shows the admission criteria for CSUN’s non-impacted majors and Table 2 the criteria for impacted majors. Please note:

• Applicants who meet the minimum Eligibility Index for their group will be admitted.
• These impaction criteria were set for Fall 2024 admission only and may vary for future admission cycles.
• The minimum standard CSU admission requirements, visit First-Time Freshman Requirements.

California Residents Applying to Non-Impacted Majors

CSUN has removed local-area impaction for both first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students. All California applicants will need to meet the same minimum standard CSU criteria.

California Residents Applying to Impacted Majors

All graduates of California high schools, regardless of location, who are applying to an impacted major must meet the higher, supplementary requirements for that major. Out-of-state students must attain a minimum eligibility index of 3000, but they are not subject to impaction.

See Table 2 below for the minimum Eligibility Index admission criteria for local and non-local area applicants to impacted majors.

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