EOP applicants must be highly motivated, historically low-income, educationally disadvantaged, first-generation college students (parents have not completed a four-year college degree, siblings do not count). EOP applicants must also meet the income guidelines described below. 

Income Guidelines

EOP applicants should meet the low income guidelines listed below. Applicants whose total family income exceeds the guidelines may be considered if the expected family contribution (as determined by the Financial Aid Office) does not exceed $1,500. These guidelines are not intended to exclude economically disadvantaged students, but to identify and give priority to the most financially needy applicants.

2025-2026 Educational Opportunity Program Income Screening Criteria

Who is counted in Family Size
*Dependent students – student, student’s parent/s and student’s siblings (do not include grandparent/s, cousins, uncles/aunts, etc.)

*Independent students – student, spouse, children (do not include parent/s, nieces/nephews, grandparent/s, etc.) 

Click here to review the 2025-2026 Educational Opportunity Program Income Screening Criteria

Income eligibility is based on the 2025-2026 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) formulas for federal student aid.

For independent students with dependents other than, or in addition to, a spouse, use the income for the appropriate family size in the Dependent Student Category.

These guidelines reflect an income level that will generate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of approximately $1,500. For dependent applicants, this contribution is based solely on the parental income and does not take into account any parental assets nor does it assume any contribution from the student's income or assets. For independent applicants, the contribution is based strictly on income with no consideration of available savings or other assets.

Because of the simplified nature of the income guidelines, it is possible that applicants who satisfy the preliminary income screening for EOP may not demonstrate need for purposes of student financial aid program eligibility. Dependent applicants whose parents have significant assets and who themselves have income and/or savings will be subject to higher contributions than that derived simply from the parent's income. Independent students with savings or other assets will also be subject to higher contributions.

October

CSU and CSUN EOP applications open! Apply through Cal State Apply, go to: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply

Start applying for State and Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA), California Dream Act, and Cal Grants. 

December 2

Deadline to submit CSU Application. Apply now at: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply

January 15

Deadline to submit EOP Application through Cal State Apply

January 31

Deadline to submit EOP Recommendation Forms - make sure to follow-up with your selected recommenders. To confirm that your EOP Recommendation Forms have been submitted, please go back into your Cal State Apply and review their status.

March 2

Priority deadline for FAFSA, California Dream Act, and Cal Grant deadline. The sooner you apply, the sooner your information will be processed!

The following documents are required of all incoming freshman applicants. Additional documents may be required.

• 2 recommendations (on Cal State Apply). At least one must be from a school official who knows you both academically and personally—teacher, counselor, coach, etc. The second can be from a teacher/counselor or a community organization, employer, etc. No recommendations from friends or family members will be accepted.

Please note that you are responsible for ensuring that your recommendations have been submitted.

INDEPENDENT Prospective Students will be require to provide a copy of their Tax forms or EOP Financial Verification Form along w/ supporting documents.  We may require parents tax forms as well to determine “historically” low-income. 

If you answer NO to ALL of the questions below, then you are considered a DEPENDENT student even if you don’t live with your parents, are not claimed by your parents on their tax forms, or are paying for your own bills and educational expenses. You are required to provide your parents’ financial information.

1. You are 24 years of age or older

2. You are married

3. You have children who receive more than half of their support from you

4. You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training

5. You are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces

6. At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a ward or dependent of the court?  Submit a Court Dependency letter. If you need assistance locating these documents, call your ILP coordinator (https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/ALL%20Contact%20List%207.12.pdf?ver=2019-07-15-175937-817) or your CA Foster Care Ombudsperson (https://fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov/).

7. You are an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court? Submit copies of Court Documents.

8. You are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless? Submit letter from Shelter or a letter from your school counselor indicating your status as a homeless youth.

Why does CSUN EOP require a financial document?

One of the initial criteria to be considered for EOP at CSUN is to meet the low income guidelines. Submission of federal tax documents (or other financial documents if your household does not, and is not required to, file taxes) is required in order to enable us to determine whether or not a student meets these low-income guidelines. See below for examples.

• Social Security Benefits Statement
• SS Benefits 1099
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability Benefit Statement
• CalWorks Benefit Statement

My Household Files Taxes (Dependent)

This year students attending an interview will be required to upload or mail a complete copy of their parents 2023 Federal Income Tax forms, including Schedule 1, Schedule C, SE or Schedule E (if applicable).

Sample forms:

• 2023 Federal Income Tax Forms
• Schedule 1
• Schedule C
• Schedule SE
• Schedule E

My Household Does Not File Taxes (Dependent)

If parents don’t file and are not required to file taxes, then you must submit the EOP Income Verification Form along w/ supporting documents (see below).

Supporting documents:

• Social Security Benefits Statement
• SS Benefits 1099
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability Benefit Statement
• CalWorks Benefit Statement

They can also print the SS Benefits by going to: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/proof-of-benefits.html

Independent Student

Independent students will need to bring a copy of their 2021 federal income taxes, or EOP Income Verification Form w/ supporting documents. 

Supporting documents:

• Social Security Benefits Statement
• SS Benefits 1099
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability Benefit Statement
• CalWorks Benefit Statement

Foster Youth or Ward of Court

If a student is a Foster Youth or Ward of Court, then they need to submit a copy of the Proof of Court Dependency letter.  Foster youth can contact their county ILP to request proof of court dependency, go to:

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/ALL%20Contact%20List%207.12.pdf?ver=2019-07-15-175937-817

Transfer Students

Will be require to provide a copy of their Tax forms or EOP Income Verification Form along w/ supporting documents (see below). We may require parents tax forms as well to determine “historically” low-income.

Military

Military: If unemployed and not attending college, proof of military benefits

How to submit your documents:

For security reasons, ONLY students who have scheduled an EOP Admissions Interview should submit documents (for your own peace of mind, please cover or cross out all of the social security numbers except for the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number on all financial documents. Make sure that any bank account information is also covered or crossed out). (include CSUN ID#, First & Last Name, Phone #, Interview Date). 

Having a complete file means submitting your required documents (See above).

After completing your file, we will review your information and determine if you are eligible for an interview. Check your CSUN email regularly. Students selected for an interview will be required to submit parents tax forms or financial verification – as well as proof of filing for financial aid (FAFSA or DREAM ACT).

After you have applied to CSUN, make sure the rest of your admission process goes smoothly:

1. Set up your access to myNorthridge Portal and CSUN email. Watch for the “Activate Your CSUN Account” email from CSUN Admissions and Records sent to the address you provided in Cal State Apply. You should receive the email 1 or 2 days after you apply. For help, see account activation instructions.
2. Monitor your application status. Log into myNorthridge Portal, locate “My Checklist," and review your complete and incomplete tasks such as missing transcripts. For help, see the How To Guides.
3. Check your CSUN email and myNorthridge Portal often for official communications.  The university will stop sending email to your personal address. Helpful: Forwarding CSUN Gmail to Another Account
4. If you are admitted, you must file your “Intent to Register” electronically no later than Monday, May 1, 2024 in order to attend CSUN in Fall 2024. See Admitted to CSUN. If you do not confirm Intent to Register by the deadline, you will not be able to attend CSUN in the Fall 2024 semester

Remember, we want to communicate with you!

• Check your CSUN email often for the latest information.
• Take a moment to verify your paper mailing address in myNorthridge Portal. Learn how at Update Personal Information.

If you would like to formally request that your CSUN EOP application be withdrawn, please complete the form below:

https://csun.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0czsunY4aEtCfk2

By completing the form, you will no longer be considered for EOP at CSU, Northridge and will not be able to reapply in the future.