4-Year Colleges/Universities

California State Universities

The CSU system is a public university system in California that offers high-quality, accessible and student-focused higher education. The mission of the CSU is to provide an affordable college education that is focused on career preparation.There are 23 campuses, which range in size from very small (800 students) to large (30,000+). Campuses are located throughout the state in both rural, suburban and urban areas.

Minimum Requirement for Freshman Admission:

Completion of A-G requirements with a "C" or better
2.5 GPA (10th and 11th grade A-G coursework, only)
Meeting minimum eligibility, determined by the campus and program
ACT or SAT test will not be considered for admissions.

Impaction

At the CSU, there are campuses and majors that are impacted, which means that the number of applications received exceed the available spots available for freshmen admissions. Impacted majors and campuses may establish a higher Eligibility Index for admission. More information can be found here.

Application Timeline (for seniors)

October 1 - Application submission period begins

November 30 - Application deadline

Websites

University of California

The UC system is a public research university system in California. The mission of the UC is to educate students, research and provide public service. There are a total of ten campuses, nine of which offer undergraduate programs, and they are large in size. Campuses are located throughout the state in both rural, suburban and urban areas.
The UC is committed to admitting a high qualified and diverse student population. Admission to UC campuses is competitive, therefore students should aim to go above and beyond the minimum UC admissions requirements. Each undergraduate campus uses comprehensive review to evaluate freshman applicants by weighting in 13 factors.

Minimum Requirement for Freshman Admission

Completion of A-G requirements with a "C" or better
3.0 GPA or higher (10th and 11th grade A-G coursework, only)
ACT or SAT is no longer considered in admissions

Personal Insight Questions

Applicants must submit responses to four (out of eight) personal insight questions. Each response is limited to 350 words. Students should select questions that are most relevant to their experiences and circumstances.

Personal Insight Questions - Guide

Application Timeline (senior year)

August 1 - Application is available online

October 1 - Application submission period begins

November 30 - Application deadline

Websites:

Independent Colleges & Universities

There are hundreds of independent colleges and universities across the United States. California alone has 70+ private, non-profit colleges and universities. Private institutions include research universities, liberal arts colleges, faith-based colleges, and specialized college/universities. They also range in how selective they are in freshman admissions. One thing to note is that the cost of attending an independent college/university is higher than public universities. However, many institutions are able to provide various types of aid depending on the financial situation of the student.

General Requirements for 4-year Universities

College admission requirements will vary by institution. Please refer to a specific college/university admissions page for details.

Completing high school coursework with “C” or better
ACT or SAT may be required or considered, unless test-optional
Extracurricular Involvement
Honors and Awards
Essay - supplemental responses may be required
Letter(s) of Recommendation
Interview/Audition/Portfolio may be considered or required

How to Apply
Each school will specify how an application can be submitted. Many independent colleges and universities accept the Common Application, which streamlines the application process for students applying to multiple independent schools. The Coalition Application is an alternative application that has a Locker (student portfolio), but is limited in member colleges. Another way is to apply directly to a college if it has its own application on its website. Deadlines will vary by institution.

Common Application: Single application that can be submitted to 1000+ colleges
Coalition Application: Single application that can be submitted to 100+ colleges
Directly apply: found on institution's admission website

Western Undergraduate Exchange

Schools participating in WUE are great options for students considering out-of-state public institutions. Eligible candidates may be able request a reduced WUE tuition rate for 160 participating two- and four-year public institutions. The WUE reduced tuition rate is not automatically awarded to all candidates. Each school will have specific requirements.

Websites