Undergraduate Admissions
First-Time Freshman CSU Admission Requirements
Admission to Fresno State is competitive in certain majors because Fresno State continues to have more qualified applicants than can be accommodated by state funding. This is called Program Impaction, which means that meeting the minimum CSU minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission to Fresno State. Visit our Impaction Information page to learn more about our impacted programs.
All First-Time Freshman must meet the following CSU minimum eligibility requirements:
- be a high school graduate or equivalent;
- complete the 15-unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory courses; and
- earn a qualifying “a-g” grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or 3.0*
More information about each of these requirements is provided below.
*Depending on an applicant's student type and GPA, multi-factor admission scores may be used to increase eligibility. See Multi-Factor Admissions Score (MFAS) for more information below.
Note: All A-G subject requirements must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher. Specific AP, IB, and CLEP exams may also be used to fulfill A-G requirements. Official AP, IB, and CLEP test scores must be sent directly to Fresno State. Test scores listed on a transcript will not be accepted for A-G fulfillment.
| Area | Subject | Years | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | History and Social Science | 2 years (4 semesters) required | One year of U.S. History or one semester of U.S. History and one semester of American Government. One year of history/social science from either A or G subject areas. |
| B | English |
4 years (8 semesters) required |
Four years of college-preparatory English composition and literature.
|
| C |
Mathematics* *Please note: Acceptable courses include Algebra I or Math I, Geometry or Math II, Algebra II or Math II, or Pre-calculus, Calculus, Statistics or other advanced math. |
3 years (6 semesters) required; 4 years recommended |
Three years of college preparatory math, including or integrating topics covered in algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra. Math courses completed in the seventh and/or eighth grades and approved integrated math courses may be used to meet part or all of this requirement. |
| D |
Laboratory Science |
2 years (4 semesters) required; 3 years recommended |
Two years of college preparatory science required with laboratory (one biological and one physical). Integrated science and interdisciplinary courses can meet this requirement. One year must be from the D subject area and the second year may be from the D or G area. Yearlong sequence courses of the same subject are not required. Area can be met with different semesters provided the student completes one year of physical science and one year of biological science. |
| E |
Language Other than English* *Please note: This requirement is different from the UC. |
2 years (4 semesters) required |
Two years or through the second level of high school instruction in the same language or 2 one-year, first-level language courses in different languages. Applicants cannot mix and match semesters (i.e. one semester Spanish and three semesters French) or use partial credit units to meet the requirement. Students are encouraged to complete 2 years of the same language. |
| F |
Visual and Performing Arts* *Please note: This requirement is different from the UC. |
1 year (2 semesters) required |
One yearlong course or 2 semester courses required. Courses can be chosen from the following disciplines: dance, music, threatre, visual arts or interdisciplinary arts. Two semesters of coursework must be successfully completed before high school graduation. |
| G |
Electives (Additional college preparatory elective) |
1 year (2 semesters) required |
Any of the A-F subject areas above and beyond the minimum equired or approved college preparatory course in area G. |
Resources:
To review the CSU minimum first-time freshman requirement, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/getting_into_the_csu/Pages/admission-requirements.aspx
There are career and technical education (CTE) courses that can be used to meet any of the subject area requirements listed above. Please refer to https://www.ucop.edu/agguide/ for the entire listing of approved courses.
Applicants will be considered eligible for admission to Fresno State if they meet one of the following:
- CA-Residents or Graduates of a California high school who have an a-g coursework GPA of 2.5 or above
- Non-CA Resident or Graduate of an out-of-state high school who have an "a-g" coursework GPA of 3.00 or above
The grade point average is calculated on all a-g courses completed after 9th grade. When filling out the admission application, your GPA should include a-g courses taken the summer after 9th grade through 11th grade.
| Grade | Grade Points |
| A | 4 |
| B | 3 |
| C | 2 |
| D | 1 |
| F | 0 |
Honors classes, AP exams, College classes, or IB and CLEP exams:
- In your calculation, add an extra point to any UC-approved honors, AP, college or IB grades used to satisfy A-G requirements in which you received a grade of C- or better.
- Up to 8 semesters can be awarded extra points in the GPA calculation.
- Up to two honors points can be awarded for UC-approved honors courses taken in the 10th grade.
- No extra points are added to grades of D+ or lower.
- In order to be an "approved honors course," the high school course must be identified as honors on the official high school "a-g" course list. The “a-g” course list can be found at https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist.
More information about GPA calculation can be found on the CSU GPA Calculator website.
Additional Resources:
To review the CSU minimum first-time freshman requirement, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/getting_into_the_csu/Pages/admission-requirements.aspx
For admission to the CSU, graduation from high school and receipt of a high school diploma are admission requirements.
GRADUATION OPTIONS
It’s always best to stay in high school to receive your high school diploma. Sometimes, though, that’s just not possible to do. There are options for completing the equivalent of a high school diploma. So if you cannot earn your diploma, consider the General Education Development program (GED), High School Equivalency (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) exams. These are examinations that, upon successful completion, offer the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Resources:
To review the CSU minimum first-time freshman requirement, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/getting_into_the_csu/Pages/admission-requirements.aspx
Fresno State will be utilizing a Multi-Factor Admissions Score (MFAS) process to evaluate their incoming freshman students. SAT or ACT tests will no longer be utilized or considered as part of the admission eligibility review, and will not be used as part of the MFAS score.
Self-reported information submitted in the Cal State Apply application will be used to determine eligibility. The MFAS score is a combination of your GPA from “a-g” coursework, and additional supplemental factors, if applicable.
Applicants will be considered eligible for admission to Fresno State if they meet one of the following:
- CA-Residents or Graduates of a California high school who have an a-g coursework GPA of 2.5 or above, and have met the minimum “a-g” coursework requirements.
- Non-CA Resident or Graduate of an out-of-state high school who have an "a-g" coursework GPA of 3.00 or above, and have met the minimum "a-g" coursework requirements.
The following supplemental factors will be utilized for Fresno State applicants who fall below the CSU minimum a-g coursework GPA:
For California high school graduates or CA-residents earning an “a-g” GPA of 2.00-2.49 and non-California residents or out-of-state high school graduates with an “a-g” GPA of 2.47-2.99, Fresno State will utilize up to eight (8) additional “a-g” courses taken above the required 30 semester minimum (15- unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory course).
All applicants who graduate from a high school in our local area will benefit from an additional 100 Local Advantage Points towards their admission score.
For reference, please see historical impaction tables.
To view the list of impacted programs for first-time freshman students.
To review the minimum CSU requirements for first-time freshmen.
Resources:
To review the CSU minimum first-time freshman requirement, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/getting_into_the_csu/Pages/admission-requirements.aspx
To review the CSU first-time freshman guidance, visit https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:8c95efbd-6f1a-4013-8b6a-962ff74e3caf?x_api_client_id=chrome_extension_viewer&x_api_client_location=share.
For first-time freshman frequently asked questions, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/Pages/first-time-freshman-faq.aspx