Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 640 into law, expanding the CSU’s Direct Admissions Program to school districts across California. The California State University will make an offer of admission to certain campuses as long as the student meets certain academic standards, according to the CSU’s website.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, with full statewide participation beginning for fall 2027 applicants, according to CSU website. To receive an official acceptance offer from a campus, students will still need to submit an application and pay the $70 fee, according to the CSU website.
Milpitas High School juniors may soon find the college process less stressful thanks to the new CSUdirect admissions program launching next year, counselor Julie Cler said.
All school districts are supposed to use californiacolleges.edu for student transcripts, so the state of California can see which students are qualified to go to a CSU, Cler said.
“The CSUs will send you an email or a physical mail saying they are offering you a spot,” Cler said. “It states that if you apply, you will get in, but you still have to apply.”
The program evaluates the eligibility using uploaded student transcripts and GPA data, beginning with the 2.5 minimum GPA requirement, Cler said.
“Since transcripts are uploaded into californiacolleges.edu, the state can see which students qualify for a CSU based on their academic records,” Cler added.
If you are eligible for the program, all 16 CSUs will contact you, saying you will get accepted, Cler said.
“You can submit an application for as many of them as you want, if you’re unsure which school you want to end up at, but if you know, say, for example, you really wanted to go to Fresno State and Fresno State gives you direct admissions, then you would just have to apply to them,” Cler said.
The system aims to help students who may not apply because they doubt their chances, especially first-generation immigrants or underserved students who lack confidence in the college application process, Cler said.
“A lot of students hold back because they are unsure if they will get admitted,” Cler said. “This program removes that fear by letting them know ahead of time.”
The program may also reduce overall stress for juniors who feel overwhelmed by the number of campuses and deadlines involved in college applications, College and Career specialist Alcina Rosas said.
“It relieves some of the pressure of having to apply to so many different schools,” Rosas said.
Even though students are identified automatically, they still have to complete a formal CSU application and all required financial aid forms to finalize their enrollment, Rosas said.
“Students should not assume the process is entirely automatic,” Rosas said. “They still need to follow through with applications and make sure they are meeting deadlines.”
Students should take time to explore different majors and visit campuses before deciding where to enroll, Rosas said.
“You still have to work your way through,” Rosas said. “ You get the acceptance, but you still have to apply. They do mention housing and the number of students they can even accept into the school is not going to change.”
Hopefully, the direct admissions system encourages more students to consider four-year universities and begin preparing earlier as more CSU campuses join the program, Rosas said.
“Out of the 22 CSUs, only 16 are participating in this direct admission program,” Rosas added.
The 5 CSUs that are not participating are San Jose State, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach, according to the CSU’s website.
When colleges come to visit our school in workshops, the new program will most likely be explained in more detail, Rosas said.
“But I do plan on having workshops like this past semester,”Rosas added. “I did have, for example, some financial aid workshops for students to come in and be able to get help submitting FAFSA, so if I can find other opportunities for students to get help to submit applications, even if it not just for CSU, but for all colleges, then I will try my best.”
Junior Cole Managad did not know about the California State Colleges direct admission program, he said.
“It seems very open and considerate of a lot of people’s different backgrounds,” Managad said.
The program’s 2.5 GPA requirement may also widen the chances that people have to get into the universities, Managad said.
“It makes me more relaxed about how I will go forward with colleges,” Managad said.
