• Admissions and Records
• Admissions Criteria
  • 1st Time Freshman
  • Transfer Students
  • Graduate Students
  • International Students

Admissions Criteria

International Students

Freshmen Applicants

Students applying to a bachelor's degree program with no previous coursework at a college or university are considered first–time university students or "freshmen." Freshmen applicants must have completed the secondary education/high school in their own country or the equivalent in another country. Good academic standing with a "B" grade point average (on a scale of A, B, C, D, F) or better for all the courses taken at the secondary school is required.

Transfer Applicants

Students applying to a bachelor's degree program with completed secondary education and some coursework at a college or university are considered "transfer" applicants. Good academic standing with a "C+" grade point average (on a scale of A, B, C, D, F) or better for all the undergraduate courses is required.

Graduate Applicants

Students who have earned a degree equivalent to a four year U.S. bachelor's degree may apply for a master's degree. These applicants are considered "graduate" applicants. Good academic standing with a "B" grade point average (on a scale of A, B, C, D, F) or better for all the undergraduate courses is required.

Entrance Examinations

Undergraduates: The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American Collegiate Test (ACT) may be required if you have attended three or more years in a U.S. accredited high school. A minimum score of 550 on Math and/or verbal SAT will exempt applicants from the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) and/or Entry Level Math Exam (ELM) freshman placement exams, respectively. The SAT is not required for prospective international students but could help move them directly to their college English classes. When registering for the TOEFL or SAT or ACT exams, applicants should use the number 4098 for CSUDH.

Graduates: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the Graduate Management Test (GMAT), or other tests may be required. Please check with your department for specific requirements.

English Proficiency - TOEFL or IELTS

All undergraduate applicants who have not attended schools at the secondary level like a community college or above for at least three years full–time where English is the principal language of instruction must present a minimum score of 500 on the paper–based or 61 on the internet–based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or a minimum score of 5.5 on the IELTS.

Applicants who have met all admission requirements except TOEFL can apply for conditional admission through the American Language and Culture Program (ALCP –ESL). Once they have improved their English skills and passed TOEFL, they can start their degree programs.