The California State University (CSU) has partnered with the Riverside County Office of Education to offer the first-ever direct admission pilot for the CSU system. Eligible students at every public high school in Riverside County will soon be offered direct admission to the CSU for the fall 2025 term, before they even apply.
Sonoma State University is one of 10 CSU campuses at which qualifying high school seniors in Riverside County – those on track to meet college preparatory courses (A-G requirements) – are being offered immediate, conditional admission by way of a brochure mailed to their home address. Students will then use the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform to select their preferred CSU campuses, with official acceptance letters to be sent directly from the universities.
The direct admission pilot is possible because all Riverside County high schools have completed implementation of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) which provides the high school data to the CSU determining which students automatically qualify for direct admission.
“CCGI is a game changer for California.” said Ed Mills, Vice President for Enrollment at Sonoma State. “We are very excited to be able to reach out to students in Riverside County who are offered direct admission, to showcase our top tier academic programs, amazing campus, and offer guaranteed housing. We would love to partner with high schools throughout Sonoma County to offer direct admission in the future here as well.”
“We are excited to provide a direct pathway to higher education for thousands of high school students across Riverside County,” said April Grommo, CSU assistant vice chancellor of Strategic Enrollment Management. “We want students to know that the door to college opportunity is open to them, and to help relieve some of the stress and uncertainty about applying for college. Riverside County is an excellent location for this first-ever program for the CSU, as it is ethnically and economically representative of the diversity of California, and many of the students the CSU is so proud to serve.”
The 10 CSUs for direct admission in this pilot are: Channel Islands, Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Marcos, and Sonoma. Riverside students may apply to other CSUs not on the direct admissions list. If a student applies to an impacted program or campus, additional criteria may be required for admission.
After direct-admitted students submit their applications, they must continue to meet the A-G requirements and graduate from high school. Once receiving official acceptance from their university of choice, students must confirm their intent to enroll by the campus deadline and complete any additional enrollment steps such as attending orientation, paying tuition fees, and providing final transcripts or other documentation. Students are also encouraged to apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as soon as possible, and no later than the California deadline, which has historically been March 2.
Eligible students and families can visit www.calstate.edu/rcoe for more information.