Too Late for CSU? Maybe Not.
Good news: Despite the December 1st priority deadline passing, many California State University campuses are still accepting applications—some through March or even April.
What's Closed (As Expected)
The most competitive CSUs closed right on schedule:
Cal State Fullerton - Closed
Cal State Long Beach - Closed
Cal Poly Pomona - Closed (all majors)
San Jose State - Closed
San Diego State - Effectively closed (only Imperial Valley campus open for limited majors)
What's Still Open (With Extensions!)
Several campuses have extended their deadlines significantly:
Cal State LA - Extended to December 15th
Cal State Bakersfield - Open through December 15th (including engineering!)
Cal State Northridge - Open through January 31st (most majors)
Cal State Dominguez Hills - Open through March 1st
San Francisco State - Open through April 15th
When campuses stay open this long past the priority deadline, it typically signals enrollment challenges. Translation: Your chances of admission may be better than usual.
For example, Cal State Northridge being open through January 31st suggests that students with GPAs above 2.5 have a strong chance of acceptance (except for impacted programs like business).
Check Your Options Now
Don't wait until spring to realize you needed an affordable in-state option. Many families who skip CSU applications end up wishing they hadn't when April comes and the financial reality hits.
Just select "Freshman" and "Fall 2026" to see which campuses are still accepting applications and their specific deadlines.
A Word to Parents
If your student is resisting California schools because they want to go out-of-state, consider applying to a few CSUs anyway as a safety net. It costs far less than discovering in April that you have no affordable options.
Important Notes:
Some campuses like Cal Poly SLO appear "open" but only for their Maritime Academy programs (oceanography, marine sciences)
San Francisco State has limited housing availability and it's expensive—keep that in mind if you're from LA
Even "open" campuses may have impacted majors with higher requirements