Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is impaction?

In order to manage enrollment within current budget constraints while preserving the highest quality academic experience and services to students, the California State University (CSU) system has declared "system wide impaction" (see CSU Declares Systemwide Impaction). Impaction requires each of the 23 CSU campuses to give priority admission consideration to first-time freshman applicants who graduate from high schools located within a closely-defined geographic area.

CSUSM will accommodate new first-time freshman and upper-division transfer applicants from its local service area, defined as north of Highway 56 in San Diego County extending to southern Orange County and southwestern Riverside County. These applicants must apply during the CSU fall 2010 priority application period of October 1 through November 30, 2009, and must meet all CSU minimum admission requirements and all other University requirements and deadlines for fall 2010.  All requirements and deadlines will be strictly enforced.

Prospective students from outside of CSUSM's local service area are welcome to apply for admission during the priority application period; however, CSU systemwide impaction will be utilized including higher admission criteria, waitlists, academic program impaction, and other options. These students will only be admitted if enrollment space is available after local service area applicants have been accommodated.

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