New Student Survey

Kickstart Survey     

New First-Year and Transfer Students, please participate and share your experiences!

Follow the steps below to submit the survey: 

1. Check your CSUSM inbox for the survey email invitation/reminder to access the survey, or click on the following link: 2026 CSUSM Kickstart Survey
2. Enter your CSUSM username (the first part of your CSUSM email before the @)
3. Begin the Survey! The survey is open from August 31- September 21!

Contact the Voices of CSUSM Team at survey@csusm.edu with any questions. 

You can also scan the QR code below to access the survey:

The Kickstart Survey asks about new students’ decision-making process to attend CSUSM, their experiences with the enrollment process, expectations about their upcoming college journey, and additional institution-specific questions. 

• Fall 2025 Results
  • Kickstart Survey Frequency Report
  • First Year Student Experiences Infographic 
  • First Year Student Experiences Infographic Text Version 
  • Transfer Student Experiences Infographic
  • Transfer Student Experiences Infographic Text Version
• Fall 2024 Results
  • Kickstart Survey Frequency Report  (Updated 4/18/25)
  • First Year Student Experiences Infographic     (Text Version)
  • Transfer Student Experiences Infographic     (Text Version)
  • First Year Student Belonging & Engagement Infographic     (Text Version)
• Fall 2023 Results

  In Fall of 2022, CSUSM distributed the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) survey and in Fall of 2023 the survey administration was expanded to include newly admitted transfer students. The survey was rebranded to the CSUSM Kickstart Survey and evaluates the first-year experience with academic and co-curricular programs.

  • First Year Student Report
  • First Year Student Experiences Infographic
  • Transfer Student Qualitative Report

Historical Context: From Fall of 1999-2021, entering first-year students were given the opportunity to complete the comprehensive Freshman Survey distributed annually by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA.

If you require reports or data for a year not listed here, please submit a data request. 

If you have any questions about the survey, contact Dominique Harrison in Institutional Planning & Analysis.