The application period for admission to the fall 2014 term for all CSU campuses will open on Tuesday, October 1. Students intending to apply for fall admission should visit the website www.csumentor.edu to complete the online application.

“A degree from a California State University campus continues to be one of the great values in all of higher education as our alums boast higher career earnings and graduate with far less debt than those from other institutions,” said Ephraim P. Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “Our ongoing challenge is meeting the ever-increasing demand from students who hope to earn those degrees. If California is to meet the future needs for the highly educated workforce that our state’s key industries demand, funding to allow for increasing enrollment is critical.”

For the past several years, the CSU has had to turn away between 20,000-25,000 fully eligible new students each year due to massive cuts in state funding. With the state’s reinvestment in higher education in the 2013-14 budget, CSU’s enrollment will increase by about 6,000 students over the course of the year. This still leaves nearly 20,000 students who may be turned away because of inadequate funding. At their recent September meeting, CSU Board of Trustees reviewed an initial budget proposal for 2014-15 that includes a request of additional funding to grow enrollment.

High school seniors, community college transfer students and others applying for admission as undergraduates are encouraged to apply no later than Nov. 30, 2013. After that date, most CSU campuses will stop accepting applications. CSU Mentor is the best systemwide source for updated information on applying to campuses and programs.

A new tool that will provide students with additional insight into making their college decision is a degree database recently launched by the CSU Chancellor’s Office. This resource provides potential students with a comprehensive listing of all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the 23 campuses.

The next step after applying is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application beginning in January 2014. More than half of all CSU undergraduates receive enough in financial aid to cover the full cost of their tuition fees. CSU students also benefit from one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation.

About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 437,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. The CSU awards over 96,000 degrees annually and since its creation in 1961 has conferred nearly 2.8 million.