Research · CSU admissions · October 2026

CSU admit odds by campus and major: SDSU Nursing 3.5, Cal Poly SLO Aerospace 12.0

As of October 2026: San Diego State Nursing Pre-Licensure admits 3.5 percent of first-time freshmen, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Aerospace Engineering admits 12.0 percent.

The CSU is selective by campus and by major. SDSU Nursing Pre-Licensure admits 3.5 percent of freshmen, while Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Aerospace Engineering admits 12.0 percent.

Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach, highschoolreach.com), October 2026. Figures and the table may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

The hardest majors to get into at the CSU, Fall 2025 (first-time freshmen)?

These rows show freshman admit rates where majors had 100+ applicants. We include the first 60 of 896 rows. See the full research table via the link in our notes.

Table trimmed to the first 60 of 896 rows for this page; link the full table at /research/hardest-majors-csu where it exists.

Every impacted major and campus at the CSU?

These rows reproduce the first 60 entries from the CSU impaction list. Impacted means a program or campus has more qualified applicants than spaces.

Table trimmed to the first 60 of 65 rows for this page; link the full table at /research/csu-impacted-majors-2026 where it exists.

Transfer admit rates by major at the CSU, Fall 2025?

These rows show transfer admit rates for majors with 50+ applicants. We include the first 60 rows from the CSU dashboard.

Table trimmed to the first 60 of 829 rows for this page; link the full table at /research/transfer-admit-rates-csu where it exists.

What is the single hardest CSU freshman major right now?

Nursing Pre-Licensure at San Diego State at 3.5.

This number sits at the top of the freshman table for a reason. The major has 8620 applicants and only 306 admits. That makes any small boost in preparation matter. It also means more than a solid GPA. It often takes strong fit to the program path as well.

You will also see that the program is marked impacted. Impacted means demand is higher than the seats on offer. When a program is impacted, the campus can set a higher bar. That can include major-specific screens or points.

What does this mean for a family? If Nursing Pre-Licensure at San Diego State is the dream, set a true reach and a plan B. Keep SDSU Nursing on the list if your student is all in. But also add another campus and pathway from the data in our tables. CSU Bakersfield and CSU Channel Islands list Nursing Pre-Licensure as impacted too. CSU San Bernardino also lists Nursing Pre-Licensure as impacted.

If your student loves care work but wants a better admit chance, scan related majors in the tables. Public Health at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo shows 31.0 for freshmen. Social Work at San Diego State shows 26.3 for freshmen. These may suit the same spirit of work with people. They also keep the door open to a Nursing master entry later.

Which CSU campuses are impacted across all undergraduate programs?

In our impaction table, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo each list ALL undergraduate programs.

Those three rows are the campus-wide ones in the 60 rows we show. The full list holds 65 rows, so a few lines sit outside this page. When a campus lists ALL undergraduate programs, space is tight in many entry points. It does not mean all majors are the same. It means the gate is narrow at the campus level.

For a family, this changes the application list. If your student loves one of these three, keep it. These campuses can be a great fit. But build a balanced set. A strong mix can include a campus with impact in just a few majors. CSU San Marcos, for example, lists Business Administration and Electrical Engineering as impacted, not every program.

Your student can also look for the same major at more than one campus. Business Administration appears across the system. In our freshman table, Business Administration at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo sits at 26.9. In our impacted list, Sacramento State shows Business Administration as impacted, and CSU San Marcos shows Business Administration as impacted. At CSU Long Beach, Business Administration shows 31.4 for freshmen. With more than one target, the path opens.

How tough is nursing for CSU transfer applicants?

CSU San Marcos Nursing Pre-Licensure is 1.2.

Nursing is tight for transfers across many campuses. The top of the transfer table shows very low odds. CSU Fullerton Nursing Pre-Licensure is 1.6. CSU Long Beach is 2.8. San Diego State is 3.8. These rates tell you how sharp the screen is.

For families in the California Community Colleges, this means careful planning. Many students aim for Nursing BSN. But when the admit rate is near 1.2, a backup plan is wise. CSU Monterey Bay lists Nursing (RN-to-Nursing Degree) with 26.8. San Jose State lists Nursing (RN-to-Nursing Degree) with 23.8. Those rows show a step for current RNs.

If the student has not started, look at allied majors with better entry odds. Psychology at CSU Long Beach shows 26.2 for transfers. Social Work at CSU Long Beach shows 23.3. Public Health at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo shows 31.0 for freshmen, and related transfer paths exist in the CSU. A student can enter allied care fields and pursue RN after, or pursue a second degree Nursing path later.

The main move is to make a first plan and a second plan from the table. Nursing Pre-Licensure stays the goal for many. Add at least one allied major with a rate above 20.0. That is a clear way to keep momentum and stay near the same mission.

How selective are Cal Poly San Luis Obispo engineering majors?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Aerospace Engineering is 12.0 for freshmen and 15.7 for transfers.

That first number from the freshman list shows the bar. The transfer rate is a bit higher in our table, but still tight. Mechanical Engineering shows 13.3 for freshmen and 8.7 for transfers. Computer Engineering shows 29.5 for freshmen and 12.5 for transfers. Civil Engineering shows 27.7 for freshmen and 16.3 for transfers. Electrical Engineering shows 13.5 for transfers in our table.

For an engineering-bound student, this spread says two things. First, major choice inside a campus matters. Second, transfer does not always mean easier. In some cases, the transfer rate is lower. The program plan and the timing both matter.

Families can act on this in a few ways. If Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is the dream, list two engineering majors that fit. Computer Engineering and Civil Engineering show higher freshman rates than Mechanical Engineering. Keep both if they fit your student. Also add a second campus for the same major. Cal Poly Pomona Architecture shows 33.9 for freshmen and 27.9 for transfers in our tables. That gives another data point near design fields.

The last step is to align high school or community college work with the target. Impacted engineering majors reward clear prep. That can include the right math and physics by term. A clean path can be the edge when many applicants are strong.

What do the CSU data say about Business Administration odds?

Business Administration at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 26.9 for freshmen, and at CSU Long Beach it is 31.4.

Those two rows give a fast read on business selectivity. They also show how the same major varies by campus. In the impacted list, Sacramento State lists Business Administration as impacted. CSU San Marcos lists Business Administration as impacted. At San Diego State, you can see related business majors in the freshman table with rates from the high 20s to the low 30s.

For families, this means a student who wants business has options. If Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is on the list, 26.9 is selective but open. If CSU Long Beach is a good fit, 31.4 is also selective. A student can add Management at CSU Long Beach, which shows 28.0 for freshmen and 41.4 for transfers in our tables. The spread gives room to build a set that matches the student.

What if the student is set on a business school feel but open on the label? Consider Information Systems. CSU Long Beach shows 26.9 for freshmen. San Diego State shows 27.5 for freshmen and 40.8 for transfers. These are close to the Business Administration rates and can lead to similar roles.

The best next move is to list three business or business-adjacent majors across two campuses. Pick one near 26.9, one near 31.4, and one above 31.4 if you can. This simple spread sets a safer range while holding the same goal.

Which majors run tight at San Diego State?

At San Diego State, Nursing Pre-Licensure is 3.5 and Biology is 23.4.

These two lines set the tone. Add Graphic Design at 24.6, Interior Design at 25.3, and Psychology at 29.3. Finance sits at 30.6. Accountancy sits at 28.0. Marketing sits at 32.8. Information Systems sits at 27.5. Across many fields, the gates are narrow.

Every San Diego State row in our freshman table is marked impacted. Those rows cover Nursing, Biology, design, and business alike. For your student, that calls for more than one SDSU major on the application list or a second campus with similar majors.

Here is one plan. If the student loves Biology, also add Microbiology at 28.1. If the student likes design, also add Art at 34.2. If the student leans to business, add two from Accountancy at 28.0, Finance at 30.6, Marketing at 32.8, or Information Systems at 27.5. This keeps the theme and raises admit odds.

If transfer is in play, scan the transfer table for SDSU lines. Psychology shows 36.9. Computer Science shows 37.7. Marketing shows 40.7. Information Systems shows 40.8. These give a transfer applicant several on-ramps tied to SDSU strengths.

Are arts, music, and design also selective at the CSU?

Yes: Music (Professional Performance) at CSU Long Beach is 23.1, and Graphic Design at San Diego State is 24.6.

Many families think only STEM is tight. The tables show that is not the case. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Art (Studio/Professional Performance) is 25.0 for freshmen. Architecture is 18.5 for freshmen. Music at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 34.1. At CSU Long Beach, Music (Professional Performance) is 23.1 for freshmen and 28.6 for transfers. Art (Studio/Professional Performance) shows 23.5 for transfers.

For a student in the arts, this means the portfolio and prep timeline matters. Impacted programs may have extra screens. That can include auditions or reviews. While the dashboard does not show those steps, the admit rates signal demand.

Families can build balance inside the arts and design theme. One idea is to pair a performance major with a related academic major at the same campus. At CSU Long Beach, you can pair Music (Professional Performance) with Art History at 32.1 for transfers. At San Diego State, you can pair Graphic Design at 24.6 with Art at 34.2. These paths let the student stay near the same creative field with a wider set of doors.

If the student may want tech in the mix, consider Construction Engineering Technology/Management. CSU Long Beach shows 21.3 for freshmen and 40.5 for transfers. That is a design-adjacent path that combines build, project, and studio style work.

What does impaction mean for our family plan?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is listed as ALL undergraduate programs impacted.

That single line sets expectations. It is a popular campus with more demand than seats. In our impaction table, CSU Fullerton and CSU Long Beach also list ALL undergraduate programs. Many other campuses list only certain programs as impacted.

For a family, impaction means your student should build a list that spreads risk. Start with the dream campus or major if it fits the student. Then add the same major at a campus that lists fewer impacted programs. For example, Sacramento State shows Business Administration as impacted. CSU San Marcos shows Business Administration as impacted. That helps you spot where demand is tight and where it may be less tight.

The tables also show majors that repeat across campuses. This is your friend in an impacted world. If Nursing Pre-Licensure is the aim, note that many campuses list it as impacted. If the student is open to allied care fields, Social Work, Public Health, or Psychology appear in our tables with mid-20s to low-30s rates in several places. Those options keep the core goal in view while giving more doors to open.

Which tech and business-adjacent majors are realistic pivots?

Information Systems at CSU Long Beach is 26.9.

That rate sits near other business majors and can be a smart pivot. At San Diego State, Information Systems is 27.5 for freshmen and 40.8 for transfers. Students who like data, projects, and teams can thrive there. It can also link to roles in product, ops, or analytics.

Construction Engineering Technology/Management at CSU Long Beach is 21.3 for freshmen and 40.5 for transfers. That mix is good for students who want tech with a build focus. It blends field work, planning, and systems. It also links to steady roles across regions.

If the student wants finance plus tech, look at Finance and related data paths. Finance at San Diego State is 30.6 for freshmen. Finance at CSU Long Beach is 30.9. A student can round this out with Information Systems at either campus. This keeps a business core with a tech edge.

If the student is coding-curious but unsure, Software Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 23.0 for freshmen. Computer Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 26.5 for freshmen and 18.1 for transfers. Computer Science at CSU Long Beach is 41.4 for transfers. Pairing a more selective and a less selective tech path across two campuses can give room to land while staying close to the same work.

What should we know about CSU transfer chances by field?

Psychology at San Diego State is 36.9 and Computer Science at San Diego State is 37.7.

These two rows show that some majors open up at transfer. Marketing at San Diego State is 40.7. Information Systems at San Diego State is 40.8. Management at CSU Long Beach is 41.4. In contrast, Nursing Pre-Licensure rates at several campuses sit near the low single digits. So the door size depends on the field.

For a community college student, this means the associate plan should match more than one CSU major. If Nursing is the aim, add a second path. Psychology at CSU Long Beach shows 26.2. Social Work at CSU Long Beach shows 23.3. Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona shows 27.9. Business Administration at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo shows 29.9. These are firm paths with real seats.

Also note that some smaller programs can still be selective. Architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 5.4 for transfers. Kinesiology/Physical Education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 7.9. When a program is small, a few seats can change the rate. Keep two or three related majors on the list to hedge that swing.

Use the transfer table like a map. Pick a target near 30.0 or above for one anchor. Pick a target in the 20s as a second anchor. If you keep a dream near 10.0 or under, pair it with two anchors you also like. This builds a safer set while staying on theme.

Which science majors show the most room at the CSU?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Chemistry is 31.9 for transfers, and San Diego State Biology is 31.4 for transfers.

Biology is a crowded field for freshmen. San Diego State Biology is 23.4 for freshmen, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Biology is 24.6. Microbiology at San Diego State is 28.1 for freshmen. These rows show that the lab path is tight at the front door.

The transfer table reads a bit kinder in some rows. Biology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 20.2 for transfers, which is tighter than the freshman rate. Biology at San Diego State is 31.4 for transfers, which is wider. So the same major can shift in both directions.

There are other science doors in the tables. Statistics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 26.2 for transfers. Mathematics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 19.5 for transfers. Land Resource Management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 35.0 for transfers. Marine Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is 21.7 for freshmen.

For a family, the move is to pick two science majors, not one. Pair a crowded major with a near neighbor that shows more room. A student who loves lab work can still land in the same college on campus. That keeps the course plan close to the first dream.

How do we read and use the tables on this page?

This page shows 60 freshman major rows and 60 transfer major rows.

Start by scanning the admit rate column for your student's target. For freshmen, the table includes majors with 100+ applicants. For transfers, the table includes majors with 50+ applicants. The top rows in each table are the tightest, which helps you see the floor.

Next, look for the same major across campuses. Business Administration appears at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 26.9 for freshmen and 29.9 for transfers. CSU Long Beach shows Business Administration at 31.4 for freshmen. That spread helps shape a list.

Then, check related majors. If Nursing is tight, look at Social Work, Psychology, or Public Health entries on the same or a different campus. If one is impacted, there may be a related program with more room nearby. The impaction table lists 60 entries here and points you to the full list for more.

Finally, write down two or three options the student likes from the tables. Pick at least one that sits in the high 20s or 30s. Keep the dream on the list if your student is all in. This turns data into a plan your family can act on.

Related: Nursing in California · Computer science in California · Business in California · Family Decision Report