I Want to Apply

Fall 2023

Applications are accepted between October 1 and December 15 for the following fall.

San Diego State University receives applications from thousands of highly qualified applicants each year. You must choose a major when applying to transfer to SDSU. Applicants are admitted based on preparation for the intented major. Learn how to make your application more competitive by closely reviewing the admission requirements before you apply.

Who is a Transfer Student?

You can apply as a transfer student if you will have completed 60 or more transferable semester (or 90 or more quarter) units by the end of spring 2023 for fall 2023 admission.

We do not accept transfer applications from lower-division students with fewer than 60 transferable semester units.

Fall 2023

SDSU is only accepting applications for a second bachelor's degree in nursing. Applicants to the second bachelor's degree in nursing must have earned their first bachelor's degree from an institution that carries United States regional accreditation.

Fall 2023

  • SDSU accepts applications from students with international coursework.
  • You must meet the Transfer Admission Minimum Requirements to be considered for admission.
  • If you have international coursework, please review the information below before applying to SDSU.

International Transcript Evaluation

San Diego State University requires transfer applicants with international coursework to submit official foreign transcripts to both San Diego State University and an approved international transcript evaluation service. All college/university transcripts from foreign institutions must be submitted for detailed, course-by-course credential evaluation. Below is a list of approved providers of evaluation services. Please contact the evaluation service as soon as possible.

The requests for official transcripts and preparation of the evaluation may take several weeks to process. Refer to your my.SDSU account for required documents and deadlines.

International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
Phone: (310) 258-9451
Fax: (310) 342-7086
ierf.org

World Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Phone: (212) 966-6311
Fax: (212) 739-6100
wes.org

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
Phone: (414) 289-3400
ece.org

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
Foreign Education Credential Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington DC 20036-1135
Phone: (202) 296-3359
aacrao.org

The International Evaluation service provider will need to mail the completed detailed, course-by-course credential evaluation and transcripts to the address below:

San Diego State University
Office of Admissions
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7455

Before You Apply

Transfer Admission Minimum Requirements

SDSU is impacted at the undergraduate level in all majors and programs. Upper-division transfer applicants exceeding the minimum requirements will receive admission priority for available spaces.

Choose Your Major

  1. Select the major that you are going to pursue. If you completed 100% of your transferable courses from Palomar or MiraCosta colleges, review the Majors Not Offered by CSU San Marcos.
  2. Review the cumulative GPA requirements for your intended major.
  3. Determine which pathway you are going to follow for admission.
  4. Be aware of majors with special instructions.

Majors with Special Instructions

You must meet the Transfer Admission Minimum Requirements and successfully pass an audition for acceptance to the major and the University. Please visit the Prospective Dance Student website for additional information.

Applicants to international business must choose a different language from the principal language of instruction used at the high school or secondary school from which they graduated. Please visit the Prospective International Business website for additional information.

You must meet the Transfer Admission Minimum Requirements and successfully pass an audition for acceptance to the major and the University. Please visit the Music Audition and Application Information website for additional information.

Prospective nursing transfer applicants must complete all nursing prerequisites by the end of the fall 2022 term in order to be eligible for fall 2023 admission consideration. Nursing prerequisite courses may not be in progress during spring 2023. No exceptions will be granted.

In addition to applying for admission online at Cal State Apply by December 15, 2022, you must also complete the Academic History Update on the Cal State Apply website (previously referred to as the SDSU Supplemental Application) and answer the specific nursing questions in January 2023 for fall 2023 admission. Upper-division and second bachelor's students applying to nursing must complete nursing prerequisite courses by the end of fall 2022. Please visit the School of Nursing website for additional information.

Transfer students admitted to the pre-major in television, film, and new media with an emphasis in production are required to submit a petition portfolio the second Monday in April. Please visit the department website for additional information on the portfolio requirements.

You must meet the Transfer Admission Minimum Requirements and successfully pass an audition for acceptance to the major and the University. Please visit the BA Emphasis in Performance web page for additional information.

Steps to Apply

Online Resources

Determine how transfer course credits can be used to meet SDSU General Education and major preparation course requirements:

  • The Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) includes course equivalency information for colleges and universities throughout the United States. You can also use TAP to identify any specific grade requirements for individual courses or combinations of courses. TAP is updated annually to reflect the most current University Catalog information.
  • The ASSIST website is the official repository of articulation for California's public colleges and universities. Use the articulation agreements search to find equivalent department- or major-specific courses at your current institution, or the transferable courses search to see which courses at your community college are approved for transfer and general education at SDSU.