Fall Transfer Steps to Apply

San Diego State University uses the CSU common admission application, Cal State Apply. Please keep the following items in mind before you complete and submit your application:

• Application Fee - A nonrefundable filing fee of $70 must accompany your application.
• Major - You must choose a major when you apply to SDSU. All majors are competitive, meaning every major has more applicants than available slots (impaction). Transfer students are admitted based on intended major for a bachelor's degree at SDSU. Therefore, you will not be able to change your major as an applicant or admitted student.
• Transfer Coursework - You must report all transfer coursework from all institutions you previously attended. Admission decisions are initially based on self-reported information provided on your Cal State Apply application, including the Academic History Update (submitted in January). You must provide complete and accurate information on your application. Any misreporting will jeopardize an admission offer. Do not send your transcripts unless you are offered admission.

Apply to SDSU

Back to Top

• Activate Your SDSUid

  Within two weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University containing your SDSUid and instructions for activating your account.

  Your SDSUid provides secure access to my.SDSU, the university's online portal for admissions, financial aid, student records, tuition and fee payments, and other student services. Be sure to follow the instructions in the email to activate your account.

• Log In to my.SDSU

  Access my.SDSU by selecting the my.SDSU Login button. Sign in using your SDSUid and password. You will be required to use DUO Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) to access your account.

• Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date

  SDSU communicates important admissions and enrollment information by email. Check your email regularly and keep your email address up to date in my.SDSU. Use the Profile tile to review and update your contact information as needed.

• Track Your Application Status

  Use the Admissions tile in my.SDSU to check the status of your application. Use the Tasks tile to review and complete any outstanding checklist items (To Dos).

• Additional Requirements for Select Programs

  Applicants to dance; music; musical theatre; nursing; television, film and new media-production; and theatre arts-performance programs will receive additional instructions from their academic department regarding auditions or portfolio requirements.

Admission Decisions

Admission decisions will be sent by email. Fall first-year and transfer applicants are typically notified in the spring.

Need Help With Your SDSUid?

Visit the SDSUid Help web page if you did not receive your SDSUid email or need help activating your account. You can also watch the How Do I Activate My SDSUid? video tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

If you need additional assistance, review the Student Help Resources. For help using my.SDSU, review the my.SDSU Student Guides.

Back to Top

As a transfer applicant, you must update your academic history and prerequisite information on the Cal State Apply website by January 31, 2026. The Cal State Apply Academic Update will open early January 2026. Please check your email for important updates. Admission is based on self-reported information. SDSU will verify this information using your official transcripts after you are admitted.

The academic history and prerequisite information update is a requirement for:

• all upper-division transfer,
• upper-division readmission applicants, and
• those seeking a second bachelor's degree in nursing,

and is used to gather essential information necessary for admission decisions. Your admission is based on the information provided on the Cal State Apply application. If you are offered admission to SDSU, you will be required to submit official transcripts that verify the information you provided. If there is a discrepancy between your official transcripts and the information you provide on the Cal State Apply application, your offer of admission may be withdrawn.

Rescinding admission can result from discrepancies in you coursework, GPA, test scores, grades, number of transferable units, or if you miss any admission deadlines. To ensure accuracy, refer to your college transcripts and education plan.

Back to Top