Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Eligible students at every public high school, countywide, were offered direct admission to CSU schools — before even applying. RIVERSIDE, CA — A California State University pilot program launched in Riverside County — which provided local high schoolers with direct admission to CSU campuses — has contributed to the passage this month of a statewide law that offers all qualified Golden State students the same opportunity. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 640 into law on Oct. 6. It takes effect January 1, 2026, with full statewide participation beginning for fall 2027 applicants. Under the new law, high school districts will upload students’ academic data to the CSU, and students who meet specific requirements will automatically be accepted into the college system. Accepted students will then decide which of 16 CSU campuses they will formally apply to and will answer a series of questions on the CSU application. High-demand campuses, such as San Jose State, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, and Long Beach State, will still require additional admission requirements. Riverside County helped secure the passage of SB 640. In fall 2024, CSU partnered exclusively with the Riverside County Office of Education to offer the first-ever direct admission pilot. More than 17,000 eligible students at every public high school in Riverside County were offered direct admission to the CSU for the fall 2025 term — before even applying. Eligible students were defined as those on track to meet the college preparatory course requirements. They were offered immediate, conditional admission to 10 CSU campuses via a brochure mailed to their home address. Students then used the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform to select their preferred CSU campuses and received official acceptance letters directly from the universities. The pilot program outcomes were deemed a success. For the class of 2025 high school graduates in Riverside County, 17,428 students were sent direct CSU admission and financial aid mailers. Of those, 13,397 started a CSU application, representing a 22% increase over the class of 2024, according to officials. Additionally, 11,780 students applied to one or more CSU campuses, a 15% increase over the class of 2024; 10,666 students were admitted to at least one CSU campus, an 8.6% increase over the class of 2024; and 4,589 class of 2025 students committed to a CSU compared to 3,201 class of 2024 students. "We are extremely proud to have led the way in California with the successful direct admission pilot program with the California State University and the Class of 2025 in Riverside County," said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. "Boosting college access is critical for the future of the Inland Empire and California." According to the CSU, its direct admissions initiative with Riverside County Office of Education demonstrated measurable success in increasing college access and enrollment by proactively notifying eligible students of their admission to CSU campuses. "By formalizing and expanding this proven model statewide, SB 640 will create a more streamlined, data-driven pathway from California’s public high schools to its public universities," according to a CSU news release. Students who elect to enroll in a community college after high school graduation can enter into an agreement with a specific CSU and major to guarantee future admission to that campus. Visit the Transfer Success Pathway website for more information. CSU's priority application filing period for fall 2026 began Oct. 1 and continues through Dec. 1. The CSU’s existing direct admissions program, which includes Riverside County's 23 school districts, remains in effect. Students in the class of 2026 who are eligible for direct admissions in Riverside County have already begun to receive notifications and free application codes. Eligible students and families can visit www.calstate.edu/rcoe for more information.
