Approximately 12,000 county high school students will receive direct admission to the California State University for fall 2025 before submitting an application.

The CSU has partnered with the Riverside County Office of Education to offer the first-ever direct admission pilot for the CSU system. Eligible students at every public high school in Riverside County will soon be offered direct admission to the CSU, including Cal State San Bernardino, for the fall 2025 term, before they even apply.

Qualifying high school seniors in Riverside County – those on track to meet college preparatory courses (A-G requirements) – are being offered immediate, conditional admission to 10 CSU campuses by way of a brochure mailed to their home address. Students will then use the CaliforniaColleges.edu​ platform to select their preferred CSU campuses, with official acceptance letters to be sent directly from the universities.

“We are excited to provide a direct pathway to higher education for thousands of high school students across Riverside County,” said April Grommo, CSU assistant vice chancellor of Strategic Enrollment Management. “We want students to know that the door to college opportunity is open to them, and to help relieve some of the stress and uncertainty about applying for college. Riverside County is an excellent location for this first-ever program for the CSU, as it is ethnically and economically representative of the diversity of California, and many of the students the CSU is so proud to serve.”

Along with San Bernardino, the 10 CSUs for direct admission in this pilot are: Channel Islands, Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, San Francisco, San Marcos and Sonoma. Riverside students may apply to other CSUs not on the direct admissions list. If a student applies to an impacted program or campus, additional criteria may be required for admission.

“The direct admission pilot program is a transformative initiative that ensures more students in Riverside County have access to higher education without the traditional barriers,” said Tomás D. Morales, president of Cal State San Bernardino. “This collaboration allows eligible high school seniors to secure their future at California State University even before they submit an application, giving them confidence and early clarity on their academic path. At Cal State San Bernardino, we are proud to be part of a program that strengthens the connection between our university and the community, offering students new opportunities to thrive and succeed.”

“We are grateful for this ground-breaking partnership with the CSU to expand access to a world-class college education for our diverse and talented students in Riverside County,” said Edwin Gomez, Riverside County superintendent of schools. “As one of the fastest growing regions in California, the need for college-educated professionals will continue to soar, and this partnership will remove barriers to higher education, welcoming more college-ready students to the CSU system through this innovative direct admission program.”

After direct-admitted students submit their applications, they must continue to meet the A-G requirements and graduate from high school. Once receiving official acceptance from their university of choice, students must confirm their intent to enroll by the campus deadline and complete any additional enrollment steps such as attending orientation, paying tuition fees, and providing final transcripts or other documentation. Students are also encouraged to apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as soon as possible, and no later than the California deadline, which has historically been March 2.

Eligible students and families can visit the CSU and Riverside County Office of Education Partnership website for more information. ​