Admission Requirements — California State University, Dominguez Hills

Carson, California • Founded 1960 • "Vox et Lux"

CSU System • Non-Impacted Campus • Hispanic-Serving Institution

Institutional Profile and Selectivity

• Acceptance Rate: Approximately 80 percent overall. Open-access institution with strong regional and international recruitment.
• Undergraduate Enrollment: Approximately 14,000 students — a mid-sized CSU campus with a commuter character.
• Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 22:1 — accessible faculty with strong mentorship opportunities.
• International Students: Representing over 30 countries, comprising approximately 3 percent of the total student body.

Exact Qualification Requirements for International Applicants

• CSU Minimum A-G Requirements: Completion of all 15 A-G courses with a grade of C or better. International students must demonstrate equivalent secondary school completion through official transcripts and credential evaluation.
• GPA Requirement:
  • California Residents: Minimum 2.0 GPA (CSU system minimum). Competitive applicants present 2.5 to 3.0.
  • Non-Residents (Domestic): Minimum 2.5 GPA. 3.0 or higher is strongly recommended.
  • International Students: Minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Competitive candidates present 3.0 or higher. All international transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-approved credential evaluation service such as WES, ECE, or SpanTran.
  • Nursing Program (BSN): Minimum 3.2 GPA. Highly impacted with limited seats. International students must complete all science prerequisites with no withdrawals.
  • Business Administration: Minimum 2.8 GPA. 3.2 or higher recommended for internship placement and scholarship eligibility.
  • Computer Science: Minimum 2.8 GPA. Mathematics and science coursework is heavily weighted in the evaluation.
• Supplemental Application: Not required. CSU Dominguez Hills uses the standard CSU application exclusively. No additional essays, portfolios, or supplementary forms are required for any program.
• SAT and ACT Policy: Test-blind. Scores are not considered for admission, scholarship eligibility, or course placement under any circumstances.
• English Language Proficiency for International Students:
  • TOEFL iBT: Minimum 61 overall with 18 in writing and 18 in reading. Institutional code for CSUDH is 4098.
  • IELTS Academic: Minimum 5.5 overall with no band below 5.0.
  • Duolingo English Test: Minimum 95.
  • PTE Academic: Minimum 45.
  • Cambridge English: Minimum 160 on C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency.
  • Exemptions: Students from countries where English is the official language or who have completed three or more years of secondary education in English-medium institutions may request a waiver.
• Financial Documentation for I-20 Issuance: International students must demonstrate liquid funds of approximately $36,000 USD for the first academic year. This includes tuition, fees, living expenses, health insurance, and personal expenses. All financial documents must be dated within six months of the application submission date.
• Visa Requirements: F-1 student visa required for all international students studying on campus. After admission, the International Student Services office issues the Form I-20. Students must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and schedule a visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
• Application Deadlines:
  • Priority (Fall): November 30.
  • Regular (Fall): January 31 — space-available basis only. International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by November 30 for visa processing timelines.
  • Spring Semester: October 1 for international applicants.
  • Summer Session: Limited enrollment. Contact International Admissions directly for eligibility.
• Local Preference: CSU Dominguez Hills provides an admissions advantage to students from the South Bay and Los Angeles County region. International students are not subject to local preference limitations but must meet all published academic requirements.

Additional Tips for a Successful Application

• Course Rigor and Advanced Placement: Completion of three or more AP examinations with scores of 3 or higher qualifies students for the Presidential Scholarship — valued at $2,000 to $4,000 annually.
• International Student Scholarships: CSU Dominguez Hills offers the International Student Achievement Scholarship — a merit-based award of $2,500 to $5,000 for first-year international students with a minimum 3.2 GPA and TOEFL of 80 or higher. The application is included in the general admissions application.
• Work-Study and On-Campus Employment: International students on F-1 visas are eligible for on-campus employment up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during breaks. CSUDH maintains partnerships with local employers for practical training opportunities.
• Strategic Major Selection: If you are targeting a highly impacted program such as Nursing with a GPA below 3.2, consider applying to Health Sciences, Kinesiology, or Biology. Internal transfer to Nursing is possible after one year with a 3.5 GPA and completed prerequisites.
• Financial Aid for International Students: International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid. However, CSU Dominguez Hills offers the International Student Achievement Scholarship and various departmental awards. The Office of International Admissions provides a comprehensive list of external scholarship opportunities for international candidates.
• Personal Statement Strategy: The optional CSU Personal Insight Questions are reviewed by the admissions committee. International students are strongly advised to complete these questions. Your responses should demonstrate your academic commitment, cross-cultural adaptability, and specific interest in CSU Dominguez Hills' programs.
• Transfer Students: International transfer students with Associate Degrees for Transfer from California community colleges receive guaranteed admission with a 2.0 GPA. International transfer credit is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Admissions.

Strategic Summary for International Applicants:

CSU Dominguez Hills provides a accessible pathway for international students with a 2.5 to 3.0 GPA and a TOEFL of 61 or higher. Competitive candidates present a 3.0 GPA and TOEFL of 80 or higher for scholarship consideration. Nursing and Business programs require elevated qualifications. All international applicants must submit NACES-approved credential evaluations and financial documentation for I-20 issuance. Apply by November 30 for priority consideration and to ensure adequate visa processing time.

Critical Deadline: International applicants must submit all materials by November 30 for priority consideration. Late applications are evaluated on a space-available basis only. Nursing and Business programs fill early — apply by November 15 for guaranteed review.