California governor signs Cal State direct admissions program into law
Ben Unglesbee
October 14, 2025
A pilot version of the program proactively offered thousands of students acceptance into the public university system.
Dive Brief:
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Qualifying high school seniors in California will be automatically admitted to a California State University campus for fall 2027 and beyond under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law this week.
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Under the program, eligible students will automatically receive letters notifying them that they have been directly admitted to Cal State campuses with enrollment capacity based on their academic records.
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The program expands a pilot announced last year limited to high school students in California’s Riverside County. Out of 17,000 students who received admission offers to Cal State for the fall 2025 term, 13,200 completed the required paperwork, according to state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, who co-sponsored the bill.
