California State Universities

 

Explore Your Future at the CSU

The California State University (CSU) system comprises 23 campuses across California. It is the largest and one of the most diverse public university systems in the U.S., with nearly 433,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff members. It offers over 1,800 bachelor's and master's degree programs in some 240 subject areas. SBCC students have strong transfer pathways into the CSU system, with counseling, degree programs, and support designed to help you reach your goals.

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Transfer to CSU from SBCC

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

Santa Barbara City College offers Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees, which are part of California’s statewide Associate Degree for Transfer program. These degrees are designed to make the transfer process to the California State University (CSU) system more streamlined and predictable.

By completing an ADT at SBCC, you can:

  • Earn a degree that is fully transferable to the CSU system.

  • Receive priority admission consideration at CSU campuses (though not necessarily to a specific campus or major).

  • Transfer to CSU with junior standing, having completed no more than 60 transferable semester units at SBCC.

  • Finish a bachelor’s degree with 60 additional CSU units if your major is designated as “similar” to your ADT.

Important to know:

  • ADTs apply only to the CSU system; they may not be the best option if you are planning to transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state university.

  • Some majors are considered “high-unit majors,” which may require more than 60 units after transfer.

  • Each CSU campus determines which ADT majors are considered “similar.”

CSU Transfer Planner—Your Personalized Transfer Guide

Utilize the CSU Transfer Planner, an online tool that allows you to:

  • Explore and plan your transfer to any CSU campus.

  • Log your SBCC coursework to track general education progress.

  • Compare your current GPA against CSU transfer-admission requirements.

Transfer Success Pathway (TSP)—Dual Admission Program—Your Pathway to Guaranteed Admission

The Transfer Success Pathway is a special dual-admission program that helps SBCC students secure a clear route to a CSU campus. By participating, you can set yourself up for guaranteed admission to a CSU degree program during your first semester at SBCC.

To join, students complete the CSU Transfer Planner and agree to follow a planned course sequence. If all program requirements are completed within a three-year timeframe, you are assured admission to your selected CSU campus and program. It's crucial to start early, so schedule a meeting with an SBCC counselor as soon as possible to gain more information and initiate the process.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a recent high school graduate or have earned a GED.

  • No college credits may have been earned since high school graduation.

  • Applications must be submitted between August 1 – October 31 during your first year at SBCC.

General Transfer Requirements for SBCC Students

SBCC students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for transfer to a CSU:

  • Complete at least 60 transferable semester units, including:

    • A minimum of 30 semester units of approved general education coursework.

    • The "Golden Four" requirements with a grade of C- or better:

      • Oral Communication

      • Written Communication

      • Critical Thinking

      • Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning

  • Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher across all transferable college courses attempted. Note that some high-demand majors and campuses may require a higher GPA.

General Education Patterns & Transfer

SBCC students transferring to California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campuses should understand these GE options:

  • IGETC—The older pattern for students who started before Fall 2025. It satisfies lower-division GE requirements for both UC and CSU when each course meets specific subject and grade standards.

  • CSU GE Breadth—Designed for students headed only to CSU campuses. It covers a broad set of general education areas. This pattern will continue for students with catalog rights from before Fall 2025.

  • Cal-GETC—Starting Fall 2025, Cal-GETC becomes the single lower-division GE pathway for CCC students transferring to CSU or UC. It requires completing 34 semester units across defined subject areas (including Ethnic Studies) and replaces the older patterns for new students.

What SBCC students need to do:

  1. If you began at SBCC before Fall 2025, check if you have catalog rights that let you choose between IGETC, CSU GE Breadth, or Cal-GETC.

  2. If you begin at SBCC in Fall 2025 or later, you will follow Cal-GETC to transfer unless your major or transfer destination requires a different pathway.

  3. Meet with a counselor to map your GE courses properly and ensure they align with your major and target university.

Utilize ASSIST.org for Course Articulation

ASSIST.org is the official course transfer and articulation system for California's public colleges and universities. Use it to:

  • Find transferable courses.

  • Understand how SBCC courses align with the requirements of CSU.

 

Fall 2026-27 CSU Admissions                                                                                                          

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