FTFY Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective First-Time First-Year Students

The College of Business  (COB) at CSULB provides well-rounded curricula that prepare students for the competitive world of business. COB is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International(AACSB), which represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, and is also continually rated as one of the Best Business Schools by Princeton Review. 
 

COB extends beyond the classroom through a variety of co-curricular activities. Our student organizations are award-winning and highly connected to our Corporate Partners. The Student Center for Professional Development provides students with the opportunity to gain leadership skills, fine-tune business etiquette and networking skills, establish internships, and create professional mentoring opportunities. Our students also have opportunities to put what they have learned into practice by competing in programs such as the Beach Investment Group (B.I.G.), Sunstone Innovation Challenge, Boeing Case Study Competition, and the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition.

Yes. Applying via CalState Apply presents 8 major options for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree: 

Admission to COB will be to a “pre-major” status. To continue in your major option, you will be subject to meeting specific lower division course and GPA requirements that will indicate your ability to succeed and complete the major option. Please note that major options can be changed.

Business curriculum requires a higher level of quantitative reasoning/mathematical skills.  Courses in English, Economics, Calculus, Statistics, and Foreign Languages will assist you.  If you are able to take an Advance Placement course and pass the exam, you will receive college credit and may not be required to take such courses as English, Micro or Macro Economics, Business Calculus, Statistics, Finite Math or a Foreign Language.

To be considered for first-time, first-year admission to CSULB, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Have a CSULB minimum eligibility score of 3,200 on CSULB's Eligibility Index.  Always check the official CSULB index for details of how this index is calculated. (Below is the index as of January 2025.)

    1. (College Preparatory Grade Point Average* X 200) + (500 x HS Math Subject GPA) + (500 x HS English GPA).

      1. Students who took the ACT, use the College Board’s on-line score converter to convert your test score to the SAT on a 1600 scale.
  2. Complete each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory subject requirements with a grade of C or higher before high school graduation.

  3. Graduate from high school by the end of the spring term prior to fall enrollment.

     

 

Applicants will be admitted based on the CSULB's Eligibility Index . Applicants who are considered “local” based on their high school of graduation or military status will be offered admission if they meet the minimum Eligibility Index required of the major (3,200 for COB). Other applicants will be ranked by their Eligibility Index and will be offered admission on a space-available basis in the major or college.

CSULB determines which first-time, first-year and transfer applicants will receive “local preference” for admission consideration based on their high school of graduation. The same geographic boundaries that have been historically used to determine local area high schools for freshmen remain in place. These are used to determine local preference for incoming transfers as well. As part of our commitment to provide access to veterans, CSULB gives local preference to all military veterans, regardless of their school of origin.

In addition, CSULB grants local preference to all students from alternative high schools if their primary residence where they are educated is located within the current boundaries of CSULB’s local area.

For a map and list of local area schools, please refer to Local Area Preference Admission Consideration. 

COB places high importance on the success of our students.  COB’s Center for Student Success (CSS) is where students receive one-on-one advising throughout their college career at CSULB. The main goal of our center is to ease transition, increase graduation rates, and focus on career preparedness. Through CSS, students receive services such as assistance with registration, use of campus resources, major and General Education graduation requirements, course substitutions/equivalencies, study abroad, program planning, as well as Mandatory Freshmen Workshops the first two semesters to help new students plan for academic success, as well as provide continued guidance through graduation. In addition, we provide our students with resources such as Supplemental Instruction and free COB Tutoring to enhance their educational potential.  Our COB Day allows students to learn explore and connect with our Co-Curricular programs such as the Student Center for Professional Development and student organizations.

For more information, please contact the COB CSS Outreach Specialist at COB-Outreach@csulb.edu