CSU General Education Placement Estimator
The GE Placement Estimator uses multiple measures to estimate your placement in general education math and/or English courses in your first year of college. The evaluation of academic readiness is not a condition for admission to the California State University, but it is an important process for determining the best course placement for first-year students.
Please Note:
- The CSU no longer uses ACT or SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses.
- If accepted to a CSU campus, ACT or SAT test scores can be used as one of the measures for students to enroll in the appropriate mathematics or English (written communication) courses.
- For more information on admission criteria, please visit the First-Year Student Guidance and the First-Year Student Frequently Asked Questions pages.
To use the GE Placement Estimator you will need:
- Applicable standardized test scores, if available:
- For English: CAASPP/EAP, AP, ACT, SAT
- For Math: CAASPP/EAP, AP, IB, CLEP, ACT, SAT
- High school transcripts
- College transcripts, if you attended the community college while in high school
Helpful resources to guide you through the GE Estimator:
- GPA Calculator
- Academic Preparation Brochure
- CAASPP/EAP Score Report
Please Note: Final placement determination is made by the admitting campus you choose to attend based on your standardized test results if available and "a-g" completed coursework as reported on Cal State Apply.
Calculation includes "a-g" courses from grades 10th and 11th as reported on the Calstate Apply application.
Learn how multiple measures are used for placement in first-year GE English communication and mathematical concepts/quantitative reasoning:
Multiple Measures for English • Multiple Measures for Math Non-STEM • Multiple Measures for Math STEM
Calculation includes 9th, 10th and 11th grade math courses completed in Area C and quantitative reasoning courses completed in Area G as reported on the CalState Apply application.
Note: algebra 1 and geometry courses taken in middle school and reported on the CalState Apply application will also be included.
Learn how multiple measures are used for placement in first-year GE English communication and mathematical concepts/quantitative reasonings courses:
Multiple Measures for English • Multiple Measures for Math Non-STEM • Multiple Measures for Math STEM
- Approved high school English and math/quantitative reasoning courses completed with a C- or better.
- English: CSU Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC), Advanced Placement (AP), Weighted Honors English
- Math: 12th grade approved year-long math courses beyond Algebra II.
- College coursework completed with a grade of C- or better that satisfies GE Area 1A (English composition) and Area 2 (mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning).
Learn how multiple measures are used for placement in first-year GE English and mathematical concepts/quantitative reasoning courses:
Multiple Measures for English • Multiple Measures for Math Non-STEM • Multiple Measures for Math STEM