CA Coronavirus: State Schools Drop SAT/ACT For 2021-22 Admission

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The California State University system will suspend SAT and ACT tests to determine eligibility for the 2021-22 freshman class, a spokesperson said. The move echoes one announced earlier this month by the University of California system following widespread school closures due to the coronavirus.

Typically, admission to California State Universities as a freshman takes into account courses, grades, and graduation, punctuated with ACT or SAT scores. For the foreseeable future, campuses may utilize higher "a-g" grade point averages to create a threshold for applicants, they said in a recent release. This includes grades in college preparatory classes such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, World Language, Visual and Performing Arts, and college prep electives.

In no case will standardized test scores be used in making admissions decisions for the 2021-22 academic year.

"The California State University has provided access to a high- quality education for millions of Californians from all walks of life, and we will continue to fulfill our academic mission even during these most trying of times," CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said in a statement. "This temporary change will ensure equitable access to the university, and should provide some measure of relief to prospective students and their families."

The change applies only to applicants for fall 2021, winter 2022, and spring 2022 admission cycles. According to the university, prospective first-year students must:

• be a high school graduate or equivalent;
• complete the 15-unit A-G college prep courses
• earn a qualifying A-G grade-point average, which is 2.50 or greater for California residents and graduates of California high schools.

California high school graduates or residents with an A-G grade-point average between 2.00 and 2.49 will be considered for admission based on various other factors, including household income and extracurricular involvement.

Non-California residents may be eligible for admission with a 3.00 or higher A-G grade-point average.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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