California governor signs SB 640 into law to expand direct admissions to Cal State universities

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 640 into law, establishing a direct admissions programme that will automatically offer qualifying high school seniors places at Cal State universities.

This new law aims to simplify the college application process and boost enrolment across the public university system.The initiative builds on a successful pilot programme launched last year in Riverside County. Thousands of students there were proactively offered admission to Cal State campuses for the fall 2025 term, with a majority completing their enrolment paperwork.How the direct admissions programme worksUnder SB 640, eligible California high school students will receive automatic letters of acceptance to Cal State campuses where there is capacity, based on their academic records.

The programme removes the need for students to submit traditional applications, reducing barriers to higher education.State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, who co-sponsored the bill, explained that direct admission “removes the applications hurdle that stops some students from going to college, and relieves the fear that they won’t get in anywhere,” as quoted by Higher Ed Dive. The bill is designed to reverse recent declines in enrolment at several Cal State campuses.

Pilot programme results and broader impactThe pilot, limited to Riverside County, offered admission to 17,000 students for fall 2025. According to Cabaldon, 13,200 of those students submitted the necessary paperwork to enrol. The programme has been noted for its potential to increase first-time undergraduate enrolment.A 2022 academic study of Idaho’s similar direct admissions programme found that it increased enrolment by 4% to 8% at participating institutions.

The study also noted an 8% to 15% increase in in-state enrolment, although impacts on Pell Grant-eligible students were minimal, as reported by Higher Ed Dive.Additionally, a 2023 study examining the Common App’s direct admissions initiative showed increased application rates among Black, Latinx, multiracial, first-generation, and low-income students. California’s new law joins several other states, including North Carolina, Minnesota, and Hawai’i, in adopting direct admissions models.Addressing barriers to college accessInstitutions across the US have highlighted the complexity of applying to college, transferring between schools, and navigating financial aid. Shun Robertson, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the University of North Carolina, told Higher Ed Dive that eliminating these hurdles “has been a high priority.”The SB 640 law is expected to take effect for students entering Cal State campuses in fall 2027 and beyond. It is part of a broader effort to increase college access and streamline admissions within California’s public higher education system.