The Declining Impact of Impaction at the California State University

Every year, many California State University (CSU) campuses receive more applications meeting their minimum eligibility requirements than they have available spots. Campuses and programs that have greater demand than they can accommodate are designated as “impacted,” allowing them to raise eligibility requirements. This publication examines the status of campus and program impaction over the last few years, finding a significant drop.

The brief additionally shares the impact of impaction on students, who are often redirected to a non-impacted campus they selected as a second choice on their application—an option few students choose to pursue—despite meeting all admission requirements to the system, or outright rejected. Author David Drummer also discusses the impact of funding allocation on this trend towards de-impaction, and offers recommendations for the coming years to further move the needle toward strengthening student enrollment and de-impaction.

The Campaign for College Opportunity is pleased to shared this research as part of our Back to School, Forward with Students campaign, focused on expanding college access. De-impaction represents a critical opportunity to ensuring that more California students, particularly those that have been historically shut out from accessing a higher education, are supported to meet their college dreams. Removing barriers to access to the CSU is imperative amid the backdrop of our state’s nearing college attainment goal of 70% by 2030. Leaders must continue to innovate in addressing impaction and strengthening student enrollment, leading California to a more inclusive democracy and economic prosperity as we foster students’ talents.