For example: if CSU x has an average GPA of 3.2 and an average ACT of 21, would an applicant out of the local service area have a good chance if applicant x had a GPA of 3.9 and an ACT of 27? Thanks!
Yeah the applicant will have a good chance, depending on the major the applicant applied to. Some majors are more impacted than others and CSUs evaluate applications based on the applicant pool for the major. It will also help if the applicant is still in-state.
However, from my understanding, the local applicants will have priority in admissions since they are from the local service area. This basically means that local applicants who meet the minimum requirements are automatically accepted.
Local applicants are not always guaranteed admission to their local CSU. Impaction plays a significant role in acceptances even for local applicants. My niece applied to her local CSU and was waitlisted due to an impacted major but was able gain acceptances at several other non-local CSU’s but with non-impacted majors. All CSU’s will rank all applicants based on their eligibility index and major. Impacted majors and impacted campuses will always have higher requirements beyond the minimum even for local in-service applicants.
It depends on the CSU. I think Long Beach is the only one that has a guaranteed admission for local students with minimal requirements. There’s is a special program with LBUSD, LB city college, and CSULB called the Long Beach Promise. Other CSUs do not have anything as drastic.
You will have to check on the specific campus.