<p>I'm a senior and have a few friends attending CSUs. I've heard them complain that schools are so impacted that they are having trouble getting their required classes and may not graduate on time.</p>
<p>Its very important to me that I graduate within 4 to 4.5 years so I want to know what some of the least impacted CSUs are.</p>
<p>Some CSUs (such as Fresno) have guaranteed graduation in four years if you follow their Four Year Graduation plan. See the link, (near the bottom of the page)</p>
<p>[Degree</a> Requirements](<a href=“http://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/academic-regulations/degree-reqs.html]Degree”>Degree Requirements)</p>
<p>There are quite a few CSU’s which are not impacted at all, and not all CSU’s are impacted in all majors. For whatever reason I couldn’t attach a link to the CSU impacted majors matrix. Google CSU impacted majors and a pdf doc will pop up indicating which CSU’s are impacted for the various majors.</p>
<p>Only five CSU’s are impacted for all majors.</p>
<p>MLM, even the CSUs impacted in only a few majors can pose difficulty in getting the core requirements, because many students are competing for the same classes. If a student has a signup time later in the queue, it can be problematic. My son experienced this even though his major was not impacted. </p>
<p>That said, I think it’s not that difficult to at least graduate in 4.5 years. This means taking some of the less desirable classes, such as early ones, and being a little less selective about professors.</p>
<p>But if you apply for a Four Year Graduation plan at a school that has one, you get a preferential class signup slot.</p>
<p>Calla1, my son is at a CSU where all majors are impacted. Many kids are graduating on time (within 4 years), some are graduating a bit earlier and, obviously, some later. Many kids are taking summer classes to complete GE requirements (either online at a community college or at their college) to make sure they remain on track for timely graduation. My son is aiming for a blended BS/MS program, so it’s necessary (to remain in that program) that he gets into all classes and stays on track. To remain on track in that program he will be required to take summer classes. He went into it knowing he cannot be selective about professors or time slots for class and to be assertive if waitlisted.</p>
<p>MLM, I totally agree about the need to NOT be selective about time slots and professors. I suspect many of the students taking longer are not quite as flexible.</p>
<p>Good point about summer classes, and one OP might make note of.</p>
<p>The following CSU campuses have four year graduation pledges if you follow the course plan for your major and do not need remedial courses:</p>
<p>Bakersfield <a href=“California State University, Bakersfield”>California State University, Bakersfield;
Fresno <a href=“http://www.fresnostate.edu/academics/aps/documents/apm/202.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fresnostate.edu/academics/aps/documents/apm/202.pdf</a>
Pomona [Graduation</a> Pledge | Academic Programs | Cal Poly Pomona](<a href=“http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/index.shtml]Graduation”>http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/index.shtml)
San Bernardino <a href=“http://www.ugs.csusb.edu/advising/studentguide4.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ugs.csusb.edu/advising/studentguide4.pdf</a>
Stanislaus [Program:</a> Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - California State University, Stanislaus - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Program: Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - California State University, Stanislaus - Acalog ACMS™”>Program: Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - California State University, Stanislaus - Acalog ACMS™)</p>
<p>There is an obscure reference to a four year graduation pledge program at San Jose, but nothing else about it on its web site: [BSCS</a> FAQ – SJSU](<a href=“http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/Programs/bs_in_cs/faq/faq.html#PLEDGE]BSCS”>http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/Programs/bs_in_cs/faq/faq.html#PLEDGE)</p>
<p>There is a reference to a four year graduation pledge program at Northridge, but it is from 1993, and there is no other web page about it: [NORTHRIDGE</a> : CSUN Sets Up 4-Year Degree Pledge Project - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“NORTHRIDGE : CSUN Sets Up 4-Year Degree Pledge Project”>NORTHRIDGE : CSUN Sets Up 4-Year Degree Pledge Project)</p>
<p>But note that even at the campuses with four year graduation pledge programs, actual four year graduation rates are low. Probably many students need remedial courses, are picky about class times and instructors, or cannot handle full course loads listed in their majors’ course plans, so they do not qualify for the four year graduation pledges.</p>
<p>Note that the word “impaction” in a CSU context usually refers to campuses or majors which do not have space to admit all CSU eligible students who apply.</p>
<p>For now, CAs budget woes have tempered. With them, so too goes the shortage of classes at many CSUs. A motivated student who doesn’t change majors several times should have no trouble getting through any CSU in 4 years.</p>
<p>It depends on your major. Engineering majors here I think take 5. Transfer students have a bit of catching up so they take a little longer Most should graduate within 4, tho.</p>
<p>[Graduation</a> Pledge | Academic Programs | Cal Poly Pomona](<a href=“http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/index.shtml]Graduation”>http://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/index.shtml) says that only architecture (not engineering) is a 5-year program at Pomona, with respect to the 4-year graduation pledge program.</p>