Cal State Apply Program User Guide
This guide provides you with documentation, reference guides, and direct links that answer common admissions questions about the Cal State Apply Applicant Portal, Configuration Portal, and WebAdMIT. It also contains resources that may help you work more efficiently throughout your admissions process. You can also download the Cal State Apply Operations Manual for more information on navigating the Cal State Apply application and WebAdMIT.
If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please contact a member of your account team.
Cycle Timeframes
Applicant Portal
The Applicant Portal opens on October 1 and closes on June 30 (or the closest business day), over a 20-month period. You can view the specific cycle dates, including final processing dates (e.g., last date to submit applications, last date to request letters of recommendation, etc.), on the Cal State Apply Application Cycle Dates page.
Configuration Portal
Between early May and mid-September, configurations are entered into the prelaunch environment. The account team and CSU Chancellor's office review submitted configurations in September.
WebAdMIT
You can view new applicants and initiate a transfer settings shortly after the new cycle opens in early October.
Program Participation Requirements
CSU requires all programs to designate two contacts at your institution who will receive all communication from CSU and Cal State Apply, including the configuration, application, and WebAdMIT launch notifications.
Applicant Portal
The first three sections of the Cal State Apply application (i.e., Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information) compose the core application. They contain questions that are commonly asked of applicants across all participating programs, such as an applicant's biographic information, standardized test scores, and experiences. The fourth section of the application is Program Materials, which is customized by you through the Configuration Portal (discussed in the next section).
You can access the Cal State Apply application and Cal State Apply Applicant Help Center to review the applicant experience. You can also create a test application in the Applicant Portal; we recommend creating a new account and adding "test" to your name (e.g., TestJohn TestDoe).
For a general overview of the applicant experience, review the following documents:
- Applicant Processing Reference Guide: learn how applicants move through the application and Liaison processes applicant materials, such as transcripts and official test scores.
- Application Statuses Reference Guide: review what each application status means and how you can interact with applicants at different stages.
- Review the requirements for the Cal State Apply Complete application status.
- Cal State Apply Quick Start Information and FAQs: a suggested timeline for completing and submitting the application, links to important pages including cycle dates and fees, and a FAQs section.
- Cal State Apply Evaluation Types: review the various evaluation forms for recommenders in the Cal State Apply application.
You can direct any applicant inquiries related to the application to Cal State Apply Customer Service.
Configuration Portal
Use the Configuration Portal Quick Start Guide to make sure you configure your program(s) efficiently and completely in the prelaunch environment. Be sure to check out your CAS's configuration options and review the best practices found throughout. If any optional sections of the application are required for your program (e.g., experiences, test scores, etc.), you'll want to note this on your program home page.
Once you've configured your program, you'll need to have it approved by the CSU Chancellor's office before it is available to applicants.
Additionally, review these feature-specific notes:
Questions and Question Rules:
- Decide which questions you want to ask for all programs at your organization and add them under organization-level questions.
- Activate Question Rules based on the Extended Profile questions:
- Create alternate deadlines for applicants (e.g., domestic applicants must submit their application by June 1 and international applicants must submit their application by August 1).
- Restrict which programs an applicant can select (e.g., domestic applicants can view programs A and B and international applicants can view programs C and E).
Program Recommendations:
- Review the Cal State Apply Evaluation Types that you can request.
Prerequisites:
- Undergraduate programs: do not use the Prerequisites feature, as applicants already complete the High School Coursework and A-G Matching sections.
WebAdMIT
Review the WebAdMIT Help Center for any questions related to working in WebAdMIT. The Reference Guides and WebAdMIT Training and Support sections are additional resources as you configure WebAdMIT for your needs. Documents commonly requested include:
- Application Coupons Reference Guide: learn how to request coupons to offset application fees and disperse them to applicants.
- Application Coupon Codes FAQ: view answers to frequently asked questions about offering coupon codes.
- Data Dictionaries and Master Code Lists: a comprehensive list of all fields available in the Export Manager and Report Manager, including associated lookup tables.
- Integration Help Center and WebAdMIT API: learn how to set up an API and schedule automatic data exports from WebAdMIT into your SIS/ERP.
- Invitation Codes Reference Guide: learn how to offer individual deadline extensions directly to applicants.
- Redirect Applicants: learn how to redirect an applicant to an alternate campus.
- Social Security Number (SSN) Documents Reference Guide: a guide on how to configure a PGP key to receive an encrypted file that contains the applicant's CAS ID and SSN.
- Transfer Settings Guide: a review of how programs and templates built in WebAdMIT are carried forward each cycle.
The Release Notes feature new enhancements in the Applicant Portal, Applicant Gateway, Configuration Portal, Liaison Letters, and WebAdMIT, in addition to upcoming training opportunities.
For any questions, contact the Client Support Specialist Team at 617-612-2885 and webadmitsupport@liaisonedu.com. They are available Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM ET (6 AM to 5 PM PT).
Note that to minimize downtime for users, WebAdMIT upgrades occur every Sunday from 7 – 10 AM ET.
Cycle Enhancements
2026-2027
The table below contains enhancements for Cal State Apply for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.
|
Portal |
Section |
Enhancement Details |
Implementation |
Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicant Portal |
Extended Profile |
The Dual Enrollment question in the Educational Goal question block was updated to Have you earned or are you planning to earn college credit before graduating high school, including through concurrent or dual enrollment courses? The Returning question was updated to Are you applying to return to the CSU campus which you previously attended? Additionally, the Summer Arts option was removed. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Reapplicant Page |
The Jumpstart instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Release Statement |
The CAASPP Results Release Statement was updated to include a link to the California Department of Education website. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Race & Ethnicity |
The Summary question was removed. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Parent/Guardian Information |
The Parent/Guardian Information section now appears below the Financial and Parental Information section. The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Other Information |
The answer options for the How did you hear about us? question were updated. The CA Promise question was renamed to Finish in Four and Through in Two. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Financial and Parental Information |
A new question was added to the Independent: Household Size question block: Do you currently have a child or children under the age of 18 who receive(s) more than half of their support from you? |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Colleges Attended |
Applicants can now order World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) electronic foreign coursework evaluations directly through the application. Additionally, the instructional text was updated for clarity. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Standardized Tests |
Applicants can self-report their Duolingo test scores. You can view their scores under the Standardized Tests panel on the Applicant Details page. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History –A-G Matching |
The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) |
The Second ADT Degree Information question order was updated to match the first ADT Degree Information question order. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Educational Programs & Work Experience |
The pop-up boxes that appeared when applicants indicated they attended an educational program were removed. New educational program answer options were added. The questions in this section were also reordered, |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) |
The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – EOP Parent/Guardian Information & Financial Status |
The Continue Parent/Guardian EOP question was updated to: Are you ready to continue with the next section of your EOP application? |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – EOP Autobiographical Questions |
The Continue EOP Application question was updated to: Are you ready to continue with the next section of your EOP application? |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – EOP Recommendations |
The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Scholarship Application |
The Scholarship Application section was removed. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Official IELTS Tests |
Applicants can submit their official IELTS test scores to the CAS, and you can review those test scores in WebAdMIT. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Configuration Portal |
Branding |
Pixel tracking can be enabled on the Add Programs and Program Materials sections to gain more insight into your program or organization's applicants. You can insert your tracking ID into the CAS Configuration Portal to establish standard tracking pixels from the major ad providers including Google, Meta, and LinkedIn. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available now |
|
Liaison Letters |
Recommendation Forms |
Recommenders can include comments on their ratings for Likert scales and questions. You can view their comments within WebAdMIT and the full application PDF. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Liaison Letters |
Email Templates |
The evaluation form type name is now included in the following email templates:
|
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Applicant Details Page Email Templates Export Manager List Manager |
The Title field is no longer collected in the application and will be removed from WebAdMIT. You will need to update any lists, exports, emails, and other integrations to account for this field removal. |
Action required by all participating programs. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
Export Manager Field Manager |
The Program Plans field was removed. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
2025-2026
The table below contains enhancements for Cal State Apply for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.
|
Portal |
Section |
Enhancement Details |
Implementation |
Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicant Portal |
Logo |
A new Cal State Apply logo was added. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Extended Profile |
The Degree Goal question was renamed to Educational Goal. A new Dual Enrollment answer option and acknowledgement statement were also added. Additionally, the European Union Data Protection question can be configured to be internal only, meaning that that question and answers will not be sent to other portals such as the CAS API and WebAdMIT. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Reapplicant Page |
Applicants can choose to jumpstart (i.e., pre-fill) their CAS application using their CSU Transfer Planner account. This enhancement reduces manual data entry work for the applicant, as they can quickly migrate their demographic information and academic history between Liaison’s applicant-focused products. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Dashboard Check Status Page |
A new automated admissions process streamlines the application process and conditionally admits Freshman students who meet set requirements and select an eligible program. Campuses can identify which programs will allow automated admissions through the CAS Configuration Portal. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Release Statement |
The CAASPP Results Release Statement question is hidden for international applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Biographic Information |
The Legal Sex question was replaced with a new required Gender Identity question. An optional Sexual Orientation question was added. The Applicant Information instructional text was updated for clarity. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Citizenship/Residency Information |
The Permanent Resident/Green Card Date Issued question was updated to Permanent Residence Application Receipt Date or Green Card Date Issued. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Race & Ethnicity |
The questions were reordered. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Parent/Guardian Information |
This section is now visible to Summer Arts applicants. A new Emergency Contact question was added. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Other Information |
The Academic Infractions and Conduct question was updated. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Financial and Parental Information |
The following questions were removed:
|
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Academic Information |
The Did you attend high school/secondary school outside of the United States? question was changed to Did you complete high school/secondary school outside of the United States? The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Coursework Entry |
The College Coursework (i.e., Transcript Entry) section was simplified and applicants no longer need to report their course term's academic status (i.e., freshman, sophomore, etc.) and course subject (e.g., biology, Spanish, etc.). Note that the applicant's coursework will not be verified and CAS GPAs by year or by subject will not be calculated. Additionally, applicants can no longer mark courses completed in past academic years as In Progress/Planned. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History –General Education: Golden Four |
The General Education section was renamed to General Education: Golden Four. The instructional text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) |
The following text was added to the Are you currently enrolled in an EOP&S program question: Note: If you are currently enrolled in an EOP&S program, you must still complete an EOP application for the CSU. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – EOP Autobiographical Questions |
The List any volunteer, extracurricular activities, or work experience in which you are or have been involved in the past two years question was changed to List any volunteer, extracurricular activities, or work experience in which you are or have been involved. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Associate Degree for Transfer |
The instructional text was updated for clarity. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Documents |
Applicants can delete existing and upload new documents after they submit their application. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Configuration Portal |
Program Details |
The California State University - Chico program attribute was renamed to CSU Chico. A new Open to FTF Automated Admission Communication program attribute was added. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available now |
|
Liaison Letters |
Evaluation Forms |
The Psychology evaluation form instructions were updated. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available now |
|
WebAdMIT |
Work Groups |
In WebAdMIT, you can configure Work Groups to allow users to see specific panels on the Applicant Details Page. With this enhancement (from Release 11, 2023) if you remove access to a panel for a Work Group, the fields in that panel are also not available for the Work Group to see when creating exports, lists, or PDF manager templates. For example, if the Race and Ethnicity subpanel is not enabled for a Work Group, its members will not see the information from that panel when creating an export, and will not be able to create filters in List Manager using any of the fields from that panel. As a result of this enhancement, reports that are not shared with Work Groups from the Report Settings page will be inaccessible to anyone who is not a WebAdMIT Administrator. Review the How Work Groups Impact Access to Features and Fields documentation to learn more about the impacts of this enhancement. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
2024-2025
The table below contains enhancements for Cal State Apply for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.
|
Portal |
Section |
Enhancement Details |
Implementation |
Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicant Portal |
Extended Profile |
The Degree Goal answer options were updated. The Associate Degree for Transfer text was updated to better assist applicants. Additionally, a new CSU Summer Arts option was added to the Degree Goal section. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Race & Ethnicity |
A new Are you an enrolled member of an American Indian or Alaskan Native tribe? question was added. Applicants can then indicate if they are part of a federally-recognized tribe, state-recognized tribe, or California non-federally recognized tribe. Additionally, the list of tribal affiliation answer options is now a type-ahead drop-down where applicants can type and select from possible matches. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Personal Information – Other Information |
The Credential Objective answer options were updated in the Teacher or Other Credential Information section |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – High School Coursework |
The instructions text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – A-G Matching |
The instructions text was updated to better assist applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Academic History – Summer Arts |
A new Summer Arts section is added for applicants applying to CSU Summer Arts. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Achievements |
The Achievements section is now hidden for Teaching and Service Credential Only applicants. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Experiences |
Applicants can edit in progress experiences after they submit their application. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Supporting Information – Scholarship Application |
A new Scholarship Application section is added for applicants applying to CSU Summer Arts. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Program Materials – Documents |
New Affidavit of Financial Support and Subject Matter Requirement document types were added. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
Applicant Portal |
Official IELTS Tests |
Applicants can submit their official IELTS test scores to the CAS, and you can review those test scores in WebAdMIT. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |
|
WebAdMIT |
A-G GPA Exclusions Feature |
The A-G GPA Exclusions feature was disabled. |
No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement. |
Available at cycle launch |