Who We Welcome (as First-Year Applicants)
At the College of Staten Island, we’re excited to welcome students from all backgrounds and experiences into our community.
You’re eligible to apply as a first-year student if:
- You are graduating (or have graduated from) high school, or
- You have earned a high school equivalency diploma (such as a GED), and
- You have not yet enrolled in a degree-granting college program
If you’ve taken college courses while in high school, you’re still considered a first-year applicant.
What We Value
At CSI, we’re building a learning community rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and connection to the wider world. While not all of these traits are formally evaluated during the admissions process, they represent the kind of growth and engagement we encourage on our campus.
We value students who demonstrate:
- Leadership
- Collaborative spirit and teamwork
- Community service and civic engagement
- Global awareness and cultural competence
- Open mindedness and growth mindset
- Persistence and resilience for overcoming barriers
If these resonate with you, consider highlighting them in your application. They help us see how you might contribute to—and thrive in—the CSI community.
Baccalaureate Degree Programs
What We Consider
Admission to CSI’s baccalaureate programs is based on a holistic review of your high school experience. We look at:
- Your academic performance and grade trends
- Your coursework
- New York State Regents results (if available)
- SAT or ACT scores — optional through Spring 2027
- Your experiences outside of classes and portraits of you beyond grades and test scores: co-curricular and extracurricular involvement and achievement, leadership, community engagement, letters of recommendation, personal statements, portfolios, and more. You are welcome to submit supporting documents related to these, though it is not required.
Above all, we seek students who are ready to contribute to a vibrant learning community and succeed in a supportive, inclusive college environment.
Students Educated Outside the United States
You are considered a student educated outside the U.S. if you have received part or all of your secondary and/or post-secondary education in a country other than the United States. Please see Instructions for Freshman applicants with international credentials for additional information and guidance.
Preparing for Baccalaureate Program at CSI
We understand that students come from many different high schools, communities, and learning pathways. What matters most is that you’ve challenged yourself, engaged meaningfully in your learning, and are ready for the expectations of college.
Students who have taken their learning seriously tend to be well-prepared for success in our classrooms. We know that potential isn’t defined solely by your transcript. If you're curious, motivated, and ready to grow, we encourage you to apply. Some find it helpful to know that the average high school average for our students in the fall 2025 was 87.9. Keep in mind: this is an average, not a cutoff. We consider students whose high school average fall both above and below this number.
We don’t have preferences for any particular type of high school programs. Some students who enroll in CSI have experienced a traditional program that includes the high school academic units listed below, while others come from high school programs organized differently (e.g., project-based, career/technical, arts-focused, internships). What matters most is the depth of your engagement, not whether your courses align exactly with this list.
- English: four units
- Social studies: four units
- Foreign language: three units of one foreign language.
- Mathematics: three units consisting of one unit of elementary algebra (9th-year mathematics), one unit of plane geometry (10th-year mathematics), and one unit of intermediate algebra and trigonometry (11th-year mathematics); or Courses I, II, and III of the New York State Sequential (integrated) Mathematics Curriculum.
- Science: three units consisting of one unit of any of the following: general biology, general science, chemistry, physics, or earth science, advanced biology, botany, or zoology.
Applicants who are not admitted to a bachelor's degree program may be eligible for admission to an associate degree program at the College. In addition, applicants with good academic records (must demonstrate college-level readiness in English and mathematics) who do not meet regular baccalaureate admission requirements may request further consideration by submitting a Freshman Baccalaureate Admissions Appeal Form.
Associate Degree Programs
Admission to CSI’s associate programs is guaranteed to all applicants who are earning (or have earned) a high school or high school equivalence diploma prior to enrollment. In some cases, additional academic support and pre-college is provided prior to beginning a degree program.