CSU Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CSU facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which CSU program allows students to earn a bachelor's degree entirely online? → Cal State Online
2. What is the primary role of the Student Health Center at a CSU campus? → Offering primary and preventive health care services to enrolled students
3. What is the main purpose of student health services at CSU campuses? → To offer medical care, health screenings, and wellness programs
4. Which CSU campus serves as the system's headquarters for the Office of the Chancellor? → Long Beach
5. Which of the following is NOT a branch of CSU's student government structure? → Student Academic Senate
6. What is the chemical symbol for the element gold on the periodic table? → Au
7. Which scientist is credited with proposing the theory of evolution by natural selection? → Charles Darwin
8. What quality metrics are most important in Critical Thinking? → Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction
9. What quality metrics are most important in Reading Comprehension? → Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction
10. What is the purpose of a CSU Early Alert system? → To identify at-risk students and connect them with support services early in the semester
11. What is the CSU system-wide policy regarding student records under FERPA? → Students have the right to inspect and review their own education records
12. What does the CSU financial aid office use to calculate a student's 'cost of attendance' (COA)? → Tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, books, and personal expenses
13. What is the approximate total annual student enrollment across all CSU campuses? → Over 460,000 students
14. In chemistry, what does pH measure? → The acidity or alkalinity of a solution
15. Which California financial aid application is specifically available to undocumented AB 540 students who are not eligible to file the FAFSA? → California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
16. What type of chemical bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms? → Covalent bond
17. What is the minimum grade point average (GPA) required for admission to most CSU undergraduate programs? → 3.0
18. What quality metrics are most important in Writing Skills? → Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction
19. Under CSU's impacted campus admission policy, which criterion does NOT factor into supplemental admission criteria? → Athletic recruitment status
20. Which gas makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere? → Nitrogen
21. What is the role of a 'resident advisor' (RA) in CSU campus housing? → A student staff member who supports residents and enforces community standards
22. What does 'residential learning community' mean at a CSU? → A themed housing program where students with similar interests live and learn together
23. How many total campuses make up the California State University system? → 23
24. What does the law of conservation of energy state? → Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed
25. What is the primary mission of the California State University (CSU) system? → To offer affordable, high-quality undergraduate and graduate education
26. What is the primary purpose of standardized procedures in Critical Thinking? → To ensure consistency, safety, and quality across all practitioners
27. What must a CSU campus provide to a student who requests a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability? → An equal opportunity to access programs and services
28. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells? → Mitochondria
29. What is the primary function of a CSU campus 'food pantry'? → To provide free food to students experiencing food insecurity
30. Approximately how long is the half-life of Carbon-14, commonly used in radiocarbon dating? → 5,730 years