Apply to EOP

The CSU Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is designed for undergraduate students* that are considered CA Residents or AB540 eligible, meet SJSU regular admission requirements, have submitted a complete EOP application via Cal State Apply by the published deadline for the fall term (we are unable to accept students for a spring term), and meet all of the following criteria:

  • Historically underserved students
    • First-generation college student
      • Their parent(s) have not earned a 4-year degree or higher in the US
      • Parental degrees (4-year degree or higher) awarded outside of the US may be considered after the initial EOP decision notification
    • Limited-income
      • There are two sections of the EOP application that provides space for a student's economic background
  • FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application
    • Submission by the EOP deadline of January 31st
    • EOP will request student submission of the EOP FAFSA/CADAA SAI Verification to finalize acceptance
    • The SAI (Student Aid Index) is used to demonstrate limited income and is determined by the FAFSA/CADAA
      • An EOP applicant with a a FAFSA/CADAA Student Aid Index (SAI) under 1500 will receive priority evaluation
      • An SAI between 1501- 2500 will only be considered if there is space available in the program
  • Recommendations
    • Have two (2) recommendation forms submitted on their behalf as part of the EOP application by the published deadline

*Please note that SJSU Online students are not eligible for EOP

Please take a moment to review the following information

EOP is an admission and retention program, and students can only apply to EOP when they are submitting their admission application to the university for their first semester at the CSU/SJSU. Students are unable to apply to EOP for any future term, regardless of first admission term at SJSU.

FALL 2025

Please review Fall 2025 EOP Program Application Information

  • EOP priority application deadline: December 2, 2024
  • EOP final application deadline: January 15, 2025
  • Recommendation forms deadline:  January 31, 2025
  • FAFSA or CA Dream Act application for EOP deadline: January 31, 2025

Please note that SJSU Online students are not eligible for EOP

Questions: Contact us at eop@sjsu.edu or call 408/924-2637

SPRING 2025

SJSU EOP does not accept any EOP applications for any spring term.

EOP is an admission and retention program, and students can only apply to EOP when they are submitting their admission application to the university for their first semester at the CSU/SJSU. Students are unable to apply to EOP for any future term, regardless of first admission term at SJSU.

  • Some CSU EOP programs accept students for a spring term, and Cal State Apply will allow students to submit an EOP application, as it is part of the CSU admission application
  • Please note that EOP at SJSU is unable to review your application, as our admission cycle is closed for all spring terms
  • Which CSU campuses are accepting EOP Applications by term? [pdf]
  • Students unable to apply to EOP or not eligible for EOP, regardless of first admission term, should review the ASPIRE program, which offers similar services, and accepts students on a rolling basis