Apply to MESA
Complete a 2024-2025 SDSU MESA Application*
*When completing the SDSU MESA Application, you'll need to sign-in using your @sdsu.edu (Google) credentials.
Eligibility
The MESA program focuses on either low income, first generation college or first generation to study in a STEM major students. A majority of the program spots are reserved for first year and transfer students. These students will need additional help in matriculation. Continuing SDSU students should have at least 2 years remaining until expected graduation.
Undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or California resident AB540 (with non-resident tuition exemption) and in good academic standing at SDSU declared in any of the following STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) majors:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Bio Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Construction Management (new as of Summer/Fall 2022)
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Astronomy
- Bio Chemistry
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Environmental Science
- Geological Sciences (new as of Summer/Fall 2024)
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Statistics
Application Timeline
- April 2025: Application opens up online.
- Monday, June 16, 2025, 9:00 am PST (tentative): Application closes.
- By June 23, 2025: Applicants will be notified via e-mail of acceptance or denial.
- Note:
- Applications are accepted once a year between the Spring and Summer semesters (~April to ~June) for the upcoming Fall semester.
- Students who miss the deadline or applied and were not accepted are welcome to apply again the following year.
Before You Apply
- You should be admitted to SDSU; with a Student ID # (or RED ID #) and @sdsu.edu e-mail account.
- Ensure you meet the "Eligibility" listed on this webpage.
- Provide screenshot of your 2025-2026 SDSU Financial Aid Award Summary page:
- Screenshot example from my.SDSU
- Save the filename as: lastname-firstname-award.fileextension (e.g. smith-robert-award.jpg)
- Acceptable file extensions are: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif
- If you did not file a FAFSA or do not have any awards, etc., please still upload the screenshot.
- Understand the "Requirements" listed on this webpage.
- There is no cost to apply to the SDSU MESA program.
- There is no cost to be a member of the SDSU MESA program.
- Student membership automatically continues (assuming meet "Eligibility" and "MESA Participation Policy" requirements) every academic year.
MESA course requirements for Fall 2024
Incoming FIRST YEAR students who are accepted into the MESA program will be automatically enrolled in ENGR 101, Wednesdays, 1400-1450 (2:00-2:50 pm) or 1500-1550 (3:00-3:50 pm)*, in HH 146, after their acceptance into the MESA program.
The 2 ENGR 101 lectures above are not shown in the SDSU Class Schedule. *For Fall 2024, the 3:00 pm section is not available.
ENGR 101 is taken once and only offered during your incoming semester (Fall).
ENGR 101 is a STEM First Year Orientation Course designed for engineering and physical science majors and is a component of the MESA program. MESA program First Year Students will be assisted in adjusting to campus.
Note - If your selected major requires Math 150 and/or Chemistry 200/202, you will need to take a placement exam before you are allowed to register for those courses.
Incoming TRANSFER students who are accepted into the MESA program are required to enroll in GEN S 350 (Lecture - 10049), Wednesdays, 1100-1150 am, in E 201, after their acceptance into the MESA program.
Students will be given permission to enroll by the MESA instructor(s). Students can then enroll following the "Student Specific Permission" course enrollment instruction guide.
GEN S 350 (as of Fall 2023, formerly GEN S 250) is taken once and only offered during your incoming semester (Fall).
General Studies 350 (GEN S 350) is a STEM Transfer Orientation Course is designed for engineering and physical science majors and is a component of the comprehensive MESA program, taken once during their first Fall semester.
Additionally, students may have the opportunity to develop professionally while engaging with alumni who are now engineers or scientists in the STEM industry.
CONTINUING SDSU students are students who have already completed at least 1 semester at SDSU by the upcoming Fall semester.
Continuing SDSU students in the freshmen and sophomore class levels are preferred.
Continuing SDSU students should have at least 2 years remaining until expected graduation.
Continuing SDSU students do not have any course requirements.