Freshman Students

Students on Stairs

Program Impaction

"Program Impaction" occurs when more students apply to a major than the program can accommodate. Cal Poly Pomona currently has 19 impacted programs at the First-Time Freshman level. Applicants to these majors are held to higher admission standards based on available space.

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Local Area Preference

First-Time Freshman applicants to impacted majors receive "Local Preference" based on Cal Poly Pomona’s local area designation. Local applicants get an eligibility index bump, and all veterans receive the same preference regardless of their institution. For more details, visit our Local Preference page.

Local Area Preference

Impacted Majors


  • Animal Health Science
  • Animal Science (General)
  • Animal Science (Pre-Vet)

  • Accounting
  • Finance, Real Estate, and Law (Beginning Fall 2027 term)

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Architecture

  • Psychology

  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Kinesiology (General)*
  • Physics

*Kinesiology (General option) major no longer impacted beginning Fall 2027 application cycle