Cuesta College admits students who meet the following requirements and who are capable of benefiting from the instruction offered:

  • Any person over the age of 18, or a person under the age of 18 possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent.

  • Other persons who are over the age of 18 years, who have not received a high school diploma or equivalent, and who, in the judgment of the Superintendent/President, or designee, are capable of benefiting from the instruction offered.

    • Such persons shall be admitted as provisional students, and thereafter shall be required to comply with the District's rules and regulations regarding scholastic achievement and other standards to be met by provisional or probationary students as a condition to being readmitted in any succeeding semester.

  • Persons who are apprentices as defined in Section 3077 of the Labor Code.  

The District may deny or place conditions on a student’s enrollment upon a finding by the Board or designee that the applicant has been expelled within the preceding five years or is undergoing expulsion procedures in another California community college district, and that the applicant continues to present a danger to the physical safety of the students and employees of the District.

Evaluation of Student’s High School Completion

The District shall in it’s discretion, or as otherwise federally mandated, evaluate the validity of a student’s high school completion.  Students under the age of 18 may be required to provide official high school transcripts for verification of high school completion or the equivalent by providing a copy of passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam.

Admission Exception for Dual Enrollment Students (Enrichment)

Pupils under the age of 18 who are currently enrolled in grades 9-12, who meet all admission, course, and enrollment requirements are eligible to attend Cuesta College during any semester, or summer session, on a space-available basis as a Dual Enrollment student for advanced scholastic or vocational courses.

Admission and Enrollment Restrictions for Dual Enrollment students:

  • Admissions and enrollment in courses of Dual Enrollment students may be restricted by age;

  • Admissions and enrollment in courses of Dual Enrollment students may be restricted by grade level;

  • Admissions & enrollment in courses by Dual Enrollment students may be restricted by demonstrated eligibility for instruction using assessment methods and procedures established to Chapter 2 of part 48 and regulations adopted by the board of Governor's of the California Community Colleges.

An exception to the college admission policy may be made for a pupil currently enrolled in grades 6-8 who has been certified as "highly gifted" by their school district. A "highly gifted" pupil is defined by Title 5, section 52201(b) as follows:

"Highly gifted pupil" means a gifted and talented pupil who has achieved a measured intelligence quotient of 150 or more on an assessment of intelligence administered by qualified personnel or has demonstrated extraordinary aptitude and achievement in language arts, mathematics, science, or other academic subjects, as evaluated and confirmed by both the pupil's teacher and principal. Highly gifted pupils shall generally constitute not more than 1 percent of the K-12 pupil population.

Students in grades 6-8 who are certified as "highly gifted" by their school district may request to attend Cuesta College concurrently through a Grade 6-8 Enrichment Challenge Form. Contact the Director of Outreach and Enrollment services Aaron Borgeson for more information.