If the course has prerequisites, you will need to contact the instructor for permission. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request. You may need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

Once you have written permission from the instructor, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email from the instructor to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

Instructor permission and department approval are required for all enrollment requests for the College of Business. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request to enroll. Please be sure to provide the course name, number, and section in which you hope to enroll. If the course has prerequisites, you need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

Once the instructor has reviewed your request, they will pass it along to the College of Business for department approval. If permission is granted, you will receive a confirmation email.

Once you have written approval, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but these requests will not be reviewed until after the first day of classes. Note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

• Degree-seeking students who are enrolled at other four-year institutions are eligible for registration, as long as they have met course prerequisites and there is space in the class.
• Students who are pursuing graduate work and need to register in 300 or 400 level courses may also take COB courses as non-matriculated students, as long as they have met course prerequisites and there is space in the class.
• Students who have been academically disqualified or denied admission from CSULB must meet with an advisor before registering. Please contact COB-CSS@csulb.edu to meet with an advisor.

If the course has prerequisites, you will need to contact the instructor for permission. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request. You may need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

Once you have written permission from the instructor, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email from the instructor to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

Department permission is required for enrollment in all Hung Family College of Engineering courses. To request permission, submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and upload your transcript(s). We will accept unofficial transcripts. 

Your request will be forwarded to the department for review and, if permission is granted, you will be enrolled in the course.

If the course is full, you must reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but these requests will not be reviewed until after the first day of classes. Note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

If the course has prerequisites, you will need to contact the instructor for permission. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request. You may need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

Once you have written permission from the instructor, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email from the instructor to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

If the course has prerequisites, you will need to contact the instructor for permission. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request. You may need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

Once you have written permission from the instructor, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email from the instructor to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

If the course has prerequisites, you will need to contact the instructor for permission. Find contact information for the instructor in the Campus Directory and email them with your request. You may need to provide a transcript or other documentation as proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements.

If the course is full, you may reach out to the instructor for permission to enroll, but note that it is only on rare occasions that permission to enroll will be granted for full courses.

Once you have written permission from the instructor, you can submit the Open U Enrollment Request form and attach the email with your submission. If you have already submitted your enrollment request form, you can forward the email from the instructor to CPaCE-info@csulb.edu. Please include your name and CSULB ID number in the email.

• August 17: enrollment begins for Open U students
• September 7: deadline to enroll
• September 7: Last day to add without instructor approval
• September 8 - 21: Two signatures required to add using "Permission to Add" request in MyCSULB Student Center
• September 21: Last day to add through Open University 
• September 8 - 21: two signatures required (instructor and department chair) for a late-add

Dropping a course means it will not appear on a transcript.

• September 7: deadline to drop a course without any required signatures
• After September 7 at 10:00 p.m. (Pacific), any course that is dropped will be considered a withdrawal.
  • Please note that courses dropped after the drop period will only be eligible for up to a 65% refund.

Withdrawing from a course means it will appear on the transcript with a “W”.

• September 8: start date to unenroll by a request to withdraw
  • Two signatures required (instructor and department chair)
• September 8 - 20: period to withdraw and receive a 65% refund
• September 21: zero refunds will be offered after this date

• September 21: deadline for request to change a grade option

• September 7: Last day to receive a 100% Refund (minus $10 processing fee)
• September 8 – 20: 65% Refund
• September 21: No refunds available starting on this date

Open U courses are billed at a per-unit rate, meaning that students pay a fee based on the number of units in which they are enrolled. 

• $351 per unit for undergraduate students*
• $429 per unit for post-baccalaureate students**

*Open U students who have not completed an undergraduate degree are considered undergraduate students. The per-unit fee for undergraduate students is $351 per unit.

**Open U students who have completed an undergraduate degree are considered post-baccalaureate students. The per-unit fee for post-baccalaureate students is $429 per unit for all courses.

In addition to the course fee, there is a one-time $5 ID service fee. This fee covers the cost of your student ID and ensures access to MyCSULB and Beachboard. Your student ID enables you to access the campus library and computer labs. 

Once you have been enrolled in your course(s), your amound due will post to your MyCSULB account within 24 hours. Payment is due within 24 hours of your fees being posted. 

Students can pay their fees via MyCSULB. New students will be sent instructions via email on how to access their MyCSULB account. 

Learn How to View & Pay Student Fees

Paying via MyCSULB (Online)

• Credit Card
  • Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
  • Processed through TRANSACT SmartPay
  • 2.65% service fee applies to all credit card payments
• Electronic Check (e-Check)
  • You will need your bank routing and account number
  • There is no service fee to pay by e-check

Paying by Check or Money Order (In Person)

• Location: Cashiers Office, Brotman Hall Room 148
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Accepted forms of payment:

• Personal checks
• Cashier’s checks
• Money orders

Make checks payable to:

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

Checks must be written in black or blue ink and payable in U.S. dollars (USD).

Returned Check Policy

• A $20 fee will be charged for any returned (dishonored) check
• Personal checks will not be accepted to repay dishonored checks
• If your registration payment is returned, your enrollment may be canceled

Contact

For questions, email the Cashiers Office at cashiers@csulb.edu.

Payment Plan contracts are offered to assist students with paying their course fees by dividing fees into equal payments. Payment plans are set up at the time of registration. 

If you plan to use a payment plan, please complete the Open University Payment Plan contract.

A non-refundable $33.00 administrative fee is charged for participation in a payment plan. 

The last day to sign up for the Fall 2026 payment plan is October 27, 2026.

If you do not pay your payment plan by your first due date, you may be dropped from your class or classes due to non-payment of fees. 

Payment Plan Dates for Fall 2026:

• 4-Part Plan: August 24, September 24, October 24 & November 24
• 3-Part Plan: September 24, October 25 & November 24
• 2-Part Plan: October 26 & November 25

Once you enroll in a payment plan, changes to your academic load, subsequent fee increases, or new charges may affect the amount of your payments, which are not necessarily distributed evenly. It is your responsibility to check your account for any such changes.
 
The payment plan does not cover some fees, such as library fines or course fees from a previous term. These fees will need to be paid prior to enrollment in a payment plan. 

It is the student's responsibility to check their MyCSULB account to ensure the payment plan is successfully enrolled and to verify due dates. Enrollment in a payment plan is available once you submit a registration form.

If your balance becomes delinquent, you may be placed with an outside collection agency. You will be responsible for any additional fees. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to resolve this matter immediately.

If you have additional questions, please email cpace-paymentplans@csulb.edu.

If a company or organization plans to pay your fees, a sponsorship agreement and authorization of services must be received prior to registration by CPaCE Student Services Center via email at cpace-info@csulb.edu. If your sponsor does not pay some or all of your fees, it is your responsibility to pay or your enrollment may be canceled, a financial hold placed on your record, and services withheld until fees are paid.

If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for financial assistance for your higher education. For more information, contact the Veterans Services office at (562) 985-5115. 

Regardless of how your education is funded, you are personally responsible for making sure that your tuition and mandatory fees (and any other fees or charges) are paid on time.

• August 17 - September 7: 100% refund (minus $10 processing fee)
• September 8 - 20: 65% refund
• September 21: No refunds available starting on this date

Fall 2026: Students can drop a course through week 2 (September 7).

No signatures or department stamps are required to drop a course during the first two weeks of instruction. 

Students can drop their courses through MyCSULB. Visit Enrollment Services' Using Academics page for instructions on dropping a course in your student center. 

Fall 2026: September 8 - November 20, 2026

In order to withdraw from a course, both instructor and department permission are required. Additionally, a ‘W’ will be posted to the student’s transcript. 

For more information on the Withdrawal Petition process, visit the Student Records Dropping and Withdrawing page. 

Fall 2026: September 20 - November 21, 2026

In order to withdraw from a course within the final three weeks of the semester, the student will need to submit a Catastrophic Withdrawal.

Only extenuating circumstances will be considered. You are required to obtain approval from the Instructor, Department Chair, and Dean on your completed form before submitting it to Enrollment Services. Enrollment Services will then forward the form to the University Provost to seek final approval. Additionally, a ‘W’ will be posted to your transcript. 

Withdrawals are not permitted during the final week of instruction. 

Up to 24 units of Open University credit may apply toward an undergraduate degree at CSULB, and up to 9 units for a graduate degree. Beyond these limits, additional units may be taken for personal enrichment or to transfer to another institution, but they will not be applicable to CSULB degree programs.

Open University provides an opportunity for people who are not currently admitted to CSULB to enroll in courses offered by the university during the Fall and Spring semesters.

There is no difference between the courses. The courses that Open University students take are the same courses that matriculated students take. Open University students can seek permission to enroll in any classes listed in the schedule of classes.

The class schedule is available at www.csulb.edu/schedule. Classes can be viewed by subject. Information is updated nightly.

Current catalog course descriptions can be found at http://catalog.csulb.edu.

A matriculated student is one that is admitted to the university. If you are not sure whether or not you are admitted, please check with the Office of Enrollment Services (562) 985-5471 or inquire with Enrollment Services. If you are not admitted (non-matriculated), you can enroll as an Open University student through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).

Yes. High school students are welcome to attend CSULB through Open University as long as a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor is attached to the registration request form specifying if the credits earned are for college credits or high school credits.

You can register for Fall and Spring Open University in a few different ways.  To see all the options please visit our How to Register page.

Our office is located on campus in the Foundation Building, Suite 104. Our regular business hours are:

• Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

CPaCE accepts only Visa, MasterCard, American Express, checks and money orders. Cash is not accepted at CPaCE. Payments must be made via MyCSULB.

Yes. Please read the Payments and Refunds page for dates and deadlines.

A CSULB transcript can be ordered through CSULB's Enrollment Services. For more information visit www.csulb.edu/student-records/transcripts-current-students.

If you do not have a CSULB ID, we will create one for you upon registration. When filling out the registration form, you can leave this space blank if you do not yet have an ID number. A campus ID number is issued to all new students by the university for registration and identification purposes. If you are a current Open University student or have taken a course previously, you will continue to use your existing ID number that was assigned to you.

Once you are registered for classes, you are able to purchase a semester parking permit through the Parking and Transportation Services website.

Open University students with a student ID card have access to the library and computer labs. They can also gain access to other campus resources, such as the Student Health Center and Recreation Center for an additional fee.

Over a thousand students register for classes each semester through Open University, so there are many course options available. However, there is no guarantee that students will be able to get into a specific course. 

As non-matriculated students, federal student financial aid is not available for students taking courses through Open University. Students can apply for private continuing education loans.

As a regionally accredited institution, most classes will transfer to another institution. Students will want to speak to a representative from the institution to which they plan to transfer, in order to determine how those classes will be articulated. 

Canvas is the online learning environment used at CSULB. Instructors may use it to post assignments, hold discussions, or for other functions. Once students are registered into a class, they will generally get access to Canvas within 24 hours.

Parking permits are required for all campus parking lots. Students can purchase daily, monthly, or semester-long permits. Learn more about Permit Information & Regulations and see the campus maps for parking lot locations.

Short-Term parking may also be purchased via the Parkmobile app, a convenient service that provides reminders and the ability to extend your purchase.

For more information regarding University Parking Policies and Procedures, please visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.

MyCSULB Student Center serves as a "home base" for your enrollment and student information. In your CSULB Single Sign-On Portal, find the yellow MyCSULB Student Center tile to get started, or visit my.csulb.edu.

MyCSULB Student Center is organized into four main panels – Academics, Finances, Personal Information, and Admissions. Each section contains resources related to your class schedule, academic requirements, tuition/fee payments, financial aid awards, contact details, and more.

Learn more about the MyCSULB Student Center.

Students who need assistance or accommodation in order to participate in or benefit from university programs, services, and/or activities should inform the person/department responsible for these programs, services, or activities, and then contact the Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC).

Students needing support services or accommodations for course work should contact the instructor of the course within the first week of class. In addition, students should establish their eligibility for assistance by contacting the BMAC at bmac@csulb.edu. They will be required to provide verification of their disability from a medical professional, along with a description of the student’s functional limitations. The BMAC will evaluate their requests. Typical accommodations available are extended time for tests, test proctoring, private test rooms, note-taking, Braille transcription, and referral for tutoring.

If the service offered is insufficient or inadequate, the student should confer with the Director of the BMAC. If these efforts are not successful, concerns may be directed to the Office of Equity and Compliance at (562) 985-8256 or OEC@csulb.edu. Responsibility for oversight and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act have been delegated to the campus director for disability support and accommodation.