Cal State Northridge admissions

At CSUN’s Little Theater, student Thea Fernandez, 20, center, talks with Karl Pascasio, 20, after the public meeting on plans to limit enrollment.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Cal State Northridge students Moy Bacsal, left, Karl Pascasio and Thea Fernandez listen to the dean of students talk about CSUN’s plans to restrict enrollment because it lacks space for all the qualified students clamoring for seats.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

William Watkins, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, talks about plans to limit enrollment at Cal State Northridge by upping admissions standards.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Dan Chernow, who has many CSUN alumni in his family, makes his argument against plans to limit enrollment at Cal State Northridge by setting higher admission standards for its academic programs during a public meeting at the Little Theater.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Jose Luis Vargas, director of educational opportunity programs at Cal State Northridge, left, talks with Ruben Rodriguez, executive director of Pueblo Y Salud Inc., at the public meeting on admissions standards.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Cal State Northridge freshmen Esther Martinez, 18, left, Diego Aguilar Avila, 18, and Jeannette Hernandez all are former students of East L.A.’s Bravo Medical Magnet High School. Avila says he’s thankful CSUN waited to raise admissions standards until after he was accepted.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Cal State Northridge is aiming to reduce its entering undergraduate class by 1%, or about 300 students, in each of the next four years. To do that, high school graduates and transfer students from outside the local area will need to meet higher standards such as increased GPAs or test scores.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Across the Cal State system, campus officials are limiting enrollment using higher admission standards. Currently, 18 of the 23 universities restrict applicants; a decade ago only eight campuses did so.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)