Cal State University, Los Angeles: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

California State University, Los Angeles is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 48%. Located in the University Hills district of Los Angeles, CSULA is one of the 23 schools that make up the California State University system.

The university offers over 100 undergraduate, graduate, pre-professional, and certificate programs. Among undergraduates, programs in business administration, education, criminal justice, and social work are the most popular. Cal State LA has a 23-to-1 student/faculty ratio. In athletics, the CSULA Golden Eagles compete in the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Considering applying to CSULA? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, CSULA had an acceptance rate of 48%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 48 students were admitted, making CSULA's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Cal State University Los Angles requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 96% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of CSULA's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Cal State Los Angeles scored between 450 and 540, while 25% scored below 450 and 25% scored above 540. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 440 and 540, while 25% scored below 440 and 25% scored above 540. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1080 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Cal State Los Angeles.

Requirements

Cal State Los Angeles does not require the SAT writing section. Note that CSULA will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject test scores are not required, but if the score meets a benchmark, it may be used to fulfill certain core course requirements.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Cal State Los Angeles requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 39% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Cal State Los Angeles' admitted students fall within the bottom 20% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to CSULA received a composite ACT score between 15 and 20, while 25% scored above 20 and 25% scored below 15%.

Requirements

Cal State Los Angeles does not require the ACT writing section. Note that CSULA does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. 

GPA

In 2018, the average high school GPA for incoming Cal State Los Angeles freshman was 3.24. These results suggest that most successful applicants to CSULA have primarily B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to California State University, Los Angeles. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Cal State Los Angeles, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. What makes the difference between an acceptance and a rejection? Unlike the University of California System, the California State University admission process is not holistic. Except for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) students, applicants do not need to submit letters of recommendation or an application essay, and extracurricular involvement is not part of the standard application.

Admissions are based primarily on an eligibility index that combines GPA and test scores. To be admitted to CSULA, you must have completed and achieved a 2.7 minimum GPA in required college preparatory courses which include two years of history and social science, four years of college prep English, three years of math, two years of laboratory science, one year of visual or performing arts, and one year of a college preparatory elective. Applicants should be aware that California State University, Los Angeles is designated as impacted because it receives more applications than can be accommodated. Due to impaction, particularly competitive majors such as Biology, Business, and Nursing may have additional requirements for eligibility.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and California State University, Los Angeles Undergraduate Admissions Office.