California State University-Los Angeles Acceptance Rate & Admissions

About

About California State University-Los Angeles

high acceptance ratehealth sciences focuslarge class sizes

California State University-Los Angeles is a public university in Los Angeles, CA, known for its high acceptance rate, health sciences focus, and large class sizes. With an acceptance rate of 87%, CSULA is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 3,892 students each year. CSULA is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. CSULA offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $11,625 per year; the sticker price of $39,884 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

California State University-Los Angeles acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

87%

Overall Accept Rate

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to California State University-Los Angeles

Application Strategy

Cal State LA uses a straightforward eligibility index based on your GPA and, optionally, test scores, so a strong GPA is by far the most important thing you can put in front of the admissions office. Double-check that every grade you report is accurate and that your transcript shows an upward trend if you had a rough semester early on.

Test Score Strategy

Since Cal State LA is test optional and places very little weight on scores, you are better off not submitting a score that falls below the school's typical range, as it will not help your eligibility index and could work against you.

Financial Aid & Cost

What California State University-Los Angeles actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family Income	Sticker Price	Est. Net Cost / yr
0-30k	~$40k/yr	$2.9k
30k-48k	~$40k/yr	$3.0k
48k-75k	~$40k/yr	$5.0k
75k-110k	~$40k/yr	$7.4k
110k+	~$40k/yr	$13.6k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

53%

6-Year Graduation Rate

$46k

Median Earnings (6 yrs)

25:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

20,922

Undergrad Enrollment