Cal State LA: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-blind
- 32,723
- Applicants
- 29,860
- Admitted91%
- 2,815
- Enrolled
- 9%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access91% admittedRanked #148 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #149 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #26 (tie), Computer Science #127 (tie), Nursing #115 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by California State University-Los Angeles (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is Cal State LA a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Cal State LA against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Cal State LA is a public university in Los Angeles, California that admits about 91% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $3,967 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Sociology, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 53% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, Cal State LA admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 91%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $3,967 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Cal State LA?
Cal State LA has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Cal State LA with the other schools on your list
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What does Cal State LA weight in admissions?
Cal State LA reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Considered
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
14- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Cal State LA typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Cal State LA does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU system does not use SAT/ACT for admission; scores may be used for math/English placement after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Cal State LA's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Cal State LA actually cost?
Published tuition is $7,160 for in-state students and $19,760 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,696 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $3,967 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 66% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,084 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,768 |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $3,967 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 53% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,909 |
| Average merit award, no financial need100 first-year students received one | $6,655 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 81% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $14,595 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Cal State LA
Will my child graduate from Cal State LA?
These predict outcomes at Cal State LA better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Cal State LA
The most popular undergraduate programs at Cal State LA, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Sociology. Across all programs, Cal State LA confers roughly 2,860 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $64,019 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 726 | $64,019 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 391 | $46,726 |
| Sociology | 350 | $54,833 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 348 | $56,580 |
| Psychology, General | 343 | n/a |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 242 | $57,102 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 233 | n/a |
| Social Work | 227 | $59,861 |
Is Cal State LA safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Cal State LA disclosed 39 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 5 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in California parents ask about
Next steps for Cal State LA
Common questions parents ask about Cal State LA
What GPA do I need for Cal State LA?
Cal State LA has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Cal State LA typically admit?
Cal State LA is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Cal State LA actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Cal State LA after grants and scholarships is $3,967 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $7,160 and $19,760 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Cal State LA realistic for my child?
Cal State LA admits 91% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $3,967 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Cal State LA?
Cal State LA accepts about 91% of applicants out of roughly 32,723 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Cal State LA test-optional?
Cal State LA is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Cal State LA?
About 53% of students at Cal State LA graduate within six years, and 25% finish in four years. 72% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Cal State LA look for in applicants?
Cal State LA rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Cal State LA a public or private school, and where is it located?
Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California.
What are the most popular majors at Cal State LA?
The largest undergraduate majors at Cal State LA by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Sociology. The school awards about 2,860 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Cal State LA safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Cal State LA reported 39 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Los Angeles, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers