Chances of getting into California State University Los Angeles
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Extremely Easy | |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
Will you get in?
Find out which students are getting accepted at Cal State LA, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
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How hard is it to get into Cal State LA and can I get accepted? The school has a 42% acceptance rate ranking it #27 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 16,548 out of 39,854 applicants were admitted making Cal State LA a more competitive school to get into with a good chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely easy requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 80 percent. California State University Los Angeles typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students. Only 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top half of their high school class.
Cal State LA SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 450 |
| SAT Math 25th | 440 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 890 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 540 |
| SAT Math 75th | 540 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1080 |
| Average SAT Score | 990 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to California State University Los Angeles?
California State University Los Angeles typically requires applicants to be in the top 79 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 890 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 790. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 990 out of 1600. The school ranks #72 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 96 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1080 and Above | Good | >55% |
| 985 to 1080 | Avg + | 42%-55% |
| 890 to 985 | Avg - | 30%-42% |
| 795 to 890 | Reach | 20%-30% |
| Less than 795 | Low | <20% |
Cal State LA ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 14 |
| ACT Math 25th | 16 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 15 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 20 |
| ACT Math 75th | 20 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 20 |
| Average ACT Score | 17 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Cal State LA?
Admission data indicates that Cal State LA regularly accepts students with ACT's of 15 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 81 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 12 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 18 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 20 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #77 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 39 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to California State University Los Angeles.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 20 and Above | Good | >58% |
| 17 to 20 | Avg + | 42%-58% |
| 15 to 17 | Avg - | 32%-42% |
| 13 to 15 | Reach | 24%-32% |
| Less than 13 | Low | <24% |
Explore California State University Los Angeles
Cal State LA GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into California State University Los Angeles?
Applicants need about average high school grades to get into Cal State LA. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at California State University Los Angeles was 3.18 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #74 in California for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Cal State LA will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 7% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 14% | Good |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 21% | Good |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 26% | Avg + |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 29% | Avg - |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 2% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | 1% | Reach |
GPA Data Source, Wintergreen Orchard House
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
100% of California State University Los Angeles freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 0% |
| Top 25% of class | 3% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 23,274 | 16,580 | 39,854 |
| Accepted | 10,080 | 6,468 | 16,548 |
| Acceptance Rate | 43% | 39% | 42% |
| Enrolled | 2,211 | 1,651 | 3,862 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 26% | 23% |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California State University Los Angeles and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Recommended |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110592 IPEDS survey data for California State University Los Angeles.
FAQs
Does California State University Los Angeles prefer SAT or ACT?
96% of students submit their SAT scores to Cal State LA. 39% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into California State University Los Angeles?
42% of those who apply are granted admission to Cal State LA. Admission competition is low and the college has extremely easy admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for California State University Los Angeles?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 890 and 1080. 96% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for California State University Los Angeles?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 15 and 20. 39% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.