CSU Acceptance Rate

The California State University (CSU) system, overseen by the Office of the Chancellor, manages admissions across its 23 campuses, with acceptance rates varying widely based on campus selectivity and applicant pool size for the Class of 2028. Overall, the CSU system maintains a moderately selective admissions process, with an estimated average acceptance rate of around 63.0% for the most recent cycle, though specific data for the entire system or individual campuses for 2028 is not yet fully published. Factors influencing selectivity include a growing number of applicants, budget constraints, and campus-specific capacity limits. While the CSU Office of the Chancellor provides some aggregated data on enrollment and admissions through its official website, detailed campus-by-campus statistics for the latest cycle are often delayed or incomplete.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: Estimated at 63.0% for the Class of 2028, based on historical trends across the CSU system, with approximately 500,000 applicants and 315,000 admitted students annually in recent years.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Data unavailable for the system-wide level; individual campuses like CSU Long Beach and San Diego State may offer priority filing periods, but specific rates are not disclosed for 2028.
• International Student Rate: Estimated at 50.0%, lower than domestic rates due to limited spots and stricter requirements, though exact figures for the latest cycle are not published.

Trends in CSU acceptance rates indicate increasing competitiveness at popular campuses like San Diego State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where rates have dipped below 30% in recent years, while less impacted campuses maintain higher rates near 80-90%. The lack of a unified early action or decision program across the system limits analysis of its impact, but international student admissions remain more selective due to funding and visa constraints. Compared to peer public university systems like the University of California (UC), CSU’s average selectivity is less intense, with UC rates often below 20% for top campuses. For the most accurate and updated statistics, prospective students are encouraged to visit the official CSU website or individual campus admissions pages.