California State University, Los Angeles is a public university in Los Angeles, California. Cal State LA has 100+ programs in 58 undergraduate degrees, 55 graduate degrees, and 4 doctoral programs through 8 academic schools. The Cal State LA campus is home to the United States' first Charter College of Education, as well as one of the greatest business degree programs in the country.

To secure admission at Cal State LA, students require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67 (~70-74%) for the undergraduate program and a GPA of 2.75 (~82-83%) for the graduate program. Additionally, International students applying to UG studies must have a TOEFL iBT score of 61, while PG students must have a TOEFL iBT score of 80.

Tuition cost at Cal State LA varies depending on the course. The annual tuition fee ranges from 4.94 lakhs to 13.94 lakhs for an international student. The average cost of living at Cal State LA is 11.46 lakhs. California State University students can apply for a range of scholarships. The average award was USD 10,921. In 2021, over USD 4.2 billion was granted to more than 388,000 students as financial aid to Cal State students.

California State University, Los Angeles Rankings

California State University - Los Angeles is one of the top public universities in Los Angeles, United States. It is ranked #1201-1400 in QS World University Rankings 2023. The other rankings achieved by California State University through various ranking agencies are:

  • #201-250 US Universities by QS Ranking 2022
  • #23 in Regional Universities West by US News and World Report 2022
  • #6 in Best Value Schools by US News and World Report 2022
  • #8 in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report 2022
  • #401-500 US College Rankings 2022 by THE

California State University, Los Angeles Campus

The university is in the urban setting of Los Angeles. The Cal State Univesity campus has health and wellness centers, art galleries and complexes, cultural centers, resource centers, food pantry, and CalFresh. There is a CARE team on campus for the safety of the students, faculty, and staff. The university provides on-campus parking and transportation services. The camp was equipped with proper facilities for intramural sports and other athletic activities.

California State University, Los Angeles Accommodation

California State University offers apartment-style residences for full-time students living on campus. The residences are within walking distance from all campus facilities like classrooms, libraries, sports complexes, etc. All apartments are fully furnished with amenities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, television, laundry services, kitchens, patio, access to game rooms, etc.

The university also offers Gender Inclusive Housing and Themed Living Communities. Students can find like-minded peers and enjoy a truly inclusive environment. To apply for housing in USA, students have to fill up an online form and pay USD 340 during submission. Rooms are allocated on a first come - first serve basis so students should apply as soon as possible after an application for admission.

Room Type Academic Year Cost (in INR)
Single 10.38 lakhs
Double 9.17 lakhs
Triple 6.45 lakhs

Off-Campus Accommodation

California State University, Los Angeles is located at the intersection of the 710 and 10 Freeways. CSU recommends areas to the north and east of campus for off-campus housing. Off-campus housing options include Alhambra, South Pasadena, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Temple City, and Rosemead. The basic rent for off-campus accommodation at CSU is around 1.53 lakhs to 2.95 lakhs per month for an international student. 

California State University, Los Angeles Programs

The California State University of LA offers more than 100 courses, which include undergraduate, graduate, pre-professional, and certificate programs. It offers 58 undergraduate degrees, 55 graduate degrees, and 4 doctoral programs through 8 academic schools. Cal State LA offers courses in a wide range of fields starting from engineering, arts, and sciences to business, management, and nursing, to name a few.

Some of the popular undergraduate majors at CSU, Los Angeles that have experienced maximum enrollment are Business Administration, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Child Development, Psychology, etc.Some popular graduate courses that have seen increased enrolment during admission are Counselling, MBA, Social Work, Nursing, etc.

California State University, Los Angeles Admission Process

International students need to fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria set by the university including the minimum GPA achieved, English proficiency test scores, and course preparation. The admission procedure for international and domestic students is mostly the same but a few extra steps need to be followed for international students:

California State University UG Admissions

Application Portal: CalState Apply
Admission requirements: 

  • Official transcripts/academic records (cumulative GPA of 2.67)
  • SAT and ACT scores 
  • Academic Resume
  • Proof of residency (If required)
  • Statement of Intenet
  • English language proficiency score
    • IELTS- 5.5
    • TOEFL iBT- 61

California State University PG Admissions

Application Portal: CalState Apply
Admission requirements: 

  • Official transcripts/academic records (minimum 2.75 GPA)
  • GRE/GMAT scores 
  • Professional CV/Resume
  • Academic Resume
  • Proof of residency (If required)
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Admission interview (By invitation)
  • English language proficiency score
    • IELTS- 6.0
    • TOEFL iBT- 80

California State University Fees for International Students

California State University fees for international students depend on the program. Students should have an idea about the cost of studying in the USA before applying to the university. Besides, the expenses can vary for students who live on campus, off-campus, or commute. The tuition and mandatory fees vary for undergraduates, graduates, or post-baccalaureate.

California State University Tuition Fee

Program Annual Cost (in INR)
Undergraduate 4.94 lakhs
Credential 5.66 lakhs
Graduate/Postbaccalaureate 6.06 lakhs
Audiology Doctorate 12.01 lakhs
Education Doctorate 9.73 lakhs
Nursing Practice Doctorate 12.43 lakhs
Physical Therapy Doctorate 13.94 lakhs

Cost of Living

Expenses Annual Cost in INR
Books and Supplies 0.94 lakhs 
Room and Board 7.71 lakhs
Personal Expenses 1.72 lakhs
Transportation 1.09 lakhs

California State University, Los Angeles Scholarships

The university awards scholarship to all the students who are currently enrolled in any full-time program. The online application for the scholarship is available on the Cal State University LA Scholarships application site.

  • Off-Campus Scholarship: Many sites provide scholarships. Candidates must stay aware of the scholarship scams and not pay any fees for a scholarship. There are certain reliable sites one can visit for off-campus scholarships like AmeriCorps, College Board, Promise, Scholarship.com, HACU, etc.
  • The Nathaniel R. and Valerie Dumont Scholarship: This scholarship is worth 4000 USD. Candidates who are enrolled in a full-time program and have a minimum GPA of 2.8/4 (80%).

Work Study Program

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a federally sponsored program operated by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office that gives on and off-campus part-time employment opportunities to earn money to help pay for college expenditures. A Federal Work-Study award is dependent on the availability of funds at the school, the university's Federal Work-Study awarding policies, when you apply, your level of need, and your commitment to securing an eligible Federal Work-Study position and executing the required work.

While classes are in session, students may work up to 20 hours per week. Federal Work-Study students may be paid on a commission or fee basis. If you work on campus as a student, you will likely work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer is usually a private nonprofit or a government agency, and the job you do must be in the public interest.

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California State University, Los Angeles Alumni

With more than 2,50,000 alumni spread around the globe, California State University offers its services to all its alumni. From conducting alumni mentoring programs, to volunteer programs, and alumni awards night the university takes special care of its alumni.

Notable Alumni: 

  • John D Peterson: former President of the University of Tennessee
  • Joseph Wambaugh: Novelist and Bestselling author
  •  Alan J. Fohrer: CEO of Southern California Edison Company
  • Samuel T. Durrance: Astro Geophysicist and payload specialist on NASA spacecraft mission.

California State University, Los Angeles Placements

The Career Development Centre of California State University, LA, offers placement support to students through CV writing, interview preparation, internships, on-campus jobs, workshops, and more. The College of Business and Economics has seen excellent placement through the years and some of the notable recruiters have been NASA, Nike, JPL, Tesla, Sherwin Williams, Insomniac, CBRE, etc. 

The average salary of a California State University (LA) graduate is USD 72,803 per annum according to Payscale data. The best-paid job profiles are Financial Controller, Project Manager, HR Manager, and Software Engineer with salaries up to 80,000 USD. Here are the average salaries of CSU - Los Angeles graduates by job profiles according to PayScale:

Job Profile Average Salary in INR
Human Resources (HR) Manager 57.58 lakhs
Project Manager, (Unspecified Type / General) 60.61 lakhs
Software Engineer 56.06 lakhs
Staff Accountant 44.70 lakhs
Software Developer 62.88 lakhs
Mechanical Engineer 52.27 lakhs
Operations Manager 46.97 lakhs

Also Check: High-paying Jobs in USA!

California State University or Cal State LA as commonly called has more than 25,000 alumni across the world. It offers undergraduate, graduate, pre-professional, and certificate programs in fields like Business, Arts, Education, Engineering, Science, Nursing, etc. The eight academic colleges of Cal State LA offering more than 100 courses are recognized for their outstanding faculties and researchers.

FAQs

Ques. How good an institution is California State University, LA?

Ans. California State University ranks #401 - #500 in the U.S College Ranking by THE. U.S News and World Report rank it as #13 on Social Mobility. It is one of the top public universities in the U.S.

Ques. How to apply for admission at California State University, LA?

Ans. Candidates have to apply online for admission through Cal State Application Portal with all the relevant documents within the deadlines.

Ques. Is financial aid available for international students at California State University, LA?

Ans. Yes, full-time international students are eligible for scholarships, the list of which is available on the college website. Moreover, they can also opt for private scholarships like the American University Emerging global leader Scholarship, United World Colleges International Youth Scholarships, Civil Society Leadership Award, and many others.

Ques. What GPA is needed for admission at California State University, Los Angeles?

Ans. International undergraduate students should have a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.00 for admission to California State University Los Angeles. Honors applicants require a GPA of 3.50. Graduate applicants should have a minimum GPA of 2.50 on a scale of 4.00.

Ques. How can I track my application for admission to California State University, LA?

Ans. After submitting an online application for admission, you will receive an email after 3 to 5 days confirming its receipt along with Cal State LA Campus Identification Number. After a few days, you will receive your password. After receiving the emails, you will have to set up an account through the online portal MyCalStateLA and track your application status.

Ques. What is the average salary of California State University, Los Angeles graduates?

Ans. The average salary of a California State University (LA) graduate is USD 72,803 per annum according to Payscale data

Ques. What are the popular programs offered by California State University, Los Angeles?

Ans. Some popular graduate courses that have seen increased enrolment during admission are Counselling, MBA, Social Work, Nursing, etc. Princeton Review has ranked the MBA Program by Cal State LA among the top programs in the U.S.