What are Cal State Los Angeles's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
- GPA requirements
- Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
- Application requirements
In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Cal State Los Angeles and build a strong application.
School location: Los Angeles, CA
This school is also known as: CSU Los Angeles, Cal State Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles
Admissions Rate: 86.9%
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at Cal State Los Angeles is 86.9%. For every 100 applicants, 87 are admitted.
![Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (1) Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.prepscholar.com/static/web/redesign/images/meter-comp-1.png)
This means the school islightly selective. The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet Cal State Los Angeles's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.
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Cal State Los Angeles GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 3.35
The average GPA at Cal State Los Angeles is 3.35.
![Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (3) Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.prepscholar.com/static/web/redesign/images/meter-comp-4.png)
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.35, Cal State Los Angelesaccepts below-average students. It's OK to be a B-average student, with some A's mixed in. It'd be best to avoid C's and D's, since application readers might doubt whether you can handle the stress of college academics.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.
Cal State Los Angeles hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."
Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Cal State Los Angeles will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.
Cal State Los Angeles SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.
Average SAT: 985
The average SAT score composite at Cal State Los Angeles is a 985 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes Cal State Los Angeles Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.
Cal State Los Angeles SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile SAT score is 850, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1045. In other words, a 850 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1045 will move you up to above average.
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
Math | 490 | 410 | 530 |
Reading + Writing | 495 | 430 | 530 |
Composite | 985 | 850 | 1045 |
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
Cal State Los Angeles has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."
This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.
Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.
How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)
For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:
Section | R+W | Math | Composite |
Test 1 | 700 | 300 | 1000 |
Test 2 | 300 | 700 | 1000 |
Test 3 | 300 | 300 | 600 |
Superscore | 700 | 700 | 1400 |
Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Cal State Los Angeles will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Cal State Los Angeles forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 850, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
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Cal State Los Angeles ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, Cal State Los Angeles likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
Average ACT: 18
The average ACT score at Cal State Los Angeles is 18. This score makes Cal State Los Angeles Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 16, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 24.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 16 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.
We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Cal State Los Angeles, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 16.
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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.
Cal State Los Angeles considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.
Final Admissions Verdict
![Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (8) Cal State Los Angeles Admission Requirements (8)](https://i0.wp.com/www.prepscholar.com/static/web/redesign/images/meter-comp-2.png)
Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average. Aim for a 850 SAT or a 16 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.
But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
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Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at California State University Los Angeles?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test:SATACT
SAT Score
Your GPA
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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- Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Cal State Los Angeles here.
Application Requirements Overview
- Common ApplicationNot accepted
- Electronic ApplicationAvailable
- Essay or Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation
- InterviewNot required
- Application Fee$70
- Fee Waiver Available?Available
- Other Notes
Testing Requirements
- SAT or ACTNot used if submitted
- SAT Essay or ACT WritingOptional
- SAT Subject Tests
- Scores Due in OfficeJuly 15
Coursework Requirements
- SubjectRequired Years
- English4
- Math3
- Science2
- Foreign Language2
- Social Studies1
- History1
- Electives1
Deadlines and Early Admissions
- Offered?DeadlineNotification
- Regular Admission
- YesAugust 21May 1
- Early Action
- No
- Early Decision
- No
Admissions Office Information
- Address:5151
Los Angeles, CA 90032 - Phone:(323) 343-3000 x3000
- Fax:(323) 343-2670
- Email:[emailprotected]
Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Cal State Los Angeles, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Cal State Los Angeles.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Cal State Los Angeles. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
State University of New York College at Oneonta | Oneonta, NY | 1169 | 23 |
California State University Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 1130 | 22 |
State University of New York at Fredonia | Fredonia, NY | 1090 | 24 |
Texas State University | San Marcos, TX | 1080 | 23 |
Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1067 | 22 |
University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 1040 | 20 |
California State University Northridge | Northridge, CA | 1030 | 19 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Cal State Los Angeles, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
California State University Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | 1000 | 19 |
California State University San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | 1000 | 18 |
California State University Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 993 | 19 |
California State University East Bay | Hayward, CA | 992 | 19 |
Kean University | Union, NJ | 990 | 20 |
University of Texas at Brownsville | Brownsville, TX | 990 | 19 |
State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 970 | 20 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Cal State Los Angeles, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Cal State Los Angeles is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College | New Haven, CT | 940 | 24 |
Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 912 | 17 |
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney, PA | 890 | 18 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID | 875 | 22 |
Pine Manor College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 870 | 15 |
Wiley College | Marshall, TX | 830 | 16 |
Bloomfield College | Bloomfield, NJ | 629 | 17 |
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Get Into Your Top Choice School
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