California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA or CSULA) is a public university in the University Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, and a campus of the California State University system. Founded in 1947, Cal State LA enrolls approximately 22,740 students across six academic colleges offering more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and letters, business and economics, education, engineering, computer science and technology, health and human services, and natural and social sciences. The university occupies a distinctive 175-acre campus situated in the San Gabriel Valley foothills with panoramic views of the Los Angeles Basin. Cal State LA is consistently ranked among the leading universities in the nation for upward economic mobility, social equity, and return on investment for first-generation, low-income, and immigrant students. In 2025, Cal State LA was ranked No. 1 for upward mobility in the California Mobility Index, reflecting its extraordinary record of transforming the economic prospects of its diverse student body. Ten-year median earnings of $59,000 reflect the strong career outcomes of graduates entering Los Angeles's robust economy. The Golden Eagles compete in NCAA Division II in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State LA serves one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse student bodies of any university in the United States, with strong communities of Latino, Asian American, and first-generation students whose families represent the full spectrum of Los Angeles's global character. The university's proximity to downtown Los Angeles, major entertainment studios, technology firms, and healthcare systems provides students with exceptional internship and professional development opportunities throughout their studies.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$19764
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $19,760
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
