,·Public·Est. 1965
“Public R2 research university in the San Bernardino foothills”
California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is a large public, comprehensive university serving the Inland Empire and the rapidly growing San Bernardino-Riverside metro area, the largest population center in Southern California outside Los Angeles and San Diego. Founded in 1965, CSUSB is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University system — the largest four-year public university system in the United States — and is designated both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). With more than 20,000 students across two campuses (the main 441-acre San Bernardino campus at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains and the Palm Desert Campus in the Coachella Valley), CSUSB is a powerhouse of social mobility — repeatedly ranked among the top universities in the nation for moving low-income students into the middle class. Academics span six colleges (Arts & Letters, Business & Public Administration, Education, Natural Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Extended & Global Education) and the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration is AACSB-accredited, the College of Natural Sciences is home to a nationally ranked cybersecurity program (NSA/DHS-designated National Center of Academic Excellence), and the Watson College of Education is one of the largest credential-producing schools in California. The student experience is shaped by a working, commuter-and-resident hybrid culture: ~65% Hispanic/Latino enrollment, a heavily first-generation undergraduate body, and one of the most affordable public-university price points in the western United States. CSUSB athletics compete in NCAA Division II as the Coyotes (CCAA conference). For international students, CSUSB offers a designated International Education office, the CSUSB English Language Program, and a relatively gentle cost-of-attendance for an American west-coast public university.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Social Mobility
Wall Street Journal
Best Bang for the Buck (West)
Washington Monthly
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceFall Priority
CSU Apply window opens October 1; priority deadline is November 30
Spring Admission
Limited spring admission available for select programs
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$8,093
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$20,693
/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.
4 years
Nationally recognized program — CSUSB is an NSA/DHS-designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research. STEM-designated; eligible for 24-month STEM OPT extension. Strong pipeline into Inland Empire defense, finance, and tech employers.
4 years
ABET-accredited CS major with concentrations in cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering. STEM-designated for OPT.
4 years
Direct-admit BSN program with rotations across Inland Empire hospitals (Loma Linda, Kaiser, Arrowhead Regional). Selective admission within the broader CSUSB acceptance rate.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $20,693
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.
