“A small Los Angeles private university in Koreatown with a majority-international student body, built around business, computing, and F-1 friendly pathways.”
Pacific States University (PSU) is a small private non-profit university in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, tracing its roots to the Radio Institute of California founded in 1928 by William G. Buffinger. Today the institution is operated in affiliation with South Korea's Konkuk University and serves a compact, overwhelmingly international student body drawn from roughly 40 countries. PSU's campus sits in a single downtown-adjacent tower at 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, placing students steps from Koreatown's food scene, LA Metro rail access, and the broader cultural corridors of Mid-Wilshire, K-Town, and Downtown LA. Academically, PSU is highly focused: it awards a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with tracks in Accounting and International Business and an emphasis in Business Analytics, a Master of Science in Computer Science (M.S.C.S.), a Master of Science in Information Systems (M.S.I.S.), and an Accounting Certificate program. Programs are quarter-based, offered in day, evening, online, and hybrid formats, and the MBA curriculum is designated as 50%+ STEM-oriented. A 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, rolling quarterly admissions (January, April, July, and October starts), and tuition charged per-unit ($200/unit undergraduate, $300/unit graduate) make the university a flexible fit for working adults and F-1 visa students who want a slower-paced, cohort-style alternative to large US universities. The student experience at PSU is defined less by traditional campus life and more by its intimate, international character. There are no residence halls; the Student Services team instead assists with off-campus housing (including partner Koreatown homestays and apartment listings), health-insurance guidance, CPT/OPT/STEM-OPT work authorization, and a mandatory new-student orientation. Research happens through the Buffinger & Evans Research Institute and the PSU AI & Robotics Excellence Lab, and the university highlights employer partners spanning Apple, Amazon, Disney, IBM, and Samsung. For international students who want an accredited, SEVP-certified US degree in Los Angeles without the cost or competitiveness of a large-flagship school, PSU is a distinctive, F-1-friendly option.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceFall — Overseas / F-1
International F-1 visa applicants should apply by this date for the October 1 Fall start.
Fall — Domestic
US applicants; quarter begins October 1.
Winter — Overseas / F-1
International F-1 visa applicants; quarter begins January 1.
Winter — Domestic
US applicants; quarter begins January 1.
Spring — Overseas / F-1
International F-1 visa applicants; quarter begins April 1.
Spring — Domestic
US applicants; quarter begins April 1.
Summer — Overseas / F-1
International F-1 visa applicants; quarter begins July 1.
Summer — Domestic
US applicants; quarter begins July 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$7,200 – $10,800
/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.
PSU's core school, offering the Bachelor of Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration with STEM-designated Business Analytics emphasis and concentrations in Accounting and International Business.
Houses the Master of Science in Computer Science and Master of Science in Information Systems — STEM-oriented graduate programs aimed at international students targeting U.S. tech careers and OPT/STEM-OPT eligibility.
Offers the Accounting Certificate Program, a credit-bearing certificate designed for students preparing for the CPA examination and for non-degree learners seeking specialized upskilling.
2 years
60 quarter-unit MBA with tracks in Accounting and International Business and a Business Analytics emphasis. At least 50% of the curriculum is STEM-based, making graduates potentially eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Evening, online, and hybrid delivery formats accommodate working and international students.
2 years
A STEM-designated master's program charging $300 per unit. Aimed at international students seeking U.S. computer-science credentials and the 24-month STEM OPT work-authorization extension after graduation.
4 years
A 180-quarter-unit undergraduate business degree charged at $200 per unit. Concentrations include Computers in Business, giving students dual exposure to business fundamentals and applied technology.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $10,159
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.
