Residents of California are blessed with an embarrassment of public university riches. In addition to the well-regarded University of California (UC) schools, there are an additional 22 universities housed within the California State University system. (Cal Maritime, formerly the smallest CSU campus, completed its integration with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on July 1, 2025, and now operates as Cal Poly, Solano Campus and the Cal Poly Maritime Academy. The system that previously counted 23 institutions now counts 22.) Our ranked list of the best CSU schools includes data such as undergraduate enrollment, number of freshman applicants, acceptance rate, average GPA of accepted applicants, transfer acceptance rate, and graduation rate. In creating these Cal State rankings of all 22 undergraduate degree-granting campuses, we want to make it clear that all 22 have something positive to offer academically and come at a bargain price relative to private alternatives. CSU graduates from all campuses and majors earn an average salary in the $50,000s two years after graduating; ten to fifteen years later, those holding bachelor’s degrees in business administration earn an average of roughly $87,000 according to the CSU’s own earnings projector tool.
Our rankings are based on selectivity, the number of standout academic programs, career services offerings, and postgraduate outcomes. We encourage readers not to make too much of the numerical ranking of any individual school. These rankings can be a useful tool when surveying the admissions landscape, but this doesn’t mean you should automatically pick the ninth-best school over the thirteenth-best. Rather, we recommend using these rankings only as a starting point as you investigate the CSU campus that will best suit your unique academic and career goals. For students also considering the UC system, see our UC rankings. All CSU and UC campuses operate test-blind admissions, which is covered in detail at Test-Blind Colleges.
Quick Reference – Best CSU Schools Ranked
1) Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2) San Diego State University
3) Cal State Long Beach
4) Cal Poly Pomona
5) San Jose State University
6) Cal State Fullerton
7) Fresno State
8) Chico State
9) Cal State Northridge
10) San Francisco State
11) Cal State LA
12) CSU Monterey Bay
13) Sonoma State
14) CSU San Bernardino
15) Sacramento State
16) CSU Bakersfield
17) Cal State East Bay
18) CSU San Marcos
19) CSU Channel Islands
20) Stanislaus State
21) Cal Poly Humboldt
22) CSU Dominguez Hills
Now, let’s transition into a more detailed version that features academic outcomes and admissions data.
The Best CSU Schools Ranked – 2026
Class of 2029 data is reported where the campus has published it (currently Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San Diego State University). For the remaining campuses, the most recent fully reported cycle is the Class of 2028 (Fall 2024 enrollment). Where Class of 2027 data is the most recent available, this is noted in the school profile.
1) Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Resting atop our Cal State rankings, Cal Poly SLO’s School of Engineering is the university’s crown jewel. Over one-quarter of all degrees conferred are in engineering, and Cal Poly receives recognition across many specialty areas of the field, including industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, and civil engineering. The Cal Maritime integration, completed administratively on July 1, 2025, brought a 92-acre campus in Vallejo into the Cal Poly system as Cal Poly, Solano Campus, home to the Cal Poly Maritime Academy. The first students will enroll directly as Cal Poly students in fall 2026, alongside Cal Poly’s planned transition from a quarter to a semester academic calendar that same term. Like many California public universities, Cal Poly has become substantially more selective in recent years.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,847
Number of Freshman Applicants: 71,171 (Class of 2029)
Acceptance Rate: 28.8% (Class of 2029)
Average GPA: 4.04-4.25 mid-50% (weighted, Class of 2029)
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 20%
Graduation Rate: 87%
Retention Rate: 95%
For more admissions-related information, visit How to Get Into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
2) San Diego State University
Business and marketing accounts for roughly 25 percent of the degrees conferred at SDSU, making it the school’s most popular area of study. Next in line are psychology, social sciences, engineering studies, and communication and journalism. New graduates routinely go on to top companies like Google, Amazon, and Qualcomm; mid-career Aztec alumni report average salaries in the $120,000-plus range. SDSU applications surged again for the Class of 2029, with the campus receiving 94,000-plus first-year applications, a record. Despite the competitive acceptance rate, there is plenty of room at this school for strong but less-than-perfect applicants.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,892
Number of Freshman Applicants: 94,000+ (Class of 2029)
Acceptance Rate: ~37% (Class of 2029)
Average GPA: 3.84
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 53%
Graduation Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 90%
For more admissions-related information, visit How to Get Into San Diego State University.
3) Cal State Long Beach
Ranked among the top 10 percent of all universities in return on investment, Long Beach is a highly diverse campus renowned for increasing social mobility. The campus was recently classified as a doctoral university with high research activity. CSULB ranks #3 nationally among the U.S. News list of Top Performers on Social Mobility. The 400,000-plus alumni network reports an average salary in the $80,000s.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 35,447
Number of Freshman Applicants: 83,971 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average GPA: 3.67
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 52%
Graduation Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 87%
For deeper data on Long Beach admissions trends, see Cal State Long Beach Acceptance Rate.
4) Cal Poly Pomona
One of the best public universities on the West Coast, Cal Poly Pomona ranks well in social mobility, innovation, and undergraduate teaching. They offer top-tier programs in civil engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. The College of Business Administration, Collins College of Hospitality Management, the agriculture programs, and landscape architecture are also notably strong.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,255
Number of Freshman Applicants: 51,024 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average GPA: 3.69
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
Graduation Rate: 68%
Retention Rate: 87%
5) San Jose State University
With 44 percent first-generation students, SJSU serves a population that is approximately 38 percent Asian and 31 percent Hispanic. Founded in 1857, San Jose State has built a sterling reputation in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Its Silicon Valley location is a major advantage for students seeking internships and post-graduation employment in the technology sector, and the campus reports strong post-graduate outcomes in tech and engineering roles.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,008
Number of Freshman Applicants: 37,132 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average GPA: 3.53
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 87%
6) Cal State Fullerton
Offering 55 undergraduate degree programs, Cal State Fullerton’s 236-acre campus rests 35 miles outside Los Angeles. Cal State Fullerton has the largest student body of any CSU campus and offers standout programs in business and engineering. The campus is exceptionally diverse and ranks among the top in the nation for degrees earned by Hispanic students.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 38,597
Number of Freshman Applicants: 53,559 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average GPA: 3.43
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 78%
Graduation Rate: 72%
Retention Rate: 82%
7) Fresno State
Fresno State offers 74 undergraduate degree programs and operates the first university-based commercial winery in the country. More than 200 active student-run organizations populate the bustling campus. Fresno State is well-regarded in engineering, business, agriculture, and nursing, and is a top regional producer of K-12 teachers.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,033
Number of Freshman Applicants: 79,657 (Class of 2027)
Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average GPA: 3.7
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 53%
Graduation Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 85%
Note: Above data is from the Class of 2027; Class of 2028 figures had not been fully published at the time of writing.
8) Chico State
Dating back to 1887, Chico has more than 300 academic offerings and 200-plus student organizations. Solid nursing and computer science options as well as a respected engineering program are available at this campus, and graduates exhibit strong social mobility and low debt-to-earnings ratios.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,392
Number of Freshman Applicants: 23,611 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average GPA: 3.39
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
Graduation Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 81%
9) Cal State Northridge
Northridge started as a satellite campus of Cal State LA but has been an independent entity since 1958. The urban campus, in northern Los Angeles, has been featured in countless films and television productions and houses one of the largest student bodies in the CSU system. Top programs include business, engineering, and nursing; the film school and music school are also highly regarded. Northridge ranks highly for economic diversity and social mobility.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,499
Number of Freshman Applicants: 33,350 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average GPA: 3.33
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 57%
Retention Rate: 73%
10) San Francisco State University
Rounding out the top 10 Cal State schools is the San Francisco campus. SFSU is an extremely diverse university; the most recent incoming class was composed of 46 percent Latinx students and 21 percent Asian students. Thirty-eight percent were the first in their family to attend college, and 67 percent were from the Bay Area. One of the more liberal-leaning campuses in the United States, it is home to the College of Ethnic Studies, the first such program in the country. Popular majors include nursing, computer science, psychology, and business.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,337
Number of Freshman Applicants: 30,247 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average GPA: 3.3
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 88%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 81%
11) Cal State LA
The most popular and well-regarded areas of study at Cal State LA are psychology, business, computer science, engineering, and nursing; the campus is a top producer of future California teachers. With Hispanic students comprising 75 percent of the student body, CSULA ranks among the best Hispanic-serving universities in the country. Strong offerings lead to a strong return on investment and consistent social mobility outcomes at this public institution.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,354
Number of Freshman Applicants: 32,723 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average GPA: 3.25
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 72%
12) CSU Monterey Bay
CSUMB offers 30-plus undergraduate degree programs along with 30-plus minors and 30-plus concentrations. Eighty-nine percent of students receive financial aid, and 53 percent are first-generation. Situated one mile from the beach, students enjoy a relaxed life outside the classroom. The most popular programs are in business, psychology, liberal arts, and computer science.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,910
Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,943 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average GPA: 3.33
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 92%
Graduation Rate: 59%
Retention Rate: 80%
13) Sonoma State University
Sonoma State has been through a difficult restructuring. In January 2025, the campus announced plans to close six academic departments (Art History, Economics, Geology, Philosophy, Theater and Dance, and Women and Gender Studies), eliminate approximately 20 degree programs (including BA Art History, BFA Art Studio, BA Dance, BS and BA Geology, BA Economics, BA French, BA Philosophy, BA Theatre Arts, BS and BA Physics, and the BA in Women and Gender Studies), and end the entire NCAA Division II athletics program. Forty-six faculty contracts were not renewed for the 2025-26 academic year. The cuts were a response to a $23.9 million budget deficit and enrollment that has declined 38 percent since the 2015 peak. The campus remains operational with continuing strengths in business, psychology, biology, kinesiology, and early childhood studies, and it still offers one of the country’s only Wine Business programs. Prospective students should verify the current status of their intended major before applying. Forty-six percent are first-generation students.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,191
Number of Freshman Applicants: 11,309 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average GPA: 3.4
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 75%
Graduation Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 79%
14) CSU San Bernardino
Fifty-five miles east of Los Angeles, CSUSB occupies a 430-acre campus. The campus hosts 70 baccalaureate and master’s programs, with 78 percent of students identifying as first-generation and 54 percent receiving Pell Grants. The student population is 70 percent Hispanic, and 88 percent of students come from nearby San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The strongest and most popular programs are in business, psychology, and criminal justice.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,993
Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,630 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average GPA: 3.36
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 85%
Graduation Rate: 55%
Retention Rate: 80%
15) Sacramento State
Founded after World War II with only 235 students, Sacramento State is now the fifth-largest campus in the CSU system. The campus has boosted its four-year graduation rate by over 300 percent since 2016. Popular majors include nursing, psychology, and business, and the criminal justice program is well-regarded and competitive.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,226
Number of Freshman Applicants: 27,868 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average GPA: 3.41
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 93%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Retention Rate: 81%
16) CSU Bakersfield
This urban campus has been part of the CSU system for over 50 years. It offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs; popular areas of study include business, liberal arts, and psychology. The kinesiology program is well-regarded. CSUB is nearly 70 percent Hispanic, and almost two-thirds of graduates remain in the immediate area and contribute to the local economy after graduation.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,865
Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,593 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average GPA: 3.5
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 87%
Graduation Rate: 50%
Retention Rate: 79%
17) Cal State East Bay
Earning high marks for social mobility and return on investment, Cal State East Bay also operates a respected business school and a plentiful catalog of strong online programs. Teaching preparation programs are widely subscribed. A solid showing of the university’s 150,000 alumni can be found in upper management at companies like Adobe, Google, Apple, Bank of America, Oracle, and Tesla. Students contribute a collective 21,000 hours of community service each year.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,784
Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,753 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average GPA: 3.41
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 83%
Graduation Rate: 45%
Retention Rate: 79%
18) CSU San Marcos
This suburban 340-acre campus was founded in 1989 and sits close to Southern California’s top beaches. The most popular majors include business, social sciences, psychology, the health professions, computer science, and biology. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is particularly competitive and uses supplementary admission criteria to screen applicants. Enrollment in STEM majors is growing, leading to the campus’s new Integrated Science and Engineering building.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,977
Number of Freshman Applicants: 19,721 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average GPA: 3.34
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 55%
Retention Rate: 78%
19) CSU Channel Islands
The strongest and most popular programs at CSUCI include psychology, business, nursing, and liberal studies. CSUCI is viewed as one of the best Hispanic-serving institutions in the country. Although the campus was founded in 2003, it has already been recognized for facilitating social mobility, and the nursing program reports impressive post-graduate outcomes.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,670
Number of Freshman Applicants: 13,466 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average GPA: 3.36
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
Graduation Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 71%
20) Stanislaus State
Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, this campus offers 45 bachelor’s degree programs across four undergraduate colleges. Psychology and business are particularly popular, and it is the only CSU campus to offer a degree in cognitive science. Stanislaus State maintains a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 40-plus student-run clubs.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,455
Number of Freshman Applicants: 5,419 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average GPA: 3.46
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 94%
Graduation Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 83%
21) Cal Poly Humboldt
In 2022, Humboldt State University transformed into Cal Poly Humboldt, the CSU system’s third polytechnic university. Enrollment is expected to grow as new dorms are added. Fifty-nine majors are offered; psychology, natural sciences and conservation, and biology are the most popular areas of study. Evidence of the campus’s ongoing growth can be observed in the ten new degree programs launched in 2023, including Geospatial Science and Technology, Cannabis Studies, and Applied Fire Science and Management.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,474
Number of Freshman Applicants: 16,698 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average GPA: 3.42
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 76%
22) CSU Dominguez Hills
Last but not least in our Cal State rankings is CSU Dominguez Hills. The campus receives high marks for diversity, affordability, and accessibility, and attracts strong students (mostly commuters) to its 346-acre campus. Business, psychology, health professions, and criminal justice are among the most commonly selected majors. In total, CSUDH offers more than 50 undergraduate majors spread across five colleges.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,473
Number of Freshman Applicants: 19,040 (Class of 2028)
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average GPA: 3.2
Transfer Acceptance Rate: 88%
Graduation Rate: 43%
Retention Rate: 70%
CSU Schools Ranked – Additional Resources
Prospective applicants to CSU schools may also benefit from exploring some of our previous blogs:
UC Rankings (for those also applying to UC campuses)
How to Get Into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
How to Get Into San Diego State University
