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Residents of the state of California are blessed with an embarrassment of public university riches. In addition to the exceptional University of California (UC) schools (see UC rankings here), there are an additional 22 universities housed within the California State University system. Our ranked list of the best CSU schools will also share 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 schools, we want to make it crystal clear that all 22 have something positive to offer academically and come at a bargain price. In fact, , CSU grads from all campuses and majors enjoy an average salary of $52k two years after graduating; ten years later, the mean figure rises to $82,000.

Our rankings are based on selectivity, the number of standout academic programs, career services offerings, and postgraduate outcomes. Again, we encourage our readers not to make too much of the numerical ranking of the schools. These rankings can be a useful tool when trying to take in the admissions landscape, but this doesn’t mean you should automatically pick the 9th-best school over the 13th-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.

Quick Reference — Best CSU Schools Ranked:

1) Cal Poly SLO
2) SDSU
3) Long Beach
4) Cal Poly Pomona
5) San Jose State
6) Fullerton
7) Fresno
8) Chico
9) Northridge
10) San Francisco State
11) Los Angeles
12) Monterey Bay
13) Sonoma State
14) San Bernardino
15) Sacramento State
16) Bakersfield
17) East Bay
18) San Marcos
19) Channel Islands
20) Stanislaus
21) Cal Poly Humboldt
22) Dominguez Hills

Now, let’s transition into a meatier version that features academic outcomes and admissions data.

The Best CSU Schools Ranked – 2025

*Acceptance rates on our list of the Best CSU Schools Ranked are from the Class of 2028, unless otherwise noted. 

1) 

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 gets recognition in many specialty areas of the field, including industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, and civil engineering. In addition, Cal Maritime recently merged with Cal Poly SLO to become , and will enroll its first full-time students in 2026. Like many California public universities, Cal Poly has become more competitive in recent years.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,947
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 68,604
• Acceptance Rate: 31%
• Average GPA: 4.12
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 20%
• Graduation Rate: 87%
• Retention Rate: 95%

For more admissions-related information, visit How to Get Into Cal Poly SLO.

2)

Business/marketing accounts for 25% of the degrees conferred, making it the school’s most popular area of study. Next in line are psychology, social sciences, engineering studies, and communication/journalism. New grads routinely go on to top companies like Google, Amazon, and Qualcomm; by mid-career, Aztec alumni are pulling in average salaries of $127k. Despite the intimidating acceptance rate, there is plenty of room at this school for strong but less-than-perfect applicants.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,637
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 90,504
• Acceptance Rate: 36%
• 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) 

, Long Beach is a highly diverse school renowned for increasing social mobility. It was recently classified as a doctoral university with “high research activity.” The 400,000+ alumni are a successful bunch, boasting an average salary of $83k.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 35,843
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 83,951
• Acceptance Rate: 46%
• Average GPA: 3.67
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 52%
• Graduation Rate: 69%
• Retention Rate: 87%

4) 

One of the best public schools on the entire West Coast, Cal Poly Pomona ranks well in the areas of social mobility, innovation, and undergraduate teaching. They offer top-notch programs in areas like civil engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. The College of Business Administration, Collins College of Hospitality Management, agriculture, and landscape architecture programs are also notably strong.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,255
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 51,024
• Acceptance Rate: 74%
• Average GPA: 3.69
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
• Graduation Rate: 68%
• Retention Rate: 87%

5)

Made up of 44% first-generation students, SJSU serves a student population that is 38% Asian and 31% Hispanic. Founded way back in 1857, San Jose State has developed a sterling reputation in the areas of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Its Silicon Valley location is a huge plus for students looking to obtain internships and eventual employment in the booming tech industry, and it tends to have strong post-grad outcomes in that sector.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,008
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 37,132
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Average GPA: 3.53
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 70%
• Graduation Rate: 69%
• Retention Rate: 87%

6)

Offering 55 undergraduate degree programs, the Fullerton campus, which was founded in 1957, serves high-caliber students at its 236-acre campus that rests 35 miles outside of LA. Cal State Fullerton has the largest student body of any CSU school and boasts standout programs in business and engineering. This exceptionally diverse school is for degrees earned by Hispanic students.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 38,597
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 53,559
• Acceptance Rate: 91%
• Average GPA: 3.43
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 78%
• Graduation Rate: 72%
• Retention Rate: 82%

7)

There are 74 undergraduate degree programs offered at CSU Fresno, a school that, among many other academic achievements, also operates the first school-based commercial winery in the country. There are more than 200 active student-run organizations on this bustling campus. Fresno State shines in the disciplines of engineering, business, agriculture, and nursing, and is also a top regional producer of teachers.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,033
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 79,657
• Acceptance Rate: 47%
• Average GPA: 3.7
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Graduation Rate: 70%
• Retention Rate: 85%

*Above data is from the Class of 2027.

8)

Dating all the way back to 1887, Chico has more than 300 academic offerings and 200+ student organizations from which to choose. Solid nursing and computer science options as well as an outstanding engineering program are available at this campus, and graduates exhibit exceptional social mobility and low debt.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,392
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 23,611
• Acceptance Rate: 92%
• Average GPA: 3.39
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
• Graduation Rate: 63%
• Retention Rate: 81%

9)

Northridge started a satellite campus of Cal State LA, but has been an independent entity since 1958. The urban campus, situated in northern Los Angeles, has not only been featured in countless movies and television shows but also houses one of the largest student bodies in the CSU system. Top programs include business, engineering, and nursing; its film and music schools are highly regarded as well. Northridge ranks highly for economic diversity and social mobility.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,499
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 33,350
• Acceptance Rate: 92%
• Average GPA: 3.33
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 72%
• Graduation Rate: 57%
• Retention Rate: 73%

10)

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% Latinx students and 21% Asian students. Thirty-eight percent were the first in their family to attend college, and 67% were from the Bay Area. One of the more liberal-leaning campuses in the United States, it’s also home to the College of Ethnic Studies, which was the first such program in the United States. Popular majors include nursing, computer science, psychology, and business.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,337
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 30,247
• Acceptance Rate: 90%
• Average GPA: 3.3
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 88%
• Graduation Rate: 49%
• Retention Rate: 81%

11)

The most popular and well-regarded areas of study at Cal State LA are psychology, business, computer science, engineering, and nursing; the school is also a top producer of future California teachers. With Hispanic students comprising 75% of the student body, CSULA is also ranked as one of the best Hispanic-serving universities in the country. Strong offerings lead to a tremendous return on investment and strong social mobility at this public institution.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,354
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 32,723
• Acceptance Rate: 91%
• Average GPA: 3.25
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 84%
• Graduation Rate: 53%
• Retention Rate: 72%

12)

Altogether, CSUMB offers 30+ undergraduate degree programs to go along with over 30 minors and 30 concentrations. Eighty-nine percent receive financial aid, and 53% are first-generation students. Situated just one mile from the beach, students enjoy a relaxing life outside of the classroom. Inside the classroom, the university’s most popular programs are in business, psychology, liberal arts, and computer science.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,910
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,943
• Acceptance Rate: 97%
• Average GPA: 3.33
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 92%
• Graduation Rate: 59%
• Retention Rate: 80%

13)

The five most popular bachelor’s degree programs offered at Sonoma State are as follows: business, psychology, biology, kinesiology, and early childhood studies. They also offer one of the only Wine Business programs in the country. (Fun fact: The five residence halls are all named after different types of wines.) SSU is slowly becoming more STEM and business-oriented; due to enrollment declines and budget issues, the university is in the process of eliminating over two dozen degree programs and six academic departments, mostly of the liberal and fine arts variety. Finally, an incredible 46% are first-generation students.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,191
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 11,309
• Acceptance Rate: 92%
• Average GPA: 3.4
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 75%
• Graduation Rate: 74%
• Retention Rate: 79%

14)

Fifty-five miles east of Los Angeles, you’ll find CSUSB’s 430-acre campus. Home to 70 baccalaureate and master’s programs, 78% of those who attend are first-generation students and 54% are Pell Grant recipients. The student population is 70% Hispanic, and 88% of students hail from nearby San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The strongest and most popular programs can be found in the business, psychology, and criminal justice departments.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,993
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,630
• Acceptance Rate: 93%
• Average GPA: 3.36
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Graduation Rate: 55%
• Retention Rate: 80%

15) 

When it was founded after World War II, Sacramento State had only 235 total students enrolled. Today, Sacramento State is the fifth-largest campus in the CSU system. Impressively, they have boosted their 4-year graduation rate by over 300% since 2016. Popular majors include nursing, psychology, and business, and the criminal justice program is quite well-regarded and competitive.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,226
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 27,868
• Acceptance Rate: 93%
• Average GPA: 3.41
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 93%
• Graduation Rate: 56%
• Retention Rate: 81%

16)

This urban campus has been part of the CSU system for over 50 years. It offers over 50 total undergraduate and graduate degree programs; popular areas of study at Bakersfield include business, liberal arts, and psychology. The kinesiology program is well-regarded, too. CSUB is almost 70% Hispanic, and almost two-thirds of graduates stay in the immediate area and contribute to the local economy post-graduation.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,865
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 14,593
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Average GPA: 3.5
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 87%
• Graduation Rate: 50%
• Retention Rate: 79%

17)

Earning high marks for social mobility and return on investment, Cal State East Bay also possesses an excellent business school as well as a plethora of strong online programs. Teaching preparation programs are quite popular as well. 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
• Acceptance Rate: 82%
• Average GPA: 3.41
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 83%
• Graduation Rate: 45%
• Retention Rate: 79%

18)

This suburban 340-acre campus was founded in 1989 and is located 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 at the university, leading to the campus’s brand-new, in-progress .

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,977
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 19,721
• Acceptance Rate: 95%
• Average GPA: 3.34
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 55%
• Retention Rate: 78%

19)

The strongest and most popular programs at this campus include psychology, business, nursing and liberal studies. Viewed as one of the best Hispanic-serving institutions in the country, CSUCI is the youngest member of the California State University system. Even though the school was only founded in 2003, it has already been recognized for facilitating social mobility, and the nursing program sports impressive post-graduate outcomes.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,670
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 13,466
• Acceptance Rate: 89%
• Average GPA: 3.36
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 79%
• Graduation Rate: 54%
• Retention Rate: 71%

20)

Located in the heart of the state’s Central Valley, this campus offers 45 bachelor’s degree programs. It has four total undergraduate colleges; psychology and business are particularly popular, and it is the only CSU campus to offer a degree in cognitive science. Stanislaus State boasts a very reasonable 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 40+ student-run clubs.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,455
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 5,419
• Acceptance Rate: 98%
• Average GPA: 3.46
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 94%
• Graduation Rate: 53%
• Retention Rate: 83%

21)

In 2022, Humboldt State University transformed into Cal Poly Humboldt, the CSU system’s third polytechnic university. The school’s enrollment is expected to grow substantially as more dorms are being added. Fifty-nine majors are offered; psychology, natural sciences & conservation, and biology are the most popular areas of study. Evidence of the school’s ongoing growth can be observed in the ten new degree programs that launched in 2023, including Geospatial Science & Technology, Cannabis Studies, and Applied Fire Science & Management.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,474
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 16,698
• Acceptance Rate: 92%
• Average GPA: 3.42
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 49%
• Retention Rate: 76%

22)  

Last but not least in our Cal State rankings is CSU Dominguez Hills. Receiving high marks in the areas of diversity, affordability, and accessibility, CSUDH attracts many 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, there are over 50 undergraduate majors spread across five colleges.

• Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,473
• Number of Freshman Applicants: 19,040
• 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:

• Test-Blind Colleges
• How to Write the UC Activities List (for those also applying to UCs)