Acceptance Rates, Scores, Requirements for California Colleges

Applying To California Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 42.57% at California colleges and universities, a total of 1,898,377 students applied and 808,096 were accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $78 and the graduate application fees is $72. The following table presents the general admission information for applying to California colleges.

General Admission Information of California Colleges
Open Admission Policy	441 out of 698 schools
Undergraduate Application Fees	$78
Graduate Application Fees	$72
Acceptance Rate	42.57%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)	17.97%
Test Scores	1,306 SAT / 29 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For the academic year 2023-2024, total 1,898,377 students (848,426 men and 1,048,601 women) applied to and 808,096 (325,430 men and 482,466 women) students were accepted to admit California Colleges. Among them, 61,477 men and 83,659 women were enrolled into California schools.

The average acceptance rate is 42.57% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 17.97%. The table below shows the California colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.

Admission Statistics for California Colleges (2023-2024)
	Total	Men	Women
Applicants	1,898,377	848,426	1,048,601
Admitted	808,096	325,430	482,466
Enrolled	145,250	61,477	83,659
Acceptance Rate	42.57%	38.36%	46.01%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)	17.97%	18.89%	17.34%

[Chart]California Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

In California, 1 college requires SAT and ACT score and 0 colleges recommend them to their applicant. In addition, 48 colleges consider the test score in selection process, while it is not required.

5,331 students (23.00%) submitted their SAT scores and 2,505 students (8.00%) submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75^th percentile score is 1,394 and 25^th percentile score is 1,217. For ACT scores, 75^th percentile score is 31 and 25^th percentile score is 26.

The following table shows the detailed SAT and ACT scores distribution of first-time enrolled students at California colleges and universities.

SAT and ACT Score Distribution at California Colleges
	25^th Percentile	75^th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing	606	690
SAT Math	611	704
ACT Composite	26	31
ACT Math	25	29
ACT English	26	32

[Chart] SAT/ACT Distribution - California Colleges

[Chart] Average SAT Scores - California Colleges

[Chart] Average ACT Scores - California Colleges

Calendar System and Accepted Credits

In California State, 261 schools use semester calendar systems and 57 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.

Semester	261 out of 698 schools
Quarter	57 out of 698 schools
Trimester	25 out of 698 schools
Four-one-four plan	6 out of 698 schools
Other academic year	27 out of 698 schools
Differs by program	105 out of 698 schools
Continuous	174 out of 698 schools
Un-Known/Other	43 out of 698 schools

Next table describes credits that California colleges and universities are accepting for their students

Dual Credits	228 out of 698 schools
Credits for Life Experiences	170 out of 698 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits	301 out of 698 schools
Credit for Military Training	262 out of 698 schools

Application Requirements

102 California schools require High School GPA and 123 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 1 California colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to California colleges.

Admission Checklist for California Colleges
	Required	Recommended
High School GPA	102	0
High School Rank	4	0
High School Record (or Transcript)	123	0
Completion of College Preparatory Program	57	0
Recommendations	51	0
Formal Demonstration of Competencies	26	0
Admission Test Scores	1	0
TOEFL	102	0
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)	19	0

Know about California Colleges

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