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California Colleges Admission Statistics

California Best Schools Compare All California Schools Tightest to Admit Highest SAT Scores
Scoreboard
Acceptance Rate 45.07%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 17.94%
Applicants 1,771,624
Admitted 798,440
Enrolled 143,215

Applying To California Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 45.07% at California colleges and universities, a total of 1,771,624 students applied and 798,440 were accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $79 and the graduate application fees is $71. The following table presents the general admission information for applying to California colleges.
General Admission Information of California Colleges
Open Admission Policy433 out of 658 schools
Undergraduate Application Fees$79
Graduate Application Fees$71
Acceptance Rate45.07%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)17.94%
Test Scores1,273 SAT / 27 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For the academic year 2022-2023, total 1,771,624 students (789,399 men and 982,139 women) applied to and 798,440 (323,448 men and 474,984 women) students were accepted to admit California Colleges. Among them, 60,781 men and 82,432 women were enrolled into California schools.
The average acceptance rate is 45.07% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 17.94%. The table below shows the California colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for California Colleges (2022-2023)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants1,771,624789,399982,139
Admitted798,440323,448474,984
Enrolled143,21560,78182,432
Acceptance Rate 45.07% 40.97% 48.36%
Yield (Enrollment Rate) 17.94% 18.79% 17.35%
[Chart]California Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

In California, 3 colleges require SAT and ACT score and 12 colleges recommend them to their applicant. In addition, 38 colleges consider the test score in selection process, while it is not required.
4,709 students (20.00%) submitted their SAT scores and 2,657 students (10.00%) submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,371 and 25th percentile score is 1,175. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 30 and 25th percentile score is 24.
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
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing590681
SAT Math585690
ACT Composite2430
ACT Math2328
ACT English2431
[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, 250 schools use semester calendar systems and 52 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester250 out of 658 schools
Quarter52 out of 658 schools
Trimester23 out of 658 schools
Four-one-four plan7 out of 658 schools
Other academic year24 out of 658 schools
Differs by program105 out of 658 schools
Continuous171 out of 658 schools
Un-Known/Other26 out of 658 schools
Next table describes credits that California colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits224 out of 658 schools
Credits for Life Experiences160 out of 658 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits289 out of 658 schools
Credit for Military Training252 out of 658 schools

Application Requirements

101 California schools require High School GPA and 120 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 3 California colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to California colleges.
Admission Checklist for California Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA1017
High School Rank324
High School Record (or Transcript)1200
Completion of College Preparatory Program5528
Recommendations4612
Formal Demonstration of Competencies236
Admission Test Scores312
TOEFL7010
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)162

Know about California Colleges