Acceptance Rate 42.56%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 19.62%
Applicants 1,715,962
Admitted 730,361
Enrolled 143,268

Applying To California Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 42.56% at California colleges and universities where total 1,715,962 students have applied and 730,361 have been accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $75.03 and the graduate application fees is $68.51. Next table presents the general admission information for applying to California colleges.
General Admission Information of California Colleges
Open Admission Policy450 out of 737 schools
Average Undergraduate Application Fees$ 75.03
Average Graduate Application Fees$ 68.51
Average Acceptance Rate42.56%
Average Yield (Enrollment Rate)19.62%
Average Test Scores1,177 SAT / 73 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For academic year 2019-2020, total 1,715,962 students (750,397 men and 964,879 women) applied to and 730,361 (293,539 men and 436,821 women) students were accepted to admit California Colleges. Among them, 60,887 men and 82,381 women were enrolled into California schools. The average acceptance rate is 42.56% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 19.62%. The table below shows the California colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for California Colleges (2019-2020)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants1,715,962750,397964,879
Admitted730,361293,539436,821
Enrolled143,26860,88782,381
Acceptance Rate 42.56% 39.12% 45.27%
Enrollment Ratio 19.62% 20.74% 18.86%
[Chart]California Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

For California college, 113,167 students (79.92% of enrolled) have submitted their SAT scores and 44,708 students (32.52%) have submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,279 and 25th percentile score is 1,075. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 82 and 25th percentile score is 63. Next table shows the detail SAT and ACT scores distribution of enrolled students at California colleges and universities.
SAT and ACT Score Distribution at California Colleges
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing536.67634.41
SAT Math538.74644.60
ACT Composite21.6727.40
ACT Math20.6026.75
ACT English21.1228.21
[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, 260 schools use semester calendar systems and 65 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester260 out of 737 schools
Quarter65 out of 737 schools
Trimester24 out of 737 schools
Four-one-four plan9 out of 737 schools
Other academic year29 out of 737 schools
Differs by program111 out of 737 schools
Continuous197 out of 737 schools
Un-Known/Other42 out of 737 schools
Next table describes credits that California colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits236 out of 737 schools
Credits for Life Experiences168 out of 737 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits284 out of 737 schools
Credit for Military Training260 out of 737 schools

Application Requirements

103 California schools require High School GPA and 125 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 65 California colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to California colleges.
Admission Checklist for California Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA1038
High School Rank232
High School Record (or Transcript)1251
Completion of College Preparatory Program5632
Recommendations5512
Formal Demonstration of Competencies266
Admission Test Scores6517
TOEFL7510
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)152

Know about California Colleges