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Easiest colleges to get into in California

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in California are Academy of Art University (open admission), DeVry University-California (99%) and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (98%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (25 of 85)

Four-year colleges in California with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 25 of the 85 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Academy of Art University Open admission San Francisco, CA · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $41,747 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. DeVry University-California 99% admitted Ontario, CA · Average price after grants: $36,531 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  3. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 98% admitted Arcata, CA · Average price after grants: $13,751 a year in-state, about $27,071 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. California State University-Stanislaus 98% admitted Turlock, CA · Average price after grants: $3,565 a year in-state, about $16,885 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. California State University-East Bay 97% admitted Hayward, CA · Average price after grants: $6,858 a year in-state, about $20,178 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. California State University-Monterey Bay 97% admitted Seaside, CA · Average price after grants: $13,861 a year in-state, about $27,181 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. San Francisco State University 96% admitted San Francisco, CA · Average price after grants: $9,803 a year in-state, about $23,123 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. California State University-Fresno 95% admitted Fresno, CA · Average price after grants: $5,418 a year in-state, about $18,738 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. California State University-San Marcos 95% admitted San Marcos, CA · Average price after grants: $10,939 a year in-state, about $24,259 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. Cal Poly Maritime Academy 95% admitted Vallejo, CA · Average price after grants: $17,793 a year in-state, about $31,113 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. California State University-Channel Islands 95% admitted Camarillo, CA · Average price after grants: $8,534 a year in-state, about $21,854 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Laguna College of Art and Design 94% admitted Laguna Beach, CA · Average price after grants: $50,349 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. California State University-Sacramento 94% admitted Sacramento, CA · Average price after grants: $11,186 a year in-state, about $24,506 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. California State University-Bakersfield 94% admitted Bakersfield, CA · Average price after grants: $4,001 a year in-state, about $17,321 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. California State University-San Bernardino 94% admitted San Bernardino, CA · Average price after grants: $3,946 a year in-state, about $17,266 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. California State University-Northridge 93% admitted Northridge, CA · Average price after grants: $6,346 a year in-state, about $19,666 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. Sonoma State University 93% admitted Rohnert Park, CA · Average price after grants: $10,759 a year in-state, about $24,079 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. California State University-Dominguez Hills 93% admitted Carson, CA · Average price after grants: $7,244 a year in-state, about $20,564 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. William Jessup University 93% admitted Rocklin, CA · Average price after grants: $26,418 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. California State University-Chico 93% admitted Chico, CA · Average price after grants: $14,157 a year in-state, about $27,477 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. La Sierra University 92% admitted Riverside, CA · Average price after grants: $22,767 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. California State University-Los Angeles 91% admitted Los Angeles, CA · Average price after grants: $2,385 a year in-state, about $15,705 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. California College of the Arts 91% admitted San Francisco, CA · Average price after grants: $41,109 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. University of California, Merced 91% admitted Merced, CA · Average price after grants: $11,583 a year in-state, about $49,185 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Azusa Pacific University 88% admitted Azusa, CA · Average price after grants: $22,597 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in California?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in California are Academy of Art University (open admission), DeVry University-California (99%) and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (98%), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

1 of the 25 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 88% to 99% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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