Last Updated on July 29, 2023
Looking for California colleges with high acceptance rates? Whether the college is in the Bay Area, Los Angeles or Orange County doesn’t matter. Which colleges are the easiest to get into in California? There are many factors that go into determining who gets accepted to a school. The better the grades you earn, the more likely it will be that you get accepted. If you have stellar test scores, it also helps your chances. We live in a world where everyone competes for spots at top schools, universities and colleges.
California is a state full of unique opportunities for any person who decides to study in it. California is the third most populous state in the country, behind Texas and New York. The highest concentration of students attending public colleges in California comes from the area around Los Angeles. The University of California campuses here are known for their admission rates that hover around 20%. Acceptance rates at private schools are generally much lower than public schools in California.
colleges with high acceptance rates in california
The next table lists the colleges with high acceptance rates in California. Those good colleges with high acceptance rates in California have been keeping the acceptance rate in high level in recent years. Sonoma State University has the highest acceptance rate as of 91.19% for academic year 2019-2020 in California. For the ranking, we only include 4-years colleges with at least 1,000 new students (freshmen).
The following table shows the schools that have high acceptance rates with admission statistics and yield, also known as enrollment rate. You may want to check colleges having the tightest acceptance rates in California.
| Name | Acceptance Rate | # of Applicants | # of Admitted | # of Enrolled | Yield | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoma State University Public, 4 or more years Rohnert Park, CA | 91.19% | 15,094 | 13,764 | 1,551 | 11.27% |
| 2 | California State University-Stanislaus Public, 4 or more years Turlock, CA | 89.29% | 8,764 | 7,825 | 1,568 | 20.04% |
| 3 | California State University-Sacramento Public, 4 or more years Sacramento, CA | 82.26% | 27,576 | 22,685 | 4,175 | 18.40% |
| 4 | California State University-Bakersfield Public, 4 or more years Bakersfield, CA | 80.71% | 12,935 | 10,440 | 1,561 | 14.95% |
| 5 | California Baptist University Private (not-for-profit), 4 or more years Riverside, CA | 78.28% | 8,241 | 6,451 | 1,523 | 23.61% |
| 6 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Public, 4 or more years Carson, CA | 77% | 20,864 | 16,066 | 2,533 | 15.77% |
| 7 | California State University-East Bay Public, 4 or more years Hayward, CA | 76.18% | 16,195 | 12,338 | 1,438 | 11.66% |
| 8 | California State University-Monterey Bay Public, 4 or more years Seaside, CA | 75.28% | 12,327 | 9,280 | 1,046 | 11.27% |
| 9 | University of California-Merced Public, 4 or more years Merced, CA | 71.96% | 25,424 | 18,294 | 2,105 | 11.51% |
| 10 | California State University-Chico Public, 4 or more years Chico, CA | 72.33% | 25,908 | 18,740 | 2,561 | 13.67% |
California Community colleges with Highest Acceptance Rate
The next list is for colleges with the best acceptance rates in California. These colleges have acceptance rates of over 90% and include some of the best and easiest colleges to get into in the U.S. Search amongst universities with high acceptance rates and research college acceptance rates to find the right college for you. This year’s rankings have reduced the weight of ACT/SAT scores to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process.
Lake Tahoe Community College
Lake Tahoe is an above-average public college located in South Lake Tahoe, California in the Reno Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 670 undergraduate students. The Lake Tahoe acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Natural Sciences, Social Science Research Methods, and Business. Graduating 39% of students, Lake Tahoe alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $20,700.
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City is an above-average public college located in Santa Barbara, California. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,555 undergraduate students. The Santa Barbara City acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Communications. Graduating 48% of students, Santa Barbara City alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $26,900.
Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio is an above-average public college located in Walnut, California in the Los Angeles Area. It is a big institution with an enrollment of 10,394 undergraduate students. The Mt. San Antonio acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Business, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, and Social Science Research Methods. Graduating 39% of students, Mt. San Antonio alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $25,900.
Cuesta College
Cuesta College is a small institution with an enrollment of 3,166 undergraduate students. The Cuesta acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic), and Business. Graduating 42% of students, Cuesta alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $29,500.
West Valley College
West Valley is a public college located in Saratoga, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 2,510 undergraduate students. The West Valley acceptance rate is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, and Communications. Graduating 41% of students, West Valley alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $27,800.
