10 Colleges in California With High Acceptance Rates 2026

Applying to colleges can be exciting but also nerve-wracking, especially if your grades aren't top-notch. If your grades are poor, it may feel like no college will accept you.

Luckily, there are many colleges in the U.S., including California, that accept all or most applicants. Keep reading to discover colleges in California with high acceptance rates.

Are There Good Universities With High Acceptance Rates in California?

There are multiple West Coast colleges with high acceptance rates in California, and many of these are accredited, high-quality institutions. While some of the most academically rigorous colleges in the state have low acceptance rates, many public and private options will accept most students while still providing a quality education.

What Is Considered a High Acceptance Rate for Colleges in California?

In general, a high acceptance rate is considered to be over 50%. However, in California, there are nearly two dozen accredited four-year institutions that accept over 90% of applicants.

What Are the Easiest Colleges to Get Into in California?

As mentioned, many colleges in California have an acceptance rate of 90% or higher.

Four institutions have open enrollment, meaning they accept all students who meet the minimum admissions requirements, usually a high school diploma or GED. These include National University, Touro University Worldwide, the University of Massachusetts Global, and the University of the People.

Aside from open enrollment schools, the easiest colleges to get into in California are:

• California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt : 99% acceptance rate
• Simpson University: 99% acceptance rate
• California State University-San Bernardino: 98% acceptance rate

Best Colleges in California With the Highest Acceptance Rates

A college with a high acceptance rate is a great option for students who didn't do great academically in high school. Below, we've highlighted four-year California colleges with high acceptance rates.

1. National University

If you're looking for colleges in San Diego with high acceptance rates, look no further than National University. The private, nonprofit school offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus and online.

Programs are available in numerous fields, including business, education, healthcare, and social sciences. National has open admissions and accepts all students with a high school diploma or GED and a 2.0 high school GPA.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $$13,284 per year
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

2. Touro University Worldwide

At Touro University Worldwide, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in person and online. Degrees are available in business, behavioral sciences, health, and human services.

Touro University, a private Jewish university system, is based in New York City. However, its worldwide campus, including online programs, is based in Los Alamitos, CA. It has open admissions for undergraduate students with a high school diploma or GED and a minimum 2.0 GPA.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $14,600 per year
• Accreditation: WSCUC

3. University of Massachusetts Global

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Global offers associate through doctoral degrees online. UMass Global is a private affiliate of the public UMass system and is based in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Degrees here span subjects like business, education, liberal arts, and technology. Through its open admissions policy, it accepts all students with a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $12,540 per year
• Accreditation: WSCUC

4. University of the People

The online degrees at University of the People are available at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels in business administration, education, health sciences, and technology. The school accepts all students who have a high school diploma or equivalent and can study in English.

University of the People, headquartered in Pasadena, CA, is a private, nonprofit school. It's unique in that it does not charge for tuition, but instead charges a small flat fee per course completed.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: Tuition-free; $160 assessment fee (per undergrad course)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

5. California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) is a public institution in Arcata, CA. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees primarily on campus, but online as well.

Programs are available in fields like business, education, humanities, and natural sciences. Students must submit their high school transcripts and have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

• Acceptance rate: 99%
• Estimated tuition cost: $8,250 per year (in-state); $20,850 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

6. Simpson University

Students at Simpson University can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online and on campus. These programs are available in education, nursing, and theology.

Simpson University, a private Christian school, is located in Redding, CA. Students with a 2.7 unweighted GPA are automatically accepted, while those with a 2.29 or higher are accepted based on review. Some programs have additional requirements.

• Acceptance rate: 99%
• Estimated tuition cost: $39,708 per year
• Accreditation: WSCUC

7. California State University, San Bernardino

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in-person and online. CSUSB is a public research university in San Bernardino, CA.

Students can earn degrees in business, education, liberal arts, and natural sciences. In addition to a high school diploma or equivalent, California residents need a GPA of 2.5 or above, and non-residents need a GPA of 3.0 or above; students with lower GPAs may be admitted if space allows.

• Acceptance rate: 98%
• Estimated tuition cost: $8,093 per year (in-state); $20,693 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

8. California State University, Stanislaus

On-campus and online bachelor's through doctoral degrees are available from California State University, Stanislaus (Stanislaus State). Fields of study include business administration, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Stanislaus State, located in Turlock, CA, is a public university. Similar to the requirements at CSUSB, students need to be high school graduates, have completed the necessary college courses, and have a 2.5 if they're in-state residents and a 3.0 if they're from out of state.

• Acceptance rate: 97%
• Estimated tuition cost: $8,246 per year (in-state); $20,846 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

9. California State University, Fresno

California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), is a public research institution in Fresno, CA. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields like:

• business
• engineering and technology
• health and human services
• social sciences and humanities

Fresno State has similar admissions requirements to other CSU schools. It requires students to have a high school diploma and certain high school courses. In-state students need a GPA of at least 2.5, while non-California residents need a 3.0. Students with lower GPAs may be considered if there's space.

• Acceptance rate: 96%
• Estimated tuition cost: $7,350 per year (in-state); $19,950 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

10. San Francisco State University

Through San Francisco State University (SFSU), students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees on campus and online. These programs are available in areas including business, education, engineering, and liberal arts.

SFSU, a public research university in the CSU system, is located in San Francisco. It has the same requirements as the other CSU schools: a high school diploma, core high school coursework, and a minimum GPA.

• Acceptance rate: 96%
• Estimated tuition cost: $7,950 per year (in-state); $20,550 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: WSCUC

Admissions Requirements for Colleges With High Acceptance Rates in California

The admissions requirements for high acceptance rate colleges in California vary slightly based on the college you're applying to.

At open admissions universities, you generally need three things: a high school diploma or equivalent, a 2.0 GPA, and the ability to learn in English. Some schools accept students with a lower GPA on probationary terms.

For CSU schools, you need to have a high school diploma and have taken the following classes in high school:

• two years of history and social science
• four years of English
• three years of math
• two years of laboratory science, one physical and one biological
• two years of a second language
• one year of visual and performing arts
• one year of a college preparatory elective

California residents must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher at CSU schools, while non-residents must have a 3.0 or higher. Students with lower GPAs may be accepted if the school has room.

FAQs About Colleges in California With High Acceptance Rates

Schools with high acceptance rates can be a great option for many students. Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about the highest acceptance rate colleges in California to help you determine if this is a good option for you.

Are There Open Admissions Colleges in California?

If you're looking for easy colleges to get into in California, you can't beat open-admissions schools. There are four four-year open admissions colleges in the state:

• National University
• Touro University Worldwide
• University of Massachusetts Global
• University of the People

What Are Some of the Hardest Colleges To Get Into in California?

The hardest colleges to get into in California include:

• California Institute of Technology: 3% acceptance rate
• Stanford University: 4% acceptance rate
• University of California, Los Angeles: 9% acceptance rate
• University of Southern California: 10% acceptance rate

What Is the Easiest University To Get Into in California?

The easiest universities to get into in California are those with open admissions: National University, Touro University Worldwide, the University of Massachusetts Global, and University of the People.

What Schools Have a 100% Acceptance Rate in California?

The only four-year schools with a 100% acceptance rate in California are the open admissions schools: National University, Touro University Worldwide, the University of Massachusetts Global, and University of the People. Otherwise, Cal Poly Humboldt and Simpson University both have 99% acceptance rates.

Explore Colleges in California

Start your journey toward a degree by exploring the California universities with high acceptance rates featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about the admissions process, enrollment, and financial aid.