California State University, Los Angeles is a public university in the California State University system, on a campus in the east of Los Angeles. It is best known for engineering, computer science, business, nursing, criminal justice and its record of social mobility, with downtown Los Angeles ten minutes away and some of the lowest tuition in the city. Choose it for an affordable Los Angeles degree with strong career outcomes for the cost.
Los Angeles, United States
Official website: calstatela.edu
#1401
Ranked first in the US for upward mobility (Equality of Opportunity Project)
One of the largest producers of engineering graduates in California
Around 26,000 students
$19,000 – $25,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$18,000 – $23,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on calstatela.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (College of Business and Economics)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
Social mobility — ranked first in the US for moving students from low to high incomes.
College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology — links to aerospace and Los Angeles's tech firms.
Location — a hillside campus ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles with a Metrolink station.
Low cost — among the cheapest four-year degrees in Los Angeles.
Graduates join Northrop Grumman, Los Angeles County, Kaiser Permanente, Disney and the city's engineering and tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Nursing graduates enter Los Angeles's large hospital systems.
Business and computing alumni move into downtown Los Angeles's finance and technology employers.
Undergrad
30 Nov 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Limited programmes
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 175-acre campus sits on a hill in the El Sereno neighbourhood, with the University-Student Union and library at its centre, the engineering and business buildings nearby and a Metrolink station at the foot of campus.
Cal State LA is ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles, with the city's job market, entertainment and beaches within reach. Rent is high across Los Angeles, and most students share apartments in nearby neighbourhoods or use campus housing.
Form I-20 issued by Cal State LA
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate applications for fall 2027 go through Cal State Apply between 1 October and 30 November 2026, with some majors accepting late applications. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering, computing and business master's closing between 1 March and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates start in the fall (late August), with spring (January) admission open for a limited set of majors. Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical engineering, the MBA, information systems and mechanical engineering, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Office issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, the MBA, information systems and mechanical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree in a related field with a GPA of at least 2.75-3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE and GMAT are optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is based on grades under CSU eligibility rules.
Cal State LA offers limited merit scholarships to international students through its online scholarship application after admission; need-based aid is not available, though tuition is among the lowest in Los Angeles. Graduate students can apply for teaching assistantships and grant-funded research roles in engineering and the sciences.
