Public
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
San Bernardino, California
98.3% Acceptance Rate
California State University-San Bernardino — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
98.3%Acceptance Rate
3.41Avg GPA
995Avg SAT
$16,910Annual Cost
$59,977Grad Salary
57.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
98.3%
Avg GPA
3.41
Avg SAT
995
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
955–1025
Avg Net Price
$5,918
Need-Based Aid
57.1% receive Pell
California State University-San Bernardino is a public university that emphasizes academic excellence, professional development, and community impact in Southern California. Admissions are selective, focusing on high academic performance and the successful completion of a rigorous course load. The university looks for students who are ready to contribute to its vibrant, diverse campus community and participate in its active research and service-learning initiatives.
Prospective students should highlight their success in core academic subjects and their history of initiative in extracurricular activities. As a hub for research and professional networking, the university values ambitious students who are ready to take advantage of its extensive resources. Clearly expressing how one's professional goals align with the university's unique approach to innovation and student-led success is a great way to show institutional fit, as the admissions team prioritizes students who are ready to engage deeply.
California State University-San Bernardino Acceptance Rate
California State University-San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 98.3% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 98.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.96
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
California State University-San Bernardino Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
California State University-San Bernardino follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 2 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 127 days left — Pre-Nursing (Fall)
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Cal State San Bernardino reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Pre-Nursing (Fall)
December 2
Freshman/Transfer (Fall, extended)
March 31
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Cal State San Bernardino GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Cal State San Bernardino is 3.41. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.11–3.41 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.61–3.81.Cal State San Bernardino GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.01 – 3.20
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.00
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Application window runs Oct. 1-Mar. 31 via Cal State Apply for most majors, but Nursing has an earlier internal deadline (Dec. 2); recently released veterans and returning CSUSB students have a later June 30 window
- No essay, recommendation letters, or test scores required for general first-year admission; some programs and scholarships do require these separately
- Two physical campuses (San Bernardino, Palm Desert) with separate mandatory orientation registration deadlines (June 15 fall / Dec. 15 spring)
- RCC-CSUSB Nursing Concurrent Enrollment Pathway (CEP), expanded to include San Bernardino Valley and Chaffey Colleges, lets ADN students dual-enroll toward a CSUSB BSN, compressing the traditional path from ~8 years to ~4
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Cal State San Bernardino
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on California State University-San Bernardino's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
California State University-San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Cal State San Bernardino is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Cal State San Bernardino Without SAT or ACT?
Cal State San Bernardino neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
California State University-San Bernardino Average SAT Score: 995
The average SAT score of admitted students at California State University-San Bernardino is 995 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 995 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1025 SAT) to stand out. Below average? California State University-San Bernardino allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 955, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Cal State San Bernardino. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 995 | 955 | 1025 |
Below 955, you're behind most admitted students; at 1025 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into California State University-San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino) with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of Cal State San Bernardino's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cal State San Bernardino
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Cal State San Bernardino's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Build the application calendar around the Dec. 2 nursing deadline, not the general Mar. 31 deadline - they're nearly four months apart
CSUSB's first-year application window runs Oct. 1 through Mar. 31 for most majors, but nursing applicants face an internal Dec. 2 cutoff - a far earlier date buried inside what looks like a single open application period. A nursing-bound student or family that treats CSUSB's headline March 31 date as universal will miss the actual nursing deadline by months; confirm major-specific deadlines directly on CSUSB's admissions page rather than assuming one date covers all programs.
Decide between the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses early - they run separate orientation tracks with different mandatory registration dates
CSUSB operates two physical campuses (San Bernardino and Palm Desert) with orientation sessions offered separately at each, and incoming students must register for orientation by specific deadlines that differ by entry term (June 15 for fall, Dec. 15 for spring) - a detail easy to miss if a family assumes "CSUSB" means one location with one onboarding process. Confirm which campus the student's program is actually based at before assuming orientation logistics are interchangeable.
Leverage the RCC-CSUSB Nursing Concurrent Enrollment Pathway (CEP) if transferring in from Riverside City, San Bernardino Valley, or Chaffey College specifically
CSUSB's nursing department runs an expanded, ACNL-award-winning Concurrent Enrollment Pathway with three named community colleges (Riverside City, San Bernardino Valley, Chaffey) that lets ADN students dual-enroll toward a CSUSB BSN, compressing the traditional 8-year community-college-to-BSN timeline to about 4 years. A student at one of these three specific feeder colleges with nursing ambitions should ask about CEP eligibility directly rather than assuming a generic community-college-to-CSUSB transfer plan covers the same ground - the CEP path requires earlier, more deliberate dual-enrollment planning.
Verify whether the personal-statement essay is actually needed for the specific program - general admission doesn't require one, but specific programs and scholarships do
CSUSB's general first-year admission does not require or recommend a personal essay, letters of recommendation, or test scores - but certain programs and merit scholarships do require these materials. A student should check program-specific and scholarship-specific requirements directly rather than assuming the absence of an essay requirement at the general-admission level extends to every scholarship or major-level review they'll encounter later.
Expert Insight:
Reported acceptance-rate figures for CSUSB swing widely across sources (from the high-60s to the mid-90s depending on year and methodology) - a wide enough range that no single number should anchor a family's expectations. The far more concrete and checkable planning tool is the major-specific deadline structure (Dec. 2 nursing / Mar. 31 general / Jun. 30 veterans), which is publicly posted and directly actionable, unlike a blended acceptance percentage.
Cal State San Bernardino Profile
Full Name
California State University-San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino)
City
San Bernardino
State
California
ZIP Code
92407-2393
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a Cal State San Bernardino Degree Worth It?
At $16,910/year against a $59,977 median graduate salary, Cal State San Bernardino is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $59,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.08%.
How much does a degree from Cal State San Bernardino Cost?
The sticker price is $16,910/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $5,918.
57.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 23.4% take federal loans at Cal State San Bernardino — file your FAFSA early and list Cal State San Bernardino as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Cal State San Bernardino Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $59,977 — about 48% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than California State University-San Bernardino. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | Kapolei, HI | 973 | 18 |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 985 | 20 |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL | 984 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as California State University-San Bernardino. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than California State University-San Bernardino. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
Degree Programs at Cal State San Bernardino
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Cal State San Bernardino Admissions
Median graduate earnings at California State University-San Bernardino run about $59,977 a year.
At about $16,910 a year, California State University-San Bernardino is on the more affordable end.
With 57.1% of California State University-San Bernardino students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong — an early FAFSA filing naming California State University-San Bernardino is the key move.
At 98.3%, California State University-San Bernardino's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at California State University-San Bernardino average a 3.41 GPA.
California State University-San Bernardino doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.11 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.01, California State University-San Bernardino becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at California State University-San Bernardino — aim above 995, ideally within the 955–1025 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for California State University-San Bernardino is December 2 for Pre-Nursing (Fall) applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 70. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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