California State University Los Angeles (CSULA)

1947 was the year of the beginning of the pedagogical and scientific work of the University of California at Los Angeles (California State University Los Angeles). The abbreviated name of the university is SCULA. The central building of the university is located in Los Angeles.

Cal State LA holds Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution statuses.

Students have access to food assistance, emergency temporary housing, and financial support.

Students apply theory in practice during internships, research, and hands-on learning courses. The Community Engagement Center offers volunteer and paid work opportunities in partnership with more than 100 organizations across the Greater Los Angeles area.

Tutors and academic writing advisors provide learning support. The YOU@CalStateLA platform helps students manage stress, set goals, monitor their well-being, and find campus resources.

The university's academic structure includes nine colleges:

• College of Arts and Letters,
• College of Business and Economics,
• College of Education,
• College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology,
• College of Ethnic Studies,
• Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services,
• College of Natural and Social Sciences,
• College of Professional and Global Education,
• Honors College.

The College of Ethnic Studies brings together the departments of Asian and Asian American Studies, Chicana(o)/Latina(o) Studies, and Pan-African Studies. The college is developing an American Indian and Indigenous Studies program.

• Cal State LA received a $48 million grant from the Ballmer Group — the largest charitable gift in the university's history and the sixth largest in the history of the California State University system,
• in 2026, the university received the Higher Education Excellence and Distinction award for the eighth time,
• in 2026, Cal State LA received the Health Professions HEED Award for the tenth time since 2016 and was named among 19 recognized institutions in the United States,
• U.S. News & World Report ranked the master's program in nursing among the top five programs in California,
• in the 2023 Washington Monthly rankings, the university ranked 1st among western colleges in the Best Bang for the Buck category.

• College of Ethnic Studies, opened in 2019, became the first college of this kind in the US since 1969.

Places in student residences are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on room availability after the application is submitted.

A meal plan is mandatory for all residents. Village Commons operates on a buffet format: the menu includes stone-oven pizza, salads, fruit, grilled dishes, and desserts. Vegan and vegetarian options are available.

• Students can join more than 120 organizations or create their own.
• Golden Eagle Radio operates as a student club and platform for musicians, poets, artists, activists, and participants in charitable projects.
• The first Native American heritage celebration on campus brought together nearly 3,000 students, family members, alumni, faculty, staff, and community representatives.

For many decades SCULA has not left five percent of the world's top universities.

SCULA is a large university. About 29 thousand students study there. The admission committee receives not only applications from residents of the United States, but also from citizens of other countries. The university has more than 2,500 specialists, among whom there are also foreign ones. For successful students there is a chance to participate in the exchange program and try your hand at another university.

University infrastructure

The infrastructure of the university includes educational buildings, a student dormitory and its own library. SCULA is a member of prestigious groups and organizations, including: California State University System, AASCU, and NCAA.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the non-refundable housing application fee is $100. The cost of housing includes the non-refundable program fee and a security deposit for potential damages. Before move-in, the student must pay for housing in full or set up a payment plan with a down payment of at least 20%.

At Village Commons

• breakfast runs from 7:00 to 10:00,
• brunch — from 10:00 to 11:00,
• lunch — from 11:00 to 14:00,
• late lunch — from 14:00 to 17:00,
• dinner — from 17:00 to 20:00,
• late dinner — from 20:00 to 22:00.

Cal State LA ranks 1st in the US for upward social mobility of graduates.

The admission committee enrolls university students with high marks. To do this, you must provide information about the performance from the previous place of education. The percentage of admission to the University of California at Los Angeles is quite high. More than 80% of applicants become SCULA students. The rate of admission may vary depending on the faculty and the program. The main difference of this university from others in the division of the academic year into quarters, and not into semesters. Those interested can be studied remotely.

Cost of education

Getting an education in this institution of higher education is difficult to call cheap. For students on undergraduate and graduate programs, the price is the same and amounts to about 12,500 USD per academic year. The cost is quite large, but successful students can compensate a little for education expenses due to receiving scholarship payments.

The university offers 400 scholarship options. The total amount of scholarships awarded was $214 million.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision