13%

Acceptance Rate

$35,953

Avg.Financial Aid

001229

FAFSA Code

California Southern University Report Card

Selectivity
A
13% acceptance rate
Class Size
B
9:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
C
$56,225 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: California Southern University

Institution
California Southern University
Type
Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified June 2026. Citable source →

California Southern University

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Private, Not-For-Profit

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    N/A

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    WASC

  • Website

    https://www.calsouthern.edu/
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    47,310

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

California Southern University is a private-for-profit, 100% online university headquartered in Irvine, California. The institute is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education(BPPE). It is a regionally accredited online learning institute and aims mainly at working adult learner's demographics, enabling them to pursue higher education in a convenient manner. California Southern University reviews also reveal that the alumni are greatly satisfied by the fact that the university is totally focussed on teaching the students rather than generating revenue for the same.

The university is a 100% online university. The online programs are designed to be easily incorporated into the busy schedules of working adults and professionals, seeking to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular subject or to expand career opportunities and personal potential. California Southern University also has a solid reputation when it comes to the quality of teaching they provide to the students.

In addition to the Master Lecture Series, the university produces a range of alternate live presentations or video productions including remote or on-location interviews with noted practitioners, career-oriented discussions with industry leaders or professional association executives, utilitarian presentations with experienced professionals in the field, and videos featuring faculty members, learners, and alumni.
Assignment completion and submission are facilitated by Office 365 cloud-based productivity tools. Interaction with professors is done through skype or down-the-line. The university has a friendly learning interface for hassle-free understanding. The classes are interactive and go way beyond lecture videos and tutorials.

The university provides real-time one-on-one interaction with professionals in the field and faculty members. Live streaming of workshops, presentations by professionals, and lectures are also provided. The fees are reasonable and the content is of high quality. There is a rigorously planned and constantly updated syllabus. The faculty is well versed and happy to help. The interactive nature of the online program keeps the classes interesting and the concepts easy to grasp.

The learning center is easy to use and the interface is simple to understand. Finding syllabus, assignments, exams, and the textbook list are accessible on the front page itself. Faculty members, academic advisors, librarians, and IT support staff are all easily accessible and helpful.

The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission(WSCUC). The federal school code of California Southern University is 001229.

Location & Contact

Address

3330 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, California 92626, Irvine, California

Contact

Phone: (800) 477-2254
Find Your School

Rankings

California Southern University Ranking

California Southern University (CSU) is not ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, or QS World University Rankings. CSU is a regionally accredited, fully online university based in Costa Mesa, California (near Irvine), serving primarily working adults pursuing online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in business, psychology, and law. As an online-focused institution, it falls outside the scope of the major national rankings, which evaluate traditional campus-based research universities. Prospective students should evaluate CSU on its WSCUC accreditation, faculty credentials, program flexibility, and tuition rather than ranking position.

  • California Southern University has 42nd rank in Los Angeles.
  • The university also has a rank of 4423 in the United States.
  • The world rank of the university is 14690.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    15th Jan

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    13%

  • SAT Range

    N/A

  • SAT/ACT

    Neither required nor recommended

  • ACT Range

    N/A

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $85

  • Accept Common App

    Yes

The admission procedure in California Southern University is listed as:

  • For undergraduate programs: The candidates must have secured a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or 61 on the Internet-Based Test, a 6.0 on the International English Language Test (IELTS) or 44 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report. The candidates should have completed a high school diploma from an appropriately accredited/ recognized high school (with the medium of instruction as English)
  • For Master’s Degree programs: The candidates must have secured a minimum score of 530 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or 71 on the Internet-Based Test, a 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS) or 50 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report.

It should also be noted that California Southern University has an acceptance rate of only 13%, so students have to take the online exam seriously and also have to prepare accordingly.

 

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $36,161

  • Average Annual Cost

    $55,320

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $79,063

  • Other Fees

    $905

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $15,400

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $2,000

Total One Year Cost

$79,063

The tuition fees for students at California Southern University for both on-campus and off-campus is about $59,260.
The cost of books and supplies for students is about $1,200 annually. The total cost of attendance every year at California Southern University is about $79,063.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctoral

Student:Faculty Ratio

9:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

97%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

N/A

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$10,582

Faculty Overview

59%

Male Professors

41%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

19,907

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

21%

Full-time / Part-time

96% / 4%

Students Gender

Male

49%

US National: 44%

Female

51%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

39%

Unknown

1%

Black

5%

Hispanic

15%

Two or more races

6%

Non Resident alien

13%

Asian

21%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

43%

Out Of State

42%

In State

15%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$76,787 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 82% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

82%

Undergrads in College Housing

30%

Averege Housing Cost

$9,298/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $6,102/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$6,102/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Traveler

School Colors

Gold, Cardinal

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

2

Total Male Athletes

314

Total Female Athletes

324

Intramural Sports

17

Sports Club

84

Campus Security

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$53,800/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$74,000/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$2,750 - $33,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$29 - $342

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Frequently Asked Questions About California Southern University

How hard is it to get into California Southern University?

California Southern University is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 13%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does California Southern University cost?

Tuition at California Southern University is approximately $56,225 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend California Southern University?

California Southern University enrolls approximately 47,310 students across its programs.

What is the student-faculty ratio at California Southern University?

The student-faculty ratio at California Southern University is 9:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

Is California Southern University a public or private university?

California Southern University is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for California Southern University?

Application deadlines at California Southern University vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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