California State University Long Beach (CSULB) Admissions 2026-27: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

California State University Application Deadlines

California State University, Long Beach runs two intakes each year through the Cal State Apply portal, and Fall is the primary cycle where most of the 190-plus programs open. Spring is a smaller window with fewer programs. Indian applicants on an F-1 visa must submit early, since supporting documents are due after the online application closes and I-20 processing takes several weeks.

Note: Cal State Apply for Fall 2027 opens 1 October 2026 across the CSU system. Some CSULB departments, especially Nursing, Social Work, Music, Dance, and BFA Art, publish earlier internal cut-offs, so pull your program’s departmental deadline before you commit.

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California State University Eligibility for Indian Students

Cal State Long Beach is an access-oriented CSU campus, it admits most Indian applicants who clear its stated academic and English floors, but competitive majors like Nursing and Computer Science set higher internal bars. Indian degrees are evaluated against the US 4.0 GPA scale by the CSULB International Admissions office.

• UG general entry: Class XII at around 65 percent with English and Mathematics through Class XII.
• PG general entry: Bachelor’s with a US-equivalent GPA of at least 2.5 (roughly 60 percent) in the last 60 semester units (final two years). A GPA of 3.0 (around 75 percent) is recommended.
• Indian 3-year Bachelor’s: Accepted, but sent for a degree equivalency evaluation to confirm it maps to a US 4-year Bachelor’s.
• English proof: IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 61 / PTE 43 / DET 105 for UG; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 80 / PTE 58 / DET 115 for PG.

English Test Minimums Accepted at CSULB

California State University PG Programs and English Scores

CSULB offers around 67 master’s programs across engineering, business, computer science, education, health, and the arts. Base graduate tuition is USD 18,434 per year (around INR 17.58 Lakhs) for international students; program-level fees can differ and are listed on the course-wise fees breakdown. Details below are per the official CSULB international admissions pages.

Note: STEM-designated master’s programmes at CSULB (CS, engineering, data science) qualify for the 36-month STEM OPT extension, letting Indian graduates work in the US for up to three years post-degree without an H-1B — a big reason CSULB draws mid-market Indian STEM applicants.

California State University UG Programs and Entry Requirements

CSULB runs 81 undergraduate majors across eight colleges. Base tuition for international undergraduates is USD 19,646 per year (around INR 18.74 Lakhs), with impacted majors like Nursing and Film applying tighter internal bars. Indian Class XII applicants apply as freshmen; those with completed college coursework abroad apply as transfers.

Note: A California resident 2.5 GPA floor does not apply to Indian applicants — non-resident freshmen typically need higher Class XII marks (~70 percent+) plus stronger English scores for competitive majors.

California State University MBA Admissions for Indian Students

The College of Business at CSULB runs an AACSB-accredited MBA in four formats. For Indian F-1 applicants, only two are practical: the Day-time MBA (full-time on campus) and the Evening MBA. The Online MBA is restricted to California residents due to NC-SARA rules, and the Saturday MBA is not available to international visa students.

CSULB MBA Rounds and Fees for Fall 2027

Base MBA tuition follows the graduate rate of USD 18,434 per year (around INR 17.58 Lakhs) for international students, with program-specific fees on the funding for Indian students page. Minimum eligibility: a Bachelor’s degree with a US-equivalent GPA of 2.75+, a resume, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation.

Also check, 

• MBA in USA for Indian Students 2026: Fees and Eligibility
• Top MBA Universities & Colleges in USA in 2026
• MBA Scholarships for Indian Students in USA

California State University Application Process on Cal State Apply

The CSU system uses one central portal, Cal State Apply, for every campus, including CSULB. Indian applicants file once through the platform, then send physical/electronic documents directly to CSULB International Admissions before the document deadline.

1. Create your Cal State Apply account on the Cal State Apply portal. The Fall 2027 cycle opens 1 October 2026 across the CSU system (preview access from 1 August 2026).
2. Choose CSULB and your degree programme; graduate applicants also pick the specific department major.
3. Pay the application fee of USD 70 (around INR 6,677) per campus Cal State Apply collects this on behalf of CSULB.
4. Complete personal, academic, and test-score sections; upload the resume, SOP, and LORs where the programme requires them.
5. Submit official transcripts (Indian Class XII / Bachelor’s mark sheets and degree certificate) directly to CSULB International Admissions by the document deadline.
6. Send official IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/DET score reports to CSULB using the ETS or IDP score-send facility.
7. Track your application status through your Cal State Apply dashboard and the MyCSULB portal after admission.

Note: The USD 70 fee is per CSU campus, so applying to CSULB alongside sister campuses like Cal State LA or CSU Fullerton multiplies the cost. Shortlist 2 to 3 CSUs on one Cal State Apply login rather than duplicating full applications.

California State University, Long Beach Documents Required for Indian Applicants

Indian applicants must send both electronic uploads on Cal State Apply and physical certified documents to CSULB International Admissions. Consolidated marksheets need supplementary semester-wise sheets for full evaluation.

• Valid Indian passport (photo page).
• Certified English translations of Class XII marksheet and passing certificate.
• For PG: certified transcripts covering at least 6 semesters plus the Bachelor’s degree certificate.
• Official English test score report (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/DET).
• Statement of Purpose describing academic goals and programme fit.
• Two Letters of Recommendation, typically from academic referees.
• Updated CV/resume (mandatory for MBA, most STEM master’s).
• Financial documentation - bank statement or affidavit of support covering the first year of tuition and living costs.
• Copy of degree equivalency evaluation (WES/IERF/ECE) if the department requests one.
• Portfolio or audition recording - only for Art BFA, Film, Music, and Dance majors.

California State University, Long Beach Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

CSULB does not publish a separate India-specific acceptance rate, but institution-wide and international figures are available. The overall admit rate hovers around 46 percent, while international admits track lower.

Overall vs International Admit Rate at CSULB

The most recent international admissions cycle showed roughly 35 to 40 percent of international applicants admitted, based on published applicant/admit counts (over 1,600 international applications with around 570 admits). Indian applicants sit within this pool, though selectivity varies sharply by programme — impacted majors like CS, Nursing, and Film run tighter than the institutional mean.

USA F-1 Student Visa for California State University, Long Beach

Indian admits to CSULB apply for the F-1 student visa after receiving the SEVIS Form I-20 from CSULB International Admissions. The visa is processed by US consulates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Book your slot as soon as the I-20 arrives; peak Fall demand runs May to July.

Steps: pay the SEVIS I-901 fee (USD 350, around INR 33,383) online, complete Form DS-160, pay the visa fee (USD 185, around INR 17,645), schedule the biometric and consular appointment, and attend the F-1 interview with your CSULB I-20, admission letter, financial proof (bank statements/loan sanction), and academic records. On arrival in the US, complete the CSULB International Student Orientation and check-in with the Center for International Education to activate your SEVIS record.

2026 update: Indian F-1 applicants should show liquid funds covering the full first-year cost (tuition + living, roughly USD 46,000 to 47,000 or around INR 43.9 Lakhs to 44.9 Lakhs) plus a documented plan for years 2 onward — sponsors’ affidavits alone are being scrutinised harder at consular interviews.