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California State University, Fresno


About

California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a nationally ranked, four-year and above, accredited university located in central California, with 68 undergraduate degree programs and 45 master's degree programs. Our vibrant student body consists of 25,000+ students annually, with international students representing 70+ countries. Each year, academics at Fresno State steadily gain more attention with the release of national rankings. Recent reports from Washington Monthly Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, and Money Magazine put our University in league with University of California campuses and Ivy League institutions.

Centrally located in California

Fresno State is in the heart of California, otherwise known as the Central Valley. The Fresno State campus is about 1,400 acres, with over 4,000 trees and lots of green open spaces, providing a park-like environment to study. We have a working farm, creamery, store, the largest library between Los Angeles and Sacramento, Starbucks, a movie theater, an event center, a bowling alley, a planetarium, and much more. Fresno State is even home to the Save Mart Center, the largest university indoor arena on the West Coast of the U.S.

As the 5th largest city in California, Fresno provides students with easy access to a vast number of sports teams, organizations, facilities, venues, and internship opportunities. Fresno State is conveniently located within a three-hour drive to both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Fresno County is home to some of the world’s most sought-after recreation and entertainment destinations. Three National Parks, Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, are right in our backyard. Breathtaking scenery, spectacular canyons, cascading rivers and waterfalls, the world’s largest trees, and endless trails can be found a short drive away.

Our mission is to provide high-quality services to international students and serve as an international education resource to the university community at California State University, Fresno.

We are committed to:

  • Providing a warm and informative welcome to international students and recognizing their importance and their contributions to the campus and the Fresno community.
  • Providing appropriate services and assistance to international students so they do not face challenges alone.
  • Working with international students to assist with their adjustment and understanding of their new environment in a comfortable setting where they have opportunities and encouragement to pursue their dreams, be involved in the University community, and have their efforts recognized.
  • Encouraging international students to ask questions and offer suggestions while we do our utmost to address their concerns with respect, reassurance, and understanding.
  • Serving as a resource to faculty and staff to facilitate international exchange, enhance cross-cultural communication and support international endeavors.
  • Providing information to prospective students and parents about the university and the quality of available educational experiences enhances and promotes the continued flow of students from nations around the world.
  • Offering our friendship today and tomorrow as we work together to dream and build a better world.

Affordable

Fresno State is a nationally ranked university, with a mission to provide quality education at a highly affordable price.

The California State University system makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. We strive to keep tuition and fees competitively priced, as we understand affordability is an important factor when students are considering studying abroad.

California has a lot to offer, including great weather, activities, and iconic cities, but living in California can get expensive. Luckily, Fresno offers an affordable cost of living in the heart of California with easy access to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley. In Fresno, you can afford to live and study, while still visiting or interning in places like San Francisco without incurring additional costs.

Don’t just take our word for it, many international students comment on affordability as part of the reason they chose Fresno State.

Employment Opportunities

Fresno State alumni become professionals working at prestigious companies such as Amazon, Apple, Boeing, Google, Intel, and Microsoft. Conveniently located in the heart of California, Fresno offers easy access to employment opportunities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley.

Although your main purpose for coming to the U.S. is to study at Fresno State, there are many employment and professional experience opportunities available to you, both while you are a student and after you graduate.

  • On-Campus Employment. On-campus employment must be performed on the school’s premises (including on-location commercial firms which provide services for students on campus, such as the school bookstore or cafeteria). Students are eligible to apply for on-campus jobs during their first semester of study at Fresno State, pending approval from the International Office.
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment option available to F-1 students before program completion where employment is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program, such as an internship.
  • Severe Economic Hardship. A Fresno State student must be in F-1 status for one full academic year before he or she is eligible to apply for a severe economic hardship authorization. If on-campus employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request off-campus employment work authorization based upon severe economic hardship.
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an opportunity for students to work 12 months in their field, after program completion at Fresno State.
  • STEM Optional Practical Training: F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, are employed by employers enrolled in E-Verify, and who have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT related to such a degree, may apply for a 24-month extension which extends OPT for another 24 months making a total of 3 years of OPT period.

U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 Best College Rankings

  • #3 among public national universities for graduation-rate performance for the past five years
  • #21 in Top Performers in Social Mobility
  • #53 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
  • #107 among all national public universities, and was one of two California State Universities to make the list with San Diego State.

Fresno State is ranked No. 54 in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine in 2021 for its focus on social mobility, research, and service to the community. Fresno State is the only California State University to make the top 100.

The University ranked No. 7 in MONEY Magazine’s 2020 Best Colleges rankings for Most Transformative Colleges.

We received our eighth Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award 2021 from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

In the words of our University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval:

  • “This ranking shows the determination and resilience of our talented students, who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, to achieve their higher-education dreams”
  • “It is also a recognition of our outstanding faculty and staff who inspire and empower our students for success. And this is the best part: Their success is directly tied to the success of our community and a higher quality of life in our Valley.”

International students

How to Apply

1. Submit a Cal State Apply online application and pay $70 USD (non-refundable) by credit card.

OR

Submit the Paper Application. To avoid errors, please type your information in the fillable form. Then, pay $70 USD (non-refundable) by credit card. Or, it can be paid by check, money order, or bank draft. Please make it payable to "California State University, Fresno".

2. Official English language proficiency (Institutional Code: 4312)

(also email in an unofficial score report along with other required documents).

Accepted English Proficiency Exams

  • TOEFL – 61 iBT, or
  • IELTS – 6.0 or with a 5.5 Band score in each section, or
  • Duolingo - 100, or
  • SAT I - Reading and Writing of 550, or
  • ACT - English 22, or
  • AP English Language and Composition - 3 or higher, or
  • AP English Literature and Composition - 3 or higher, or
  • GTEC (Global Test of English Communication) - 1095, or
  • IB Eng A Language and Literature - HL4, or
  • IB Eng A Literature - HL4, or
  • Fresno State's American English Institute - Advanced Level, or
  • ELS Language Centers - Level 112, or
  • FLS International Language School – Level 16, or
  • TLC The Language Company – Level 9, or
  • UC Davis IEPP - Level 800, or
  • UCLA Extension - Level 6, or
  • Pearson's Test of English – 45, or
  • iTEP - 3.6, or
  • Eiken - Grade Pre-1

3. Original or certificated copies of in-progress or final transcripts:

High school (or secondary and higher secondary) transcripts, mark sheets or grade reports with literal English translation.

4. Graduation certificate: If you graduated from high school, please submit a copy of the graduation certificate or diploma.

5. Passport: Submit a copy of the information/photo passport page.

6. Personal Statement: Statement of purpose, principal's or teacher's recommendation is encouraged but not required.

7. Financial document (no older than 6 months) and Affidavit of Support from sponsors showing the amount and source of support for a minimum of one school year of study. For details, please review the estimated yearly cost table.

*You may submit the two items after receiving the acceptance from the university.

First-Time Freshmen Admission Requirements

The California State University (CSU) will continue to temporarily suspend the use of ACT/SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses for the 2023-2024 academic year. First-time freshmen must meet the following eligibility requirements: a) be a high school graduate or equivalent; b) complete the 15-unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory course; and c) earn a qualifying “a-g” grade point average (GPA) as described below.

First-Time Freshmen applicants to Fresno State for the fall 2023 semester will be evaluated using two criteria: 1) qualified “a-g” college-prep high school coursework including in-progress or planned courses during the 12th grade, and 2) the “a-g” coursework GPA.

Applicants will be considered eligible for admission to Fresno State if they meet one of the following:

  • Graduate of a California high school or resident of California who have a-g coursework GPA of 2.5 or above, and have met the minimum “a-g” coursework requirements.
  • Non-graduate of a California high school or non-resident of California who have a-g coursework GPA of 3.00 or above, and have met the minimum “a-g” coursework requirements.

If capacity permits, the following supplemental factor will be utilized for Fresno State applicants who fall below the CSU minimum a-g coursework GPA:

For California high school graduates or residents of California earning an “a-g” GPA of 2.00-2.49 and non-California residents with an “a-g” GPA of 2.47-2.99, Fresno State will utilize any additional “a-g” courses taken above the required 30-semester minimum (15- unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory course).

The information below explains how Fresno State will determine a first-time freshman applicant’s eligibility for fall 2023:

Students who meet the first-time Freshman CSU admissions requirements and have a GPA of 2.0 (CA HS graduates/CA residents) OR 2.47 (non-CA HS graduates and Non-Residents) will be considered for admissions. Students will be admitted based on the capacity of the program (major).

Fresno State will determine eligibility using an Admission Score (GPA x 800), where the GPA is earned in “a-g” courses taken the summer after the 9th grade through the summer after the 11th grade, to meet the Admission Score set by the University or programs.

All applicants in our “local area” with an “a-g” GPA of 2.0 and above will benefit from an additional 100 Local Advantage Points towards their admission score.

English Language Requirements

Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!

  • Fresno

    5241 N. Maple Ave., 93740, Fresno

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California State University, Fresno