Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSUDH): Acceptance Rate, Cost and Programs

Cal State (CSU) guide · By CalChannel Editorial Team · Updated October 5, 2026

Cal State Dominguez Hills admitted 93% of its 19,921 first-year applicants for Fall 2024, according to federal data from College Navigator. CSUDH is a California State University campus in Carson, in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. For 2026-27, California residents pay $8,701 in tuition and campus fees, and the cost of attendance ranges from $28,535 living with parents to $41,094 living off campus.

California State University, Dominguez Hills, often called CSUDH or Cal State Dominguez Hills, is one of the most diverse and most accessible Cal State campuses. It serves many working, adult and first-generation students, and it’s known for nursing, business, education and flexible programs through its extended education college.

A note on the data: CSUDH doesn’t publish a Common Data Set, so the admission and enrollment figures below come from the federal College Navigator database, whose latest release covers Fall 2024. Cost figures are CSUDH’s own 2026-27 budgets.

CSUDH in Brief: A Cal State Campus in Carson

Cal State Dominguez Hills is California State University, Dominguez Hills, a public university founded in 1960 and part of the California State University system. Common spellings such as “Dominguez Hills University” or “Dominquez Hills” all refer to the same school, whose official website is csudh.edu.

Is CSUDH part of the UC system? No. It’s a CSU campus, so students apply through Cal State Apply and pay CSU tuition. CSUDH offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a doctorate in education, along with credential programs for teachers and a large College of Extended and International Education that serves working adults.

CSUDH Acceptance Rate: 93% (Fall 2024)

For Fall 2024, 19,921 first-year students applied to CSUDH, according to College Navigator. About 9% of admitted students enrolled. CSUDH admits nearly every applicant who meets CSU eligibility: completion of the A-G course pattern and at least a 2.5 GPA for California residents. SAT and ACT scores are not used.

Transfer students are a large part of CSUDH. In Fall 2024, 1,890 new transfer students enrolled, and only 44% of entering students were first-time, full-time students, reflecting CSUDH’s role serving community college transfers and returning adults.

Applying to CSUDH for Fall 2027

Apply through Cal State Apply during the CSU priority filing period, October 1 to November 30, 2026, for Fall 2027. CSUDH also offers something many Cal State campuses can’t: if you’re admitted to the university, you can enroll in the major of your choice.

That guarantee doesn’t cover specialized online-only programs such as Organizational Leadership Studies and Nursing, which have their own requirements.

CSUDH Cost for 2026-27, by Living Situation

For 2026-27, California residents pay $6,838 in CSU tuition plus $1,863 in campus fees, for a total of $8,701. The full cost of attendance is $28,535 living with parents, $34,074 in campus housing and $41,094 living off campus.

Most students pay far less than these totals. Federal data shows an average net price of $9,175 for aided first-time students in 2023-24, and Cal Grants, Pell Grants and the CSU State University Grant can cover tuition for eligible Californians.

Our take: CSUDH’s average net price is close to the cost of tuition and fees alone at many other universities. For South Bay students who can live at home, it’s one of the most affordable ways to earn a four-year degree in Los Angeles County.

How Many CSUDH Students Finish?

CSUDH had 15,182 students in Fall 2024, including 12,632 undergraduates and 2,550 graduate students, according to College Navigator. The student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1.

About 74% of full-time first-year students who began in Fall 2023 returned in Fall 2024. Of the Fall 2018 entering class, 20% graduated in four years and 43% within six years.

Getting to Carson: Location and Commute

CSUDH is in Carson, a city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and close to Long Beach and Torrance. The campus is next to the 405, 110 and 91 freeways, and Dignity Health Sports Park, home of the LA Galaxy, sits on university land.

Is Carson convenient without a car? Several bus lines serve the campus, but many students drive. CSUDH also offers online and evening programs, which makes it a strong option for adult and returning students balancing work and family.

Nursing, Business and Programs for Working Adults

CSUDH is known for nursing, business administration, education, psychology, criminal justice and online degree completion programs. It’s a Hispanic-Serving Institution with one of the most diverse student bodies in the CSU system.

How does CSUDH compare with nearby Cal State Long Beach? CSULB is larger and far more selective, admitting 46% of applicants in 2024-25, while CSUDH admits nearly all eligible applicants and serves more working and returning students. The CSUDH Toros compete in NCAA Division II in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CSUDH a Good Fit?

Cal State Dominguez Hills is an accessible Cal State campus in Carson. It serves a diverse, largely local student body, including many transfer and adult students, at CSU prices.

For California residents, plan for $8,701 in tuition and fees, and about $28,500 a year if you live with family. Compare CSUDH with Cal State Long Beach, CSUN, Cal Poly Pomona and other Cal State campuses.

CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides

The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.