California State University-Fresno

Public · Moderately Selective · CA

Photo: Nightryder84 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationCA · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads21,605

Student:faculty22:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate27.8%

6-yr grad rate57%

Drop-out rate18.4%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$7k

Out-of-state tuition$20k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity85.5%

Gender diversity58.4%

International2.2%

Identity—

Overview

Fresno State is a Central Valley public university where agriculture is woven into daily campus life, from a working farm and vineyard to one of the few university-run wineries in the country. Housed within the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, that identity runs deeper than symbolism, with students literally growing, pressing, and marketing what the campus produces. Many students are the first in their families to attend college, and the university functions as a regional engine for upward mobility across California's agricultural heartland, training much of the Central Valley's teachers, nurses, and business professionals.

Academics

Agricultural business, viticulture and enology, and animal science are signature strengths, supported by the campus farm, vineyard, and winery that give students direct, hands-on exposure most agriculture programs only simulate in a classroom. The Craig School of Business and a well-regarded nursing program round out the university's practical core, and the Kremen School of Education trains a substantial share of the Valley's teachers. Class sizes lean toward a teaching orientation rather than a research-heavy one, with faculty who are accessible and closely tied to regional industry.

Campus & student life

The campus sits in Fresno, at the heart of California's agricultural belt, and student life reflects that setting alongside a sizable commuter population balancing school with work and family obligations. Bulldog football and basketball draw real campus energy, and a growing residential population has given the campus a steadily more traditional college feel even as many students remain rooted in the surrounding community. The Save Mart Center hosts both athletics and concerts, giving the campus a hub beyond classrooms and farmland.

Getting in

As part of the Cal State system, admission is largely formula-driven, weighing GPA and completed coursework rigor more than essays or interviews. First-generation and local Central Valley students make up a large share of admits, and the university is known for meeting students where they are academically rather than screening heavily for polish or extracurricular pedigree.

After graduation

Graduates move heavily into Central Valley agriculture, agribusiness, education, and healthcare, with the university's farm and winery programs feeding directly into the region's wine and food industries. The alumni network is strongest locally, with Fresno State graduates well represented among the Valley's teachers, nurses, and small-business owners.

Worth knowing

Fresno State's agriculture program is unusually hands-on for a public university of its size, letting undergraduates work an actual farm and winery rather than just study one. Its Hispanic-Serving Institution status shapes advising and support services, and the university has built a genuine reputation for economic mobility, turning first-generation students into regional professionals across teaching, nursing, and agribusiness.

fresnostate.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate95.3%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Regular decisionJan 15

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Cal State Apply.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗