Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Fresno State

7.94%

Applicants - since 2015

43.07%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Fresno State over the past 10 years is 75.48%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 95.26%. The acceptance rate at Fresno State is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 27.13%, and the 2025 yield is 17.52%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 50.36% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Fresno State applicants increased by 6.53% (1,320 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 7.94% overall.

Key Takeaways: Fresno State Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 95.26%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Fresno State is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 17.52%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Fresno State. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Fresno State received approximately 21,521 applications, admitted 20,501 students, and enrolled 3,591 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Fresno State is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Fresno State 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Fresno State over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 75.48%, while the most recent rate stands at 95.26%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 95.26%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 72.63% and for women is 77.60%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Fresno State have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 52.19% 48.30% 55.33%
2016-17 53.54%
1.35%
48.20%
-0.09%
57.44%
2.11%
2017-18 59.41%
5.87%
54.43%
6.23%
62.94%
5.49%
2018-19 57.53%
-1.87%
51.58%
-2.85%
61.91%
-1.03%
2019-20 57.94%
0.41%
54.67%
3.09%
60.27%
-1.63%
2020-21 90.11%
32.17%
87.68%
33.01%
91.81%
31.53%
2021-22 97.00%
6.89%
96.01%
8.32%
98.01%
6.20%
2022-23 95.43%
-1.57%
94.73%
-1.27%
95.93%
-2.08%
2023-24 96.38%
0.95%
95.77%
1.04%
96.83%
0.91%
2024-25 95.26%
-1.12%
94.95%
-0.82%
95.50%
-1.34%
Average 75.48% 72.63% 77.60%
California State University-Fresno Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Fresno State has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 35.29% in 2015 to 17.52% in 2025, representing a 50.36% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 27.13%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Fresno State from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 50.36% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 35.29% 34.51% 35.83%
2016-17 32.92%
-2.37%
34.85%
0.34%
31.73%
-4.10%
2017-18 32.37%
-0.55%
32.25%
-2.60%
32.44%
0.71%
2018-19 33.62%
1.25%
34.35%
2.09%
33.18%
0.74%
2019-20 31.75%
-1.87%
33.39%
-0.96%
30.69%
-2.49%
2020-21 26.53%
-5.22%
27.20%
-6.19%
26.08%
-4.61%
2021-22 23.00%
-3.53%
23.00%
-4.20%
23.00%
-3.08%
2022-23 19.53%
-3.47%
19.40%
-3.60%
19.63%
-3.38%
2023-24 18.80%
-0.73%
18.67%
-0.72%
18.90%
-0.73%
2024-25 17.52%
-1.29%
16.38%
-2.29%
18.37%
-0.53%
Average 27.13% 27.40% 26.99%
California State University-Fresno enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 18,414, the average number of admitted is 13,858, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 3,513.

The number of Fresno State applicants increased by 6.53% (1,320 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 7.94% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at California State University-Fresno from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 19,938 10,406 3,672
2016-17 18,735
-6.03%
10,031
-3.60%
3,302
-10.08%
2017-18 17,920
-4.35%
10,646
6.13%
3,446
4.36%
2018-19 18,476
3.10%
10,630
-0.15%
3,574
3.71%
2019-20 18,123
-1.91%
10,501
-1.21%
3,334
-6.72%
2020-21 15,448
-14.76%
13,920
32.56%
3,693
10.77%
2021-22 15,231
-1.40%
14,774
6.14%
3,398
-7.99%
2022-23 18,551
21.80%
17,703
19.83%
3,458
1.77%
2023-24 20,201
8.89%
19,469
9.98%
3,661
5.87%
2024-25 21,521
6.53%
20,501
5.30%
3,591
-1.91%
Average 18,414 13,858 3,513
California State University-Fresno - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares California State University-Fresno' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
California State University-Fresno96.38%95.26%-1.16%
Colorado State University-Fort Collins88.54%89.59%-1.17%
San Diego State University36.19%34.44%5.08%
United States Air Force Academy---
San Jose State University84.61%80.23%5.46%
University of Wyoming96.88%97.41%-0.54%

Ratings & Review

Share your experiences and thoughts about California State University-Fresno. It will be a great help to applicants and prospective students!