California State University, East Bay

California State University, East Bay is a public university in the San Francisco Bay Area, part of the 23-campus CSU system. It draws students from more than 60 countries and runs over 140 undergraduate and 70 graduate degrees, with a particular concentration in STEM fields.

Institution size

Mid-sized (approx. 14,000 students)

Min. CGPA floor

2.5–2.75 (see Admission Requirements)

Tuition / yr

$20k–$26k

Type

Public university (CSU system)

Key Facts

Admission Requirements for Low CGPA and Backlog Applicants

• Published minimum graduate CGPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (roughly 70% aggregate), confirmed directly on CSU East Bay’s own international admissions page
• Some graduate programmes set a higher departmental floor; contact the graduate coordinator to confirm
• Applicants with a 3-year bachelor’s degree may still be considered if evaluated by WES; the university publishes a specific list of programmes that accept this

Programmes Offered

• Computer Science and Data Science
• Business Analytics
• Biostatistics
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Political Science
• Physics and STEM fields
• Public Health

This list covers the primary subject areas available; it is not the full course catalogue. Confirm the complete, current list of programmes directly on the university’s official course finder.

Degree Levels Offered

• Diploma / Certificate: Offered
• Undergraduate (Bachelor’s): Offered
• Postgraduate (Master’s / MSc / MA): Offered
• Doctorate (PhD): Not offered at this institution
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Not offered at this institution
• Short Courses: Offered

CSU East Bay’s four graduate colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business, and Professional Sciences among them) each manage their own Short Course and certificate offerings separately; check the specific college’s page rather than a single university-wide list.

Tuition and Fees

Figures are indicative and reviewed annually by the institution. Confirm current rates directly with the university before budgeting.

Scholarships and Funding

• Global Honors Scholarship: USD 2,500 for one academic year (primarily undergraduate)
• Global Excellence Scholarship: full tuition waiver for students admitted with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, subject to financial need and full-time enrolment
• Graduate assistantship openings vary by department; ask the graduate coordinator directly since these are not centrally advertised

What Makes This University Different

CSU East Bay explicitly states in its own admissions documentation that some graduate departments will consider highly qualified applicants holding a 3-year bachelor’s degree (common in India and Bangladesh) if the degree has been evaluated by WES, rather than requiring a 4-year degree outright. This is published as an actual policy, not a workaround, and few competing CSU campuses state it this directly.

Application Process

1. Check whether your specific graduate department publishes a GPA floor above the university’s general 2.5, since several CSU East Bay departments do
2. If your undergraduate degree is a 3-year programme, email [email protected] (or the equivalent international office contact) before applying to confirm whether your target programme accepts a WES-evaluated 3-year credential
3. Book your IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo test and confirm your target score against your specific programme’s page, since requirements vary
4. Submit your application through Cal State Apply, paying the $70 fee, and upload transcripts plus your statement of purpose
5. Forward your transcripts for evaluation to the graduate programme coordinator, who typically responds within 3-6 weeks
6. Once admitted, secure your I-20 through the international office and begin your F-1 visa application

Admission Outlook

CSU East Bay’s 2.5 floor sits at the accessible end of the CSU system, and its explicit 3-year-degree provision for evaluated applicants is a genuine, published advantage over campuses that quietly require a full 4-year degree with no stated exception.

Campus Life

Located in Hayward in the East Bay, the university offers lower living costs than San Francisco or San Jose while remaining within reach of the wider Bay Area tech job market.

CSU East Bay’s hillside Hayward campus overlooks the Bay Area, and while the climb up to campus is a genuine daily fact of life here, students get a diverse, 60-country international community and direct BART access into San Francisco and Silicon Valley for internships.

Other Essential Information

Official Resources

• University homepage: csueastbay.edu

Compare California State University, East Bay against other accessible universities on our Find a Course page, or contact us for help confirming eligibility.

Sources and Verification

• CSU East Bay Graduate International Admission Requirements
• CSU East Bay Tuition and Fees

Reviewed by the Studyinfo editorial team. Last verified: July 2026.

Admission requirements, tuition, and scholarship figures change periodically; always confirm current details directly with the university before applying.