AAMU vs. CSU Channel Islands

Should I go to Alabama A & M University or California State University Channel Islands? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AAMU or CSU Channel Islands is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama A & M University vs. California State University Channel Islands comparison
Alabama A & M University California State University Channel Islands College 3 College 4
Alabama A & M University California State University Channel Islands
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Overview

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Location Normal, AL Camarillo, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,007 6,128
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1015
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aamu.edu csuci.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Tuition (In State) $8,610 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,220 $17,622
Room & Board $9,520 $16,300
Avg Net Price $14,600 $13,540
Avg Grant Aid $10,066 $9,412
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 72%

Admission

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,907 10,420
Admitted 6,092 9,342
Acceptance Rate 68.4% 89.7%
Enrolled % 28.3% 6.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 830/1033
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Graduation Rate 32% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,300 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $35,000 $15,183
Median Loan Payment $361 $156

Diversity

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
% Men 39% 34%
% Women 61% 66%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 32%
% Black 92% 2%
% Hispanic 1% 49%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
% In-State 51% 99%
% Out-of-State 38% 1%

Campus

AAMU CSU Channel Islands
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Channel Islands is larger than than AAMU based on total student enrollment (6,128 students vs. 6,007 students)

AAMU vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or CSU Channel Islands?

  • Alabama A & M University is 49.9% more expensive to attend than CSU Channel Islands for in-state tuition ($8,610.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at CSU Channel Islands than Alabama A & M University ($17,622.00 vs. $17,220.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Channel Islands than AAMU ($13,540 vs. $14,600)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 71.2% lower than costs at California State University Channel Islands ($9,520 vs. $16,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alabama A & M University than California State University Channel Islands (83% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 6.9% larger than aid received California State University Channel Islands ($10,066 vs. $9,412)

AAMU vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or CSU Channel Islands? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU Channel Islands or AAMU .

  • Accepted freshman CSU Channel Islands students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at AAMU (3.02)
  • CSU Channel Islands has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than AAMU (68.4%)

AAMU vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AAMU or CSU Channel Islands? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSU Channel Islands and AAMU.

  • The graduation rate at CSU Channel Islands is higher than Alabama A & M University (54% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from California State University Channel Islands earn on average $11,800 more per year than AAMU graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $34,300)
  • California State University Channel Islands students graduate with a $19,817 lower median federal student loan debt than AAMU graduates. ($15,183 vs. $35,000)
  • CSU Channel Islands graduates are paying $205 less per month on federal student loans than AAMU graduates. ($156 vs. $361)
  • More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/