CMA vs. CSU Channel Islands

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Channel Islands is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Channel Islands is in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; California State University Channel Islands 16:1.

CMA vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or CSU Channel Islands? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Channel Islands than CMA ($10,632 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 6.2% lower than at California State University Channel Islands ($14,536 vs. $15,490).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 38.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Channel Islands (about $2,785 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $7,159.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at CMA than at California State University Channel Islands (about $2,785 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $19,759.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Channel Islands than at California State University Maritime Academy (79% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 13.5% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($12,528 vs. $11,038).

CMA vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or CSU Channel Islands? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU Channel Islands and CMA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; CSU Channel Islands - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CMA students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at CSU Channel Islands (3.22).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than CSU Channel Islands (94.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands.

CMA vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and CSU Channel Islands? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than California State University Channel Islands's (54%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $44,400 more per year than CSU Channel Islands graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Channel Islands graduates have a $10,343 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($15,183 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, CSU Channel Islands graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($156 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Channel Islands students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.