CSU Channel Islands vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Channel Islands is located in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Channel Islands 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

CSU Channel Islands vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Channel Islands or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced ($10,632 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Channel Islands are 27.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,490 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 118.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Channel Islands (about $8,464 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $7,159.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.2% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Channel Islands (about $30,064 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $19,759.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University Channel Islands (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 117.8% larger than aid received by California State University Channel Islands students ($27,292 vs. $12,528).

CSU Channel Islands vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Channel Islands or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and CSU Channel Islands.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Channel Islands - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CSU Channel Islands (3.22).
• CSU Channel Islands has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

CSU Channel Islands vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Channel Islands and UC Merced? 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).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than California State University Channel Islands's (54%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Channel Islands graduates have a $4,716 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,183 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, CSU Channel Islands graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($156 vs. $205).
• More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

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.