CSU vs. Cal State East Bay

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Cal State East Bay based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 12,326 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); California State University East Bay is in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University East Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; California State University East Bay 22:1.

CSU vs. Cal State East Bay Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Cal State East Bay? 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 East Bay than CSU ($9,850 vs. $14,630).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 7.5% lower than at California State University East Bay ($16,500 vs. $17,831).
• California State University Chico is 11.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $889 more per year; $8,472.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at CSU than at California State University East Bay (about $889 more per year; $21,072.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at California State University Chico (79% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 7.5% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($12,369 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. Cal State East Bay Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or Cal State East Bay? 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 Cal State East Bay and CSU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Cal State East Bay - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• Cal State East Bay has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than CSU (92.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 6.9% at Cal State East Bay.

CSU vs. Cal State East Bay Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Cal State East Bay? 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 Chico's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than California State University East Bay's (43%).
• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University East Bay graduates have a $668 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($16,332 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State East Bay graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($168 vs. $175).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State East Bay students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 61%)

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.