CSU vs. Cal State LA

Deciding between California State University Chico and California State University Los Angeles? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Chico
California State University Los Angeles

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • Cal State LA Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • Cal State LA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • Cal State LA 23,163
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • Cal State LA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • Cal State LA #934
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • Cal State LA -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Cal State LA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • Cal State LA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • Cal State LA $7,160
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • Cal State LA $19,760
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • Cal State LA $19,696
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • Cal State LA $4,460
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • Cal State LA $13,824
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • Cal State LA 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • Cal State LA 32,723
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • Cal State LA 29,860
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • Cal State LA 91.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • Cal State LA 9.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • Cal State LA 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • Cal State LA 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • Cal State LA 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • Cal State LA B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Cal State LA Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • Cal State LA
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • Cal State LA 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • Cal State LA 870/1060
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • Cal State LA Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • Cal State LA 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Cal State LA
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • Cal State LA 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • Cal State LA $46,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • Cal State LA 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • Cal State LA $12,920
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • Cal State LA $133

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • Cal State LA 43%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • Cal State LA 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • Cal State LA Medium
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • Cal State LA No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • Cal State LA 7%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • Cal State LA 15%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • Cal State LA 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • Cal State LA 63%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • Cal State LA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • Cal State LA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • Cal State LA 2%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • Cal State LA 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • Cal State LA 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • Cal State LA 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • Cal State LA 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSU Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSU No
  • Cal State LA No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSU Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSU No
  • Cal State LA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSU Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Los Angeles is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); California State University Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; California State University Los Angeles 21:1.

CSU vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Cal State LA? 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 Los Angeles than CSU ($4,460 vs. $14,630).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 16.2% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($16,500 vs. $19,696).
  • California State University Chico is 18.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $1,312 more per year; $8,472.00 vs. $7,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at CSU than at California State University Los Angeles (about $1,312 more per year; $21,072.00 vs. $19,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Chico (94% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 20.1% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($13,824 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. Cal State LA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Chico (1070) is 100 points higher than at Cal State LA (970).
  • Incoming CSU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 17 at Cal State LA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

CSU vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Cal State LA? 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 Los Angeles's (36%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $4,080 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($12,920 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($133 vs. $175).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 57%)

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.