CSU vs. CDU

Deciding between California State University Chico and Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • CDU Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • CDU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • CDU 852
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • CDU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • CDU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • CDU -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • CDU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • CDU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • CDU $23,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • CDU $23,000
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • CDU $33,090
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • CDU $35,558
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • CDU $4,276
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • CDU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • CDU 808
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • CDU 313
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • CDU 38.7% Open
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • CDU 3.5% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • CDU
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • CDU
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • CDU 3.26
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • CDU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • CDU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • CDU High
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • CDU
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • CDU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • CDU Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • CDU Jul 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • CDU 4:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • CDU
    • Health Professions (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • CDU -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • CDU $70,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • CDU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • CDU $21,319
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • CDU $220

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • CDU 31%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • CDU 69%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • CDU Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • CDU No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • CDU 9%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • CDU 9%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • CDU 39%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • CDU 13%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • CDU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • CDU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • CDU 25%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • CDU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • CDU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • CDU 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • CDU 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than CDU based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 852 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science 4:1.

CSU vs. CDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or CDU? 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 Chico than CDU ($14,630 vs. $35,558).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 50.1% lower than at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ($16,500 vs. $33,090).
  • Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is 171.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $14,528 more per year; $23,000.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at CDU than at California State University Chico (about $1,928 more per year; $23,000.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science than at California State University Chico (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 169.2% larger than aid received by Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science students ($11,509 vs. $4,276).

CSU vs. CDU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or CDU? 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 CDU and CSU.

  • Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science reports an open admissions policy.
  • 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; CDU - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; CDU Jul 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at CDU (3.26).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than CDU (38.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 3.5% at CDU.

CSU vs. CDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and CDU? 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).

  • Graduates from Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,900 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $4,319 lower median loan debt than CDU graduates ($17,000 vs. $21,319).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CDU graduates ($175 vs. $220).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CDU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)

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.