CSU vs. Cogswell College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with University of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Cogswell College based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of Silicon Valley is in San Jose, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Silicon Valley is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of Silicon Valley 13:1.

CSU vs. Cogswell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Cogswell College? 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 Cogswell College ($14,630 vs. $31,594).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 17.2% lower than at University of Silicon Valley ($16,500 vs. $19,926).
• University of Silicon Valley is 165.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $14,008 more per year; $22,480.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Cogswell College than at California State University Chico (about $1,408 more per year; $22,480.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Silicon Valley than at California State University Chico (85% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 82.9% larger than aid received by University of Silicon Valley students ($11,509 vs. $6,293).

CSU vs. Cogswell College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or Cogswell College? 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 Cogswell College 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; Cogswell College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Cogswell College (2.77).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Cogswell College (51.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 42% at Cogswell College.

CSU vs. Cogswell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Cogswell College? 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 University of Silicon Valley's (43%).
• Graduates from University of Silicon Valley earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,800 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $14,163 lower median loan debt than Cogswell College graduates ($17,000 vs. $31,163).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $147 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cogswell College graduates ($175 vs. $322).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cogswell College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 60%)

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.