CSU vs. HIU

Deciding between California State University Chico and Hope International University? 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
Hope International University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • HIU Fullerton, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • HIU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • HIU 1,025
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • HIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • HIU #909
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • HIU Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • HIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • HIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • HIU $38,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • HIU $38,050
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • HIU $12,950
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • HIU $29,896
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • HIU $22,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • HIU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • HIU 940
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • HIU 310
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • HIU 33%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • HIU 38.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • HIU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • HIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • HIU 3.26
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • HIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • HIU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • HIU High
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • HIU
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • HIU 840/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • HIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • HIU Aug 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • HIU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • HIU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (36%)
    • Work and Family Studies (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • HIU 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • HIU $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • HIU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • HIU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • HIU $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • HIU 38%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • HIU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • HIU High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • HIU No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • HIU 42%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • HIU 3%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • HIU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • HIU 21%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • HIU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • HIU 11%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • HIU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • HIU 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • HIU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • HIU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than HIU based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 1,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Hope International University is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope International University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Hope International University 13:1.

CSU vs. HIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or HIU? 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 HIU ($14,630 vs. $29,896).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope International University are 21.5% lower than at California State University Chico ($12,950 vs. $16,500).
  • Hope International University is 349.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $29,578 more per year; $38,050.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.6% higher at HIU than at California State University Chico (about $16,978 more per year; $38,050.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope International University than at California State University Chico (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope International University students is 95.3% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($22,474 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. HIU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Chico (1070) is 40 points higher than at HIU (1030).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; Hope International University 840/1220.
  • 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; HIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; HIU Aug 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at HIU (3.26).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than HIU (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 38.4% at HIU.

CSU vs. HIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and HIU? 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 Hope International University's (32%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than HIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than HIU graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HIU graduates ($175 vs. $268).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HIU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 58%)

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.