CSU vs. IUPUI

Deciding between California State University Chico and Indiana University Indianapolis? 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
Indiana University Indianapolis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • IUPUI Indianapolis, IN
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • IUPUI Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • IUPUI 22,534
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • IUPUI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • IUPUI #409
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • IUPUI -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • IUPUI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • IUPUI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • IUPUI $10,762
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • IUPUI $34,891
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • IUPUI $13,308
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • IUPUI $12,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • IUPUI $11,104
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • IUPUI 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • IUPUI 15,643
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • IUPUI 11,947
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • IUPUI 76.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • IUPUI 24.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • IUPUI 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • IUPUI 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • IUPUI 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • IUPUI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • IUPUI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • IUPUI
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • IUPUI 21/29
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • IUPUI 1030/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • IUPUI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • IUPUI May 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • IUPUI 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • IUPUI
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • IUPUI 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • IUPUI $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • IUPUI 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • IUPUI $23,090
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • IUPUI $238

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • IUPUI 35%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • IUPUI 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • IUPUI Medium
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • IUPUI No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • IUPUI 72%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • IUPUI 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • IUPUI 6%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • IUPUI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • IUPUI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • IUPUI 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • IUPUI 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • IUPUI 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • IUPUI 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Indiana University Indianapolis is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (22,534 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Indiana University Indianapolis is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Indianapolis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Indiana University Indianapolis 13:1.

CSU vs. IUPUI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or IUPUI? 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 Indiana University Indianapolis than CSU ($12,228 vs. $14,630).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Indianapolis are 19.3% lower than at California State University Chico ($13,308 vs. $16,500).
  • Indiana University Indianapolis is 27% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $2,290 more per year; $10,762.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.6% higher at IUPUI than at California State University Chico (about $13,819 more per year; $34,891.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Indianapolis than at California State University Chico (82% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Indiana University Indianapolis students ($11,509 vs. $11,104).

CSU vs. IUPUI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Indianapolis (1140) is 70 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming IUPUI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; Indiana University Indianapolis 1030/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; Indiana University Indianapolis 21/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; IUPUI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; IUPUI May 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IUPUI students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than IUPUI (76.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 24.6% at IUPUI.

CSU vs. IUPUI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and IUPUI? 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 Indiana University Indianapolis's (33%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than IUPUI graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $6,090 lower median loan debt than IUPUI graduates ($17,000 vs. $23,090).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IUPUI graduates ($175 vs. $238).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)

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.