CSU vs. SCI-Arc

Should I go to California State University Chico or Southern California Institute of Architecture? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or SCI-Arc is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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California State University Chico vs. Southern California Institute of Architecture comparison
California State University Chico Southern California Institute of Architecture College 3 College 4
California State University Chico Southern California Institute of Architecture
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Overview

 CSU SCI-Arc
Location Chico, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 14,523 457
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #660
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuchico.edu sciarc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CSU SCI-Arc
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $51,964
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $51,964
Room & Board $16,020 $13,555
Avg Net Price $15,187 $21,514
Avg Grant Aid $10,331 $45,500
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 25%

Admission

 CSU SCI-Arc
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,263 606
Admitted 20,864 501
Acceptance Rate 93.7% 82.7%
Enrolled % 10.4% 7%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 970/1170 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 CSU SCI-Arc
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Architecture (100%)

Outcomes

 CSU SCI-Arc
Graduation Rate 59% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,400 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 $42,750
Median Loan Payment $175 $442

Diversity

 CSU SCI-Arc
% Men 3% 28%
% Women 6% 19%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 46% 13%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 29% 14%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 51%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

 CSU SCI-Arc
% In-State 97% 29%
% Out-of-State 2% 14%

Campus

 CSU SCI-Arc
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Chico is larger than than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (14,523 students vs. 457 students)

CSU vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or SCI-Arc?

  • Southern California Institute of Architecture is 805% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($51,964.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 194.9% higher at SCI-Arc than California State University Chico ($51,964.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than SCI-Arc ($15,187 vs. $21,514)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 18.2% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($13,555 vs. $16,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Chico than Southern California Institute of Architecture (65% vs. 25%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 340.4% larger than aid received California State University Chico ($45,500 vs. $10,331)

CSU vs. SCI-Arc Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or SCI-Arc? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SCI-Arc or CSU .

  • The average SAT score at Southern California Institute of Architecture (1116) is 113 points higher than at CSU (1003)
  • Incoming SCI-Arc students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SCI-Arc students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CSU (3.37)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than SCI-Arc (82.7%)

CSU vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or SCI-Arc? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SCI-Arc and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Southern California Institute of Architecture (59% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $6,000 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $46,400)
  • California State University Chico students graduate with a $25,750 lower median federal student loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates. ($17,000 vs. $42,750)
  • CSU graduates are paying $267 less per month on federal student loans than SCI-Arc graduates. ($175 vs. $442)
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/