CSU vs. UCSC

Deciding between California State University Chico and University of California Santa Cruz? 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
University of California Santa Cruz

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • UCSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • UCSC #255
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • UCSC -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • UCSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • UCSC $22,774
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • UCSC 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • UCSC 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • UCSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • UCSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • UCSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • UCSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • UCSC 25/33
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • UCSC 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • UCSC 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • UCSC $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • UCSC 48%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • UCSC 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • UCSC Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • UCSC No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • UCSC 33%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • UCSC 21%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • UCSC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • UCSC 31%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • UCSC 7%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • UCSC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • UCSC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • UCSC 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • UCSC 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

CSU vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($14,630 vs. $18,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 17.3% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,500 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 88.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $7,533 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 138.3% higher at UCSC than at California State University Chico (about $29,133 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at University of California Santa Cruz (66% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 97.9% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($22,774 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 190 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

CSU vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UCSC? 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).

  • University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $2,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($175 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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.