CSU vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSU vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or USD? 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 USD ($14,630 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 17.2% lower than at University of San Diego ($16,500 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 602.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $51,014 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 182.3% higher at USD than at California State University Chico (about $38,414 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California State University Chico (84% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 255.9% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($40,965 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or USD? 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 USD 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; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at CSU (3.37).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 12.4% at USD.

CSU vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and USD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $5,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($17,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($175 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.