CSU vs. UOP

Deciding between California State University Chico and University of the Pacific? 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 the Pacific

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • UOP Stockton, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • UOP Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • UOP 6,944
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • UOP Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • UOP #122
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • UOP -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • UOP Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • UOP

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • UOP $57,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • UOP $57,080
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • UOP $17,190
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • UOP $31,670
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • UOP $41,111
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • UOP 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • UOP 7,780
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • UOP 5,549
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • UOP 71.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • UOP 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • UOP 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • UOP 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • UOP 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • UOP A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • UOP Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • UOP Low
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • UOP 23/32
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • UOP 1183/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • UOP Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • UOP Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • UOP 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • UOP
    • Business (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • UOP 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • UOP $81,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • UOP 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • UOP $24,625
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • UOP $254

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • UOP 41%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • UOP 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • UOP Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • UOP No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • UOP 27%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • UOP 35%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • UOP 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • UOP 18%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • UOP 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • UOP 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • UOP 6%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • UOP 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • UOP 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • UOP 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • UOP 10%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than UOP based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 6,944 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSU vs. UOP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UOP? 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 UOP ($14,630 vs. $31,670).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 4% lower than at University of the Pacific ($16,500 vs. $17,190).
  • University of the Pacific is 573.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $48,608 more per year; $57,080.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 170.9% higher at UOP than at California State University Chico (about $36,008 more per year; $57,080.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Pacific than at California State University Chico (98% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Pacific students is 257.2% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($41,111 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. UOP Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of the Pacific (1330) is 260 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming UOP students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; University of the Pacific 1183/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; University of the Pacific 23/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UOP - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UOP Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UOP students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UOP (71.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 13.8% at UOP.

CSU vs. UOP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UOP? 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 the Pacific's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of the Pacific earn a median of about $29,000 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,400 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $7,625 lower median loan debt than UOP graduates ($17,000 vs. $24,625).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UOP graduates ($175 vs. $254).
  • More UOP graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.