CSU vs. University of the People

Should I go to California State University Chico or University of the People? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or University of the People 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. University of the People comparison
California State University Chico University of the People College 3 College 4
California State University Chico
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Overview

CSU University of the People
Location Chico, CA Pasadena, California
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 14,523 42,867
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #660
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuchico.edu uopeople.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU University of the People
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $0
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $0
Room & Board $16,020 $2,001
Avg Net Price $15,187 $1,639
Avg Grant Aid $10,331 $962
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 76%

Admission

CSU University of the People
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,263 -
Admitted 20,864 -
Acceptance Rate 93.7% Open
Enrolled % 10.4% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.37 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 970/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2025

Academics

CSU University of the People
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 27:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

CSU University of the People
Graduation Rate 59% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,400 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 70% -
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $175 N/A

Diversity

CSU University of the People
% Men 3% 8%
% Women 6% 7%
Racial Diversity Very High -
HBCU No No
% White 46% 0%
% Black 2% 0%
% Hispanic 29% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

CSU University of the People
% In-State 97% 2%
% Out-of-State 2% 14%

Campus

CSU University of the People
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of the People is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (42,867 students vs. 14,523 students)

CSU vs. University of the People Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or University of the People?

  • California State University Chico is ?% more expensive to attend than University of the People for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $0.00)
  • Out of state tuition is ?% higher at CSU than University of the People ($17,622.00 vs. $0.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the People than CSU ($1,639 vs. $15,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the People are 700.6% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($2,001 vs. $16,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the People than California State University Chico (76% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 973.9% larger than aid received University of the People ($10,331 vs. $962)

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

CSU vs. University of the People Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or University of the People? 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 University of the People and CSU.

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