CSU vs. UWest

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than UWest based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSU vs. UWest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UWest? 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 UWest ($14,630 vs. $14,713).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the West are 13.7% lower than at California State University Chico ($14,244 vs. $16,500).
• University of the West is 82.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $6,974 more per year; $15,446.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.4% higher at CSU than at University of the West (about $5,626 more per year; $21,072.00 vs. $15,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the West than at California State University Chico (100% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 21.9% larger than aid received by University of the West students ($11,509 vs. $9,445).

CSU vs. UWest Admissions comparison

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

• University of the West reports an open admissions policy.
• 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; UWest - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UWest Jun 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.94 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at UWest (2.43).
• UWest has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CSU (92.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 25% at UWest.

CSU vs. UWest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UWest? 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).

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.