CSU vs. UWT

Deciding between California State University Chico and University of Washington Tacoma Campus? 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 Washington Tacoma Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • UWT Tacoma, WA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • UWT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • UWT 4,965
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • UWT Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • UWT
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • UWT -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • UWT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • UWT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • UWT $13,168
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • UWT $43,404
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • UWT $16,371
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • UWT $13,898
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • UWT $12,161
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • UWT 86%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • UWT 4,068
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • UWT 3,357
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • UWT 82.5%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • UWT 21.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • UWT 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • UWT 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • UWT 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • UWT B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • UWT Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • UWT
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • UWT 16/24
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • UWT 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • UWT Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • UWT Jun 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • UWT 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • UWT
    • General Studies (48%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • UWT -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • UWT $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • UWT 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • UWT $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • UWT $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • UWT 52%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • UWT 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • UWT Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • UWT No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • UWT 43%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • UWT 18%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • UWT 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • UWT 12%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • UWT 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • UWT 2%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • UWT 8%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • UWT 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • UWT 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • UWT 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • UWT 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Chico is larger than UWT based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 4,965 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of Washington Tacoma Campus is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of Washington Tacoma Campus 15:1.

CSU vs. UWT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UWT? 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 University of Washington Tacoma Campus than CSU ($13,898 vs. $14,630).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Washington Tacoma Campus are 0.8% lower than at California State University Chico ($16,371 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus is 55.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $4,696 more per year; $13,168.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106% higher at UWT than at California State University Chico (about $22,332 more per year; $43,404.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than at California State University Chico (86% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students is 5.7% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($12,161 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. UWT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Chico (1070) is the same as at UWT (1070).
  • Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at UWT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; University of Washington Tacoma Campus 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; University of Washington Tacoma Campus 16/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UWT - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UWT Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UWT students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UWT (82.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 21.5% at UWT.

CSU vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UWT? 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).

  • Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, UWT graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($155 vs. $175).
  • More UWT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.