CSUDH vs. La Sierra University

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with La Sierra University in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Dominguez Hills is larger than La Sierra University based on total student enrollment (15,182 students vs. 1,574 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); La Sierra University is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. La Sierra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; La Sierra University 12:1.

CSUDH vs. La Sierra University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or La Sierra University? 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 Dominguez Hills than La Sierra University ($9,175 vs. $23,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 27.2% lower than at California State University Dominguez Hills ($13,431 vs. $18,444).
• La Sierra University is 406.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $30,261 more per year; $37,710.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 88.1% higher at La Sierra University than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $17,661 more per year; $37,710.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at La Sierra University than at California State University Dominguez Hills (98% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by La Sierra University students is 98.2% larger than aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students ($27,646 vs. $13,951).

CSUDH vs. La Sierra University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH or La Sierra University? 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 La Sierra University and CSUDH.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLa Sierra University 880/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLa Sierra University 18/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; La Sierra University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026.
• Accepted freshman La Sierra University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• CSUDH has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than La Sierra University (91.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 13.3% at La Sierra University.

CSUDH vs. La Sierra University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and La Sierra University? 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).

• La Sierra University's six-year graduation rate (32%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from La Sierra University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than CSUDH graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,900 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $16,038 lower median loan debt than La Sierra University graduates ($13,962 vs. $30,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $166 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than La Sierra University graduates ($144 vs. $310).
• More La Sierra University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 52%)

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.