Cal State East Bay vs. FIDM LA

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA with FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University East Bay is larger than FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University East Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University East Bay 22:1; FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. FIDM LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay or FIDM LA? 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 East Bay than FIDM LA ($9,850 vs. $39,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University East Bay are 19.3% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($17,831 vs. $22,086).
• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is 361.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $27,417 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at FIDM LA than at California State University East Bay (about $14,817 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students is 11.8% larger than aid received by California State University East Bay students ($13,834 vs. $12,369).

Cal State East Bay vs. FIDM LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay or FIDM LA? 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 FIDM LA and Cal State East Bay.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State East Bay - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026.

Cal State East Bay vs. FIDM LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay and FIDM LA? 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).

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California State University East Bay's (43%).
• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $3,332 lower median loan debt than Cal State East Bay graduates ($13,000 vs. $16,332).
• Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State East Bay graduates ($134 vs. $168).
• More Cal State East Bay graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 61%)

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.