Cal State East Bay vs. Seattle Central

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA with Seattle Central College in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University East Bay is larger than Seattle Central based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 5,396 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); Seattle Central College is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• California State University East Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Seattle Central College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University East Bay 22:1; Seattle Central College 17:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. Seattle Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay or Seattle Central? 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 Seattle Central ($9,850 vs. $11,187).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University East Bay are 6.4% lower than at Seattle Central College ($17,831 vs. $19,041).
• California State University East Bay is 46.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle Central (about $2,399 more per year; $7,583.00 vs. $5,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 251.3% higher at Cal State East Bay than at Seattle Central College (about $14,438 more per year; $20,183.00 vs. $5,745.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at Seattle Central College (79% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 81.8% larger than aid received by Seattle Central College students ($12,369 vs. $6,805).

Cal State East Bay vs. Seattle Central Admissions comparison

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

• Seattle Central College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; Seattle Central - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; Seattle Central Aug 31, 2027.

Cal State East Bay vs. Seattle Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay and Seattle Central? 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 California State University East Bay earn a median of about $19,500 more per year than Seattle Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Seattle Central College graduates have a $6,442 lower median loan debt than Cal State East Bay graduates ($9,890 vs. $16,332).
• Among borrowers, Seattle Central graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State East Bay graduates ($102 vs. $168).

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.