California State University-Fresno vs. CSU Channel Islands

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fresno in Fresno, CA with California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fresno is larger than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (24,427 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Channel Islands is in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; California State University Channel Islands 16:1.

California State University-Fresno vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Fresno or CSU Channel Islands? 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 Fresno than CSU Channel Islands ($7,834 vs. $10,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 22.8% lower than at California State University Channel Islands ($11,960 vs. $15,490).
• California State University Fresno is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Channel Islands (about $191 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $7,159.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at California State University-Fresno than at California State University Channel Islands (about $191 more per year; $19,950.00 vs. $19,759.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at California State University Channel Islands (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 1.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($12,528 vs. $12,326).

California State University-Fresno vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Fresno or CSU Channel Islands? 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 CSU Channel Islands and California State University-Fresno.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 890/1100.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 16/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Fresno - Test-free; CSU Channel Islands - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSU Channel Islands students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• California State University-Fresno has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than CSU Channel Islands (94.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands.

California State University-Fresno vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Fresno and CSU Channel Islands? 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).

• California State University Channel Islands's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than California State University Fresno's (49%).
• Graduates from California State University Fresno earn a median of about $400 more per year than CSU Channel Islands graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,500 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $183 lower median loan debt than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,183).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($155 vs. $156).
• More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 63%)

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.