California State University-Fresno vs. Cal State LA

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Fresno is larger than Cal State LA based on total student enrollment (24,427 students vs. 23,163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; California State University Los Angeles 21:1.

California State University-Fresno vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Fresno or Cal State 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 Los Angeles than California State University-Fresno ($4,460 vs. $7,834).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 39.3% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($11,960 vs. $19,696).
• California State University Fresno is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $190 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at California State University-Fresno than at California State University Los Angeles (about $190 more per year; $19,950.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Fresno (94% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 12.2% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($13,824 vs. $12,326).

California State University-Fresno vs. Cal State LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Fresno or Cal State 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 Cal State LA and California State University-Fresno.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Fresno (1000) is 30 points higher than at Cal State LA (970).
• Incoming California State University-Fresno students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (18 vs. 17 at Cal State LA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 890/1100; California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 16/21; California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Fresno - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal State LA students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• California State University-Fresno has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

California State University-Fresno vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Fresno and Cal State 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).

• California State University Fresno's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $400 more per year than California State University-Fresno graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $2,080 lower median loan debt than California State University-Fresno graduates ($12,920 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-Fresno graduates ($133 vs. $155).
• More California State University-Fresno graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 57%)

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.