California State University-Fresno vs. NSC

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Fresno is larger than NSC based on total student enrollment (24,427 students vs. 7,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Nevada State University is in Henderson, NV (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nevada State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; Nevada State University 18:1.

California State University-Fresno vs. NSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Fresno or NSC? 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 NSC ($7,834 vs. $15,699).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nevada State University are 1.2% lower than at California State University Fresno ($11,819 vs. $11,960).
• California State University Fresno is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSC (about $585 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,765.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at NSC than at California State University Fresno (about $1,883 more per year; $21,833.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nevada State University than at California State University Fresno (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fresno students is 54.7% larger than aid received by Nevada State University students ($12,326 vs. $7,969).

California State University-Fresno vs. NSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Fresno or NSC? 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 NSC 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; NSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State University-Fresno students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at NSC (2.75).
• California State University-Fresno has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than NSC (86.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 33.2% at NSC.

California State University-Fresno vs. NSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Fresno and NSC? 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 Nevada State University's (22%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $7,920 lower median loan debt than NSC graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,920).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSC graduates ($155 vs. $236).
• More California State University-Fresno graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSC students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 43%)

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.