Cal State Fullerton vs. Menlo

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or Menlo College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton or Menlo is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Fullerton vs. Menlo College comparison
California State University Fullerton Menlo College College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Location Fullerton, CA Atherton, CA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 40,386 800
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #699
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu menlo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $48,260
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $48,260
Room & Board $16,702 $16,250
Avg Net Price $7,925 $29,151
Avg Grant Aid $9,194 $34,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,748 3,357
Admitted 32,527 2,072
Acceptance Rate 66.7% 61.7%
Enrolled % 16.2% 9.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 1000/1180
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (67%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Psychology (1%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Graduation Rate 50% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $53,900
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $21,062
Median Loan Payment $155 $217

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
% Men 42% 56%
% Women 58% 44%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 22% 29%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 40% 22%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 6% 14%
% Unknown Race 4% 9%

Students

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
% In-State 99% 49%
% Out-of-State 1% 22%

Campus

Cal State Fullerton Menlo
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than Menlo based on total student enrollment (40,386 students vs. 800 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Menlo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or Menlo?

  • Menlo College is 740.5% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton for in-state tuition ($48,260.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 173.9% higher at Menlo than California State University Fullerton ($48,260.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than Menlo ($7,925 vs. $29,151)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 2.8% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($16,250 vs. $16,702)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Menlo College than California State University Fullerton (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 276.7% larger than aid received California State University Fullerton ($34,632 vs. $9,194)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Menlo Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or Menlo? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Menlo or Cal State Fullerton .

  • The average SAT score at California State University Fullerton (1024) is 6 points higher than at Menlo (1018)
  • Incoming Cal State Fullerton students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Menlo (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Menlo (3.3)
  • Cal State Fullerton has a higher acceptance rate (66.7%) than Menlo (61.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. Menlo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton or Menlo? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Menlo and Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton is higher than Menlo College (50% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Menlo College earn on average $4,900 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $49,000)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $6,062 lower median federal student loan debt than Menlo graduates. ($15,000 vs. $21,062)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Menlo graduates. ($155 vs. $217)
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/