Cal State Fullerton vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA with University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fullerton is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
• California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fullerton 26:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

Cal State Fullerton vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or UCSC? 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 Fullerton than UCSC ($7,064 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 4.4% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($19,080 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 114.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $8,535 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 150.1% higher at UCSC than at California State University Fullerton (about $30,135 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fullerton than at University of California Santa Cruz (78% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 102.7% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($22,774 vs. $11,234).

Cal State Fullerton vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or UCSC? 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 UCSC and Cal State Fullerton.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 170 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1090).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 20 at Cal State Fullerton).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 1000/1180; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 18/23; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Fullerton - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• Cal State Fullerton has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

Cal State Fullerton vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Fullerton and UCSC? 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).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State University Fullerton's (50%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $4,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($155 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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.