Cal State Fullerton vs. UNLV

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or University of Nevada Las Vegas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton or UNLV 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. University of Nevada Las Vegas comparison
California State University Fullerton University of Nevada Las Vegas College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton University of Nevada Las Vegas
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
Location Fullerton, CA Las Vegas, NV
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 41,962 31,094
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #786 #652
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu unlv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $8,354
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $25,310
Room & Board $18,348 $12,072
Avg Net Price $6,283 $11,388
Avg Grant Aid $10,445 $7,580
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 90%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,591 12,232
Admitted 42,149 11,774
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 96.3%
Enrolled % 16.8% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1180 980/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2025 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
Graduation Rate 50% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $19,018
Median Loan Payment $155 $196

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 7% 10%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 22% 35%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 40% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 9%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Cal State Fullerton UNLV
% In-State 99% 85%
% Out-of-State 1% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than UNLV based on total student enrollment (41,962 students vs. 31,094 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. UNLV Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Nevada Las Vegas is 45.5% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton for in-state tuition ($8,354.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.6% higher at UNLV than California State University Fullerton ($25,310.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than UNLV ($6,283 vs. $11,388)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 52% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($12,072 vs. $18,348)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Las Vegas than California State University Fullerton (90% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fullerton students is 37.8% larger than aid received University of Nevada Las Vegas ($10,445 vs. $7,580)

Cal State Fullerton vs. UNLV Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California State University Fullerton (1024) is 17 points higher than at UNLV (1007)
  • Incoming Cal State Fullerton students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at UNLV (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UNLV (3.4)
  • UNLV has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Cal State Fullerton (86.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton or UNLV? 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 UNLV and Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton is higher than University of Nevada Las Vegas (50% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn on average $1,400 more per year than UNLV graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $47,600)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $4,018 lower median federal student loan debt than UNLV graduates. ($15,000 vs. $19,018)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than UNLV graduates. ($155 vs. $196)
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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