Cal State Fullerton vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Fullerton is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fullerton 26:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Cal State Fullerton vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or USD? 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 USD ($7,064 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 4.2% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,080 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 696.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $52,016 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 196.4% higher at USD than at California State University Fullerton (about $39,416 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California State University Fullerton (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 264.7% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($40,965 vs. $11,234).

Cal State Fullerton vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Fullerton - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Cal State Fullerton (3.77).
• Cal State Fullerton has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 12.4% at USD.

Cal State Fullerton vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Fullerton and USD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Fullerton's (50%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $7,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($155 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.