Cal State LA vs. CMA

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Los Angeles is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California State University Maritime Academy is in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Los Angeles 21:1; California State University Maritime Academy 11:1.

Cal State LA vs. CMA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA or CMA? 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 Los Angeles than CMA ($4,460 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 26.2% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($14,536 vs. $19,696).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 38.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $2,784 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at CMA than at California State University Los Angeles (about $2,784 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Maritime Academy (94% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 25.2% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($13,824 vs. $11,038).

Cal State LA vs. CMA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA or CMA? 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 CMA and Cal State LA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Test-free; CMA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; CMA Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CMA students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 20.7% at CMA.

Cal State LA vs. CMA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA and CMA? 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 Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $43,600 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $12,606 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($12,920 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($133 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 57%)

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.