Cal State LA vs. CDU

Should I go to California State University Los Angeles or Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State LA or CDU 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 Los Angeles vs. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science comparison
California State University Los Angeles Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science College 3 College 4
California State University Los Angeles
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Overview

Cal State LA CDU
Location Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 26,460 777
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #947
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calstatela.edu cdrewu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State LA CDU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $14,424
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $14,424
Room & Board $17,998 $17,782
Avg Net Price $5,801 $27,637
Avg Grant Aid $10,907 $11,419
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 73%

Admission

Cal State LA CDU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,939 834
Admitted 29,507 671
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 80.5%Open
Enrolled % 13.2% 2.1%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.26
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 870/1060
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 19, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Cal State LA CDU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Health Professions (100%)

Outcomes

Cal State LA CDU
Graduation Rate 36% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,900 $70,900
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,920 $21,319
Median Loan Payment $133 $220

Diversity

Cal State LA CDU
% Men 41% 28%
% Women 59% 72%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 7% 9%
% Black 4% 39%
% Hispanic 63% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 25%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Cal State LA CDU
% In-State 99% 57%
% Out-of-State 0% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Los Angeles is larger than than CDU based on total student enrollment (26,460 students vs. 777 students)

Cal State LA vs. CDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA or CDU?

  • Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is 151.2% more expensive to attend than Cal State LA for in-state tuition ($14,424.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.2% higher at Cal State LA than Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ($17,622.00 vs. $14,424.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Los Angeles than CDU ($5,801 vs. $27,637)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science are 1.2% lower than costs at California State University Los Angeles ($17,782 vs. $17,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science (91% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science students is 4.7% larger than aid received California State University Los Angeles ($11,419 vs. $10,907)

Cal State LA vs. CDU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Cal State LA students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CDU (3.26)
  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than CDU (80.5%)

Cal State LA vs. CDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State LA or CDU? 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 CDU and Cal State LA.

  • Graduates from Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science earn on average $24,000 more per year than Cal State LA graduates after ten years. ($70,900 vs. $46,900)
  • California State University Los Angeles students graduate with a $8,399 lower median federal student loan debt than CDU graduates. ($12,920 vs. $21,319)
  • Cal State LA graduates are paying $87 less per month on federal student loans than CDU graduates. ($133 vs. $220)
  • More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CDU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 56%)

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