Cal State LA vs. Menlo

Should I go to California State University Los Angeles or Menlo College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State LA or Menlo 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. Menlo College comparison
California State University Los Angeles Menlo College College 3 College 4
California State University Los Angeles
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Overview

Cal State LA Menlo
Location Los Angeles, CA Atherton, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 26,460 800
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #947
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calstatela.edu menlo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State LA Menlo
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $48,260
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $48,260
Room & Board $17,998 $16,250
Avg Net Price $5,801 $29,151
Avg Grant Aid $10,907 $34,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Cal State LA Menlo
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,939 3,357
Admitted 29,507 2,072
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 61.7%
Enrolled % 13.2% 9.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
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 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Cal State LA Menlo
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (67%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Psychology (1%)

Outcomes

Cal State LA Menlo
Graduation Rate 36% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,900 $53,900
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,920 $21,062
Median Loan Payment $133 $217

Diversity

Cal State LA Menlo
% Men 41% 56%
% Women 59% 44%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 7% 29%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 63% 22%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 6% 14%
% Unknown Race 3% 9%

Students

Cal State LA Menlo
% In-State 99% 49%
% Out-of-State 0% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Los Angeles is larger than than Menlo based on total student enrollment (26,460 students vs. 800 students)

Cal State LA vs. Menlo Cost Comparison

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

  • Menlo College is 740.5% more expensive to attend than Cal State LA for in-state tuition ($48,260.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 173.9% higher at Menlo than California State University Los Angeles ($48,260.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Los Angeles than Menlo ($5,801 vs. $29,151)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 10.8% lower than costs at California State University Los Angeles ($16,250 vs. $17,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Menlo College than California State University Los Angeles (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 217.5% larger than aid received California State University Los Angeles ($34,632 vs. $10,907)

Cal State LA vs. Menlo Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Menlo College (1018) is 144 points higher than at Cal State LA (874)
  • Incoming Menlo students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Cal State LA (18)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State LA students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Menlo (3.3)
  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Menlo (61.7%)

Cal State LA vs. Menlo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cal State LA is higher than Menlo College (36% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Menlo College earn on average $7,000 more per year than Cal State LA graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $46,900)
  • California State University Los Angeles students graduate with a $8,142 lower median federal student loan debt than Menlo graduates. ($12,920 vs. $21,062)
  • Cal State LA graduates are paying $84 less per month on federal student loans than Menlo graduates. ($133 vs. $217)
  • More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 55%)

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