Cal State LA vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Los Angeles is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Los Angeles 21:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

Cal State LA vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($4,460 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 10.6% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($17,600 vs. $19,696).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 707.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $50,643 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 192.5% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Los Angeles (about $38,043 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Los Angeles (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 206.8% larger than aid received by California State University Los Angeles students ($42,407 vs. $13,824).

Cal State LA vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and Cal State LA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 190 points higher than at Cal State LA (970).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 17 at Cal State LA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

Cal State LA vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $19,900 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $12,080 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($12,920 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($133 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.