Cal State LA vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Cal State LA vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles than USD ($4,460 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Los Angeles are 1.1% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,696 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 730.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $52,326 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 201% higher at USD than at California State University Los Angeles (about $39,726 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at University of San Diego (94% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 196.3% larger than aid received by California State University Los Angeles students ($40,965 vs. $13,824).

Cal State LA vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA 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 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; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 12.4% at USD.

Cal State LA vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $23,300 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $9,984 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($12,920 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($133 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.