CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State Fullerton

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, CA with California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fullerton is larger than CSU Stanislaus based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 9,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State University Fullerton is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Stanislaus 18:1; California State University Fullerton 26:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State Fullerton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus or Cal State Fullerton? 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 Fullerton than CSU Stanislaus ($7,064 vs. $7,433).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 31.2% lower than at California State University Fullerton ($13,126 vs. $19,080).
• California State University Stanislaus is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $776 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at California State University Fullerton (about $776 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at California State University Fullerton (86% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Stanislaus students is 11.2% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($12,492 vs. $11,234).

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State Fullerton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus or Cal State Fullerton? 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 Cal State Fullerton and CSU Stanislaus.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; Cal State Fullerton - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at CSU Stanislaus (3.47).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cal State Fullerton (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State Fullerton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus and Cal State Fullerton? 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 Fullerton's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California State University Stanislaus's (49%).
• Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than CSU Stanislaus graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton and CSU Stanislaus graduates have the same median loan debt ($15,000 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, California State University Fullerton and CSU Stanislaus graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($155 vs. $155).
• More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Stanislaus students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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.