CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State LA

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Los Angeles is larger than CSU Stanislaus based on total student enrollment (23,163 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 Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Stanislaus 18:1; California State University Los Angeles 21:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus or Cal State LA? 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 CSU Stanislaus ($4,460 vs. $7,433).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 33.4% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($13,126 vs. $19,696).
• California State University Stanislaus is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $1,086 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at California State University Los Angeles (about $1,086 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Stanislaus (94% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 10.7% larger than aid received by California State University Stanislaus students ($13,824 vs. $12,492).

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State LA Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus and Cal State LA? 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 Stanislaus's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than CSU Stanislaus graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $2,080 lower median loan debt than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($12,920 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($133 vs. $155).
• More CSU Stanislaus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.