CSU Stanislaus vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Stanislaus is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 5,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); Dalton State College is in Dalton, GA (Small City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Stanislaus 18:1; Dalton State College 21:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than CSU Stanislaus ($5,625 vs. $7,433).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 20.6% lower than at California State University Stanislaus ($10,419 vs. $13,126).
• California State University Stanislaus is 147.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $4,910 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $3,336.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.6% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at Dalton State College (about $10,190 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at California State University Stanislaus (92% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Stanislaus students is 87.7% larger than aid received by Dalton State College students ($12,492 vs. $6,654).

CSU Stanislaus vs. DSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus or DSC? 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 DSC and CSU Stanislaus.

• Dalton State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at DSC (3.1).

CSU Stanislaus vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus and DSC? 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 Dalton State College's (16%).
• Graduates from California State University Stanislaus earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dalton State College graduates have a $113 lower median loan debt than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($14,887 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, DSC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($153 vs. $155).
• More CSU Stanislaus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 42%)

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.