SCSU vs. CSU Channel Islands

Should I go to Southern Connecticut State University or California State University Channel Islands? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SCSU or CSU Channel Islands is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Southern Connecticut State University vs. California State University Channel Islands comparison
Southern Connecticut State University California State University Channel Islands College 3 College 4
Southern Connecticut State University California State University Channel Islands
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Overview

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Location New Haven, CT Camarillo, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 8,889 6,128
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southernct.edu csuci.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Tuition (In State) $6,470 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $19,358 $17,622
Room & Board $14,076 $16,300
Avg Net Price $18,712 $13,540
Avg Grant Aid $7,308 $9,412
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 72%

Admission

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,316 10,420
Admitted 6,896 9,342
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 89.7%
Enrolled % 16% 6.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Graduation Rate 44% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $15,183
Median Loan Payment $240 $156

Diversity

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
% Men 35% 34%
% Women 65% 66%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 32%
% Black 18% 2%
% Hispanic 10% 49%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 10% 6%

Students

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
% In-State 92% 99%
% Out-of-State 7% 1%

Campus

 SCSU CSU Channel Islands
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Connecticut State University is larger than than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 6,128 students)

SCSU vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCSU or CSU Channel Islands?

  • Southern Connecticut State University is 12.7% more expensive to attend than CSU Channel Islands for in-state tuition ($6,470.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at SCSU than California State University Channel Islands ($19,358.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Channel Islands than SCSU ($13,540 vs. $18,712)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Connecticut State University are 15.8% lower than costs at California State University Channel Islands ($14,076 vs. $16,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Connecticut State University than California State University Channel Islands (81% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 28.8% larger than aid received Southern Connecticut State University ($9,412 vs. $7,308)

SCSU vs. CSU Channel Islands Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCSU or CSU Channel Islands? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU Channel Islands or SCSU .

  • Accepted freshman CSU Channel Islands students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at SCSU (3.2)
  • CSU Channel Islands has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than SCSU (82.9%)

SCSU vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SCSU or CSU Channel Islands? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSU Channel Islands and SCSU.

  • The graduation rate at CSU Channel Islands is higher than Southern Connecticut State University (54% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from California State University Channel Islands earn on average $300 more per year than SCSU graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $45,800)
  • California State University Channel Islands students graduate with a $8,067 lower median federal student loan debt than SCSU graduates. ($15,183 vs. $23,250)
  • CSU Channel Islands graduates are paying $84 less per month on federal student loans than SCSU graduates. ($156 vs. $240)
  • More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/