CSU Fresno vs Cal State LA

California State University-Fresno and California State University-Los Angeles, both esteemed institutions within the California State University system, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. While they share the common goal of providing high-quality education, they differ in several key aspects. CSU-Fresno boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. CSU-LA, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong commitment to student success. Both universities offer a diverse range of popular majors, catering to various academic interests. CSU-Fresno excels in agriculture and related sciences, while CSU-LA shines in business and communication programs. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including student body demographics, tuition fees, and additional factors that may influence your decision. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California State University-Fresno logo

California State University-Fresno

California State University-Los Angeles logo

California State University-Los Angeles

Overview

Location Fresno, California Los Angeles, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 77.0% 73.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.3% 90.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 15,231 29,223
Total number of admissions given out 14,816 26,459
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,451 4,095
Yield rate 23.3% 15.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,085

Out of state: $39,965
In state: $32,619

Out of state: $44,499
Average net price $6,336 $2,695
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,433

Meal plan: $4,560
Room/dormitory: $9,712

Meal plan: $4,500
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

82.0%
Average amount $10,314
91.0%
Average amount $10,909
Students receiving federal student loan 12.0%
Average amount $4,620
11.0%
Average amount $4,458
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $8,114
0.0%
Average amount $8,862

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 22,187
Men 39.9% Women 60.1%
23,536
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
Graduate students 2,860
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
3,977
Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 1.1% 1.1%
International students 4.8% 5.9%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,139 2,565
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Arizona Washington Colorado Hawaii California Illinois Minnesota Hawaii Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 25:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.6% 51.9%
Dropout rate 36.1% 39.4%
Transferred out 1.6% 3.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $134,798
  • Year 2: $152,201
  • Year 3: $138,860
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,496
  • Year 2: $102,409
  • Year 3: $120,286
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,427
  • Year 2: $101,964
  • Year 3: $107,577
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,988
  • Year 2: $90,049
  • Year 3: $93,007
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,843
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $92,510
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,004
  • Year 2: $85,159
  • Year 3: $89,931
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,885
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $84,934
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,380
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $83,440
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $81,726
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,361
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $79,715
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,257
  • Year 2: $103,746
  • Year 3: $117,496
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,475
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $103,691
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,250
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $99,815
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,684
  • Year 2: $87,548
  • Year 3: $93,771
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,852
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $83,310
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $82,904
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,004
  • Year 2: $74,367
  • Year 3: $80,425
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,165
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $77,214
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,370
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $72,371
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,775
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $71,643

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