Cal State Fullerton vs Southern California Institute of Technology
California State University-Fullerton (CSUF) and Southern California Institute of Technology (Caltech) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education in California, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. While CSUF, a public university, boasts an acceptance rate of 52% and a diverse student body of over 40,000 undergraduates, Caltech, a private research university, is highly selective with an acceptance rate of just 8% and a much smaller student population of around 2,300 undergraduates. Both institutions excel in different fields, with CSUF offering a wide range of undergraduate programs in areas like business, education, and health sciences, while Caltech specializes in science, engineering, and technology. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover more about these two esteemed institutions, including their graduation rates, popular majors, and student demographics, and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals.
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![]() California State University-Fullerton |
![]() Southern California Institute of Technology |
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Overview |
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Location | Fullerton, California | Anaheim, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (For Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Non Traditional |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 81.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 59.4% | 59.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 45,140 | 166 |
Total number of admissions given out | 26,827 | 99 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,219 | 90 |
Yield rate | 15.7% | 90.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,282
Out of state:
$42,162
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$40,348 |
Average net price | $4,939 | $27,298 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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$16,590 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$12,918
Meal plan:
$4,374
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $9,215 |
94.0%
Average amount $7,413 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
17.0%
Average amount $4,700 |
76.0%
Average amount $10,279 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $11,380 |
4.0%
Average amount $10,397 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
35,600
Men 41.2% Women 58.8% |
521
Men 95.8% Women 4.2% |
Graduate students |
5,138
Men 36.8% Women 63.2% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 0.9% | N/A |
International students | 4.9% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,045 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Hawaii Illinois Arizona | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 25:1 | 30:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 71.5% | 78.5% |
Dropout rate | 21.3% | 21.0% |
Transferred out | 1.8% | 0.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
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