Cal U of Pa vs Chico State

California University of Pennsylvania and California State University-Chico, both public universities located in their respective states, offer distinct educational experiences. Cal U, nestled in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. CSU-Chico, situated in the vibrant city of Chico, California, attracts a diverse student body, with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Asian students. While Cal U excels in fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions, CSU-Chico shines in Agriculture, Biological Sciences, and Engineering. Both universities offer competitive graduation rates, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their future careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California State University-Chico logo

California State University-Chico

California University of Pennsylvania logo

California University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Chico, California California, Pennsylvania
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Small
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 81.0% 67.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.5% 97.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 940 - 1150
ACT range N/A 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 19,990 3,933
Total number of admissions given out 17,086 3,818
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,929 815
Yield rate 11.3% 21.3%
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: $23,984

Out of state: $35,864
In state: $27,904

Out of state: $32,522
Average net price $13,749 $20,317
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $7,716

Out of state: $11,574
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,609

Meal plan: $3,881
Room/dormitory: $6,822

Meal plan: $3,900
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

63.0%
Average amount $8,691
92.0%
Average amount $6,250
Students receiving federal student loan 29.0%
Average amount $4,637
62.0%
Average amount $4,982
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $11,369
8.0%
Average amount $9,920

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 14,462
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
4,463
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
Graduate students 1,240
Men 33.6% Women 66.4%
2,046
Men 30.4% Women 69.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 1.3% 13.0%
International students 2.9% 1.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,323 2,075
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Oregon Washington Arizona Colorado Pennsylvania Ohio New York Maryland New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 65.4% 48.4%
Dropout rate 27.4% 23.8%
Transferred out 4.8% 26.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,107
  • Year 2: $95,797
  • Year 3: $96,478
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,190
  • Year 2: $83,091
  • Year 3: $93,961
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,808
  • Year 2: $74,241
  • Year 3: $91,563
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,244
  • Year 2: $70,176
  • Year 3: $79,499
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,761
  • Year 2: $69,617
  • Year 3: $79,308
Engineering, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,803
  • Year 2: $66,355
  • Year 3: $76,389
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,879
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $74,258
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,880
  • Year 2: $66,222
  • Year 3: $74,116
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,298
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $69,321
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,812
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $68,680
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,275
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $81,087
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,369
  • Year 2: $63,402
  • Year 3: $67,338
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,734
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $63,169
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,118
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $57,285
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,198
  • Year 2: $48,139
  • Year 3: $55,763
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,913
  • Year 2: $52,684
  • Year 3: $54,844
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $51,531
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,279
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $50,258
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,266
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,620
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,906
  • Year 2: $45,589
  • Year 3: $48,321

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