The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) vs California State University-San Bernardino (CSUSB)

Envision yourself pursuing higher education in either the vibrant city of El Paso, Texas, or the sunny San Bernardino, California. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and California State University-San Bernardino (CSUSB) stand as two distinct institutions, each offering unique opportunities for academic exploration and personal growth. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations, cultural preferences, and financial considerations. Whether you seek a diverse student body, a focus on STEM fields, or a strong emphasis on undergraduate research, this side-by-side analysis will guide you toward the institution that best suits your individual needs and aspirations.
California State University-San Bernardino logo

California State University-San Bernardino

The University of Texas at El Paso logo

The University of Texas at El Paso

Overview

Location San Bernardino, California El Paso, Texas
Campus setting City: Midsize 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 78.0% 70.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.0% 100.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
$45
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 13,057 10,153
Total number of admissions given out 11,878 10,151
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,001 3,076
Yield rate 16.8% 30.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,409

Out of state: $40,289
In state: $27,800

Out of state: $43,208
Average net price $3,254 $10,538
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $7,704

Out of state: $23,112
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,644

Meal plan: $3,000
$9,496
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

87.0%
Average amount $10,157
82.0%
Average amount $9,029
Students receiving federal student loan 12.0%
Average amount $4,553
21.0%
Average amount $4,380
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $8,949
0.0%
Average amount $8,605

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 16,858
Men 37.6% Women 62.4%
20,065
Men 44.1% Women 55.9%
Graduate students 2,656
Men 32.9% Women 67.1%
3,938
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 0.6% 2.1%
International students 5.4% 5.5%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,482 978
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Arizona Hawaii Minnesota Texas New Mexico California Florida Arizona

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 25:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 57.0% 45.4%
Dropout rate 36.1% 22.7%
Transferred out 1.2% 20.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,025
  • Year 2: $88,739
  • Year 3: $91,007
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,100
  • Year 2: $86,356
  • Year 3: $89,781
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,052
  • Year 2: $72,214
  • Year 3: $79,205
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,968
  • Year 2: $65,066
  • Year 3: $71,975
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,962
  • Year 2: $64,358
  • Year 3: $68,388
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,267
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $66,764
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,496
  • Year 2: $52,524
  • Year 3: $66,429
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,356
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $64,336
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,681
  • Year 2: $58,503
  • Year 3: $63,478
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,337
  • Year 2: $46,966
  • Year 3: $58,366
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,721
  • Year 2: $100,522
  • Year 3: $105,629
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,463
  • Year 2: $76,802
  • Year 3: $78,144
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,395
  • Year 2: $65,332
  • Year 3: $74,084
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,748
  • Year 2: $58,943
  • Year 3: $72,926
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,729
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $72,486
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,587
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $71,523
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,194
  • Year 2: $65,821
  • Year 3: $69,171
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,525
  • Year 2: $52,420
  • Year 3: $67,643
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,760
  • Year 2: $62,710
  • Year 3: $64,380
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,832
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: $63,912