CIIS vs. CSU

Deciding between California Institute of Integral Studies and California State University Chico? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Chico

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CIIS San Francisco, CA
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • Setting
  • CIIS Large City
  • CSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CIIS 1,874
  • CSU 15,257
  • Type
  • CIIS Private 4 Year
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CIIS
  • CSU #675
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CIIS -
  • CSU -
  • Status
  • CIIS Non-profit
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CIIS
  • CSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CIIS $0
  • CSU $8,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CIIS $0
  • CSU $21,072
  • Room & Board
  • CIIS $0
  • CSU $16,500
  • Average Net Price
  • CIIS -
  • CSU $14,630
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CIIS $0
  • CSU $11,509
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CIIS 0%
  • CSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 23,322
  • Admitted
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 21,623
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CIIS
  • CSU 92.7%
  • Enrolled
  • CIIS
  • CSU 10.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CIIS
  • CSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • CIIS
  • CSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CIIS -
  • CSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CIIS Unavailable
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CIIS
  • CSU
  • ACT Range
  • CIIS
  • CSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • CIIS
  • CSU 970/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CIIS Not reported
  • CSU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CIIS
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CIIS 15:1
  • CSU 23:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CIIS
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CIIS N/A
  • CSU $52,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CIIS 45%
  • CSU 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CIIS $18,750
  • CSU $17,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CIIS $193
  • CSU $175

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CIIS 19%
  • CSU 43%
  • % Women
  • CIIS 81%
  • CSU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CIIS High
  • CSU High
  • HBCU
  • CIIS No
  • CSU No
  • % White
  • CIIS 47%
  • CSU 46%
  • % Asian
  • CIIS 5%
  • CSU 6%
  • % Black
  • CIIS 9%
  • CSU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • CIIS 19%
  • CSU 29%
  • % Native American
  • CIIS 1%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CIIS 1%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CIIS 10%
  • CSU 5%
  • % International
  • CIIS 4%
  • CSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CIIS 3%
  • CSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CIIS -
  • CSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CIIS No
  • CSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CIIS
  • CSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • CIIS No
  • CSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CIIS Yes
  • CSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CIIS
  • CSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA with California State University Chico in Chico, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than CIIS based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 1,874 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of Integral Studies is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); California State University Chico is in Chico, CA (Small City setting).
  • California Institute of Integral Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of Integral Studies 15:1; California State University Chico 23:1.

CIIS vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CIIS or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between California State University Chico and CIIS ($8,472.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between CSU and California Institute of Integral Studies ($21,072.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at California Institute of Integral Studies (66% vs. 0%).

CIIS vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CIIS or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and CIIS.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Chico 970/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Chico 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CIIS - Not reported; CSU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.

CIIS vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CIIS and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than CIIS graduates ($17,000 vs. $18,750).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CIIS graduates ($175 vs. $193).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CIIS students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.