CSU Channel Islands vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 5,592 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Channel Islands is located in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Channel Islands 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Channel Islands are 27.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,490 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.2% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Channel Islands (about $30,064 more per year; $49,823 vs. $19,759).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University Channel Islands (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 117.8% larger than aid received by California State University Channel Islands students ($27,292 vs. $12,528).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CSU Channel Islands and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.33 higher than at CSU Channel Islands (3.22).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Channel Islands graduates have a $4,716 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,183 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, CSU Channel Islands graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($156 vs. $205).
• More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.