CSU vs. FIDM LA

Deciding between California State University Chico and FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising? 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
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • FIDM LA Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • FIDM LA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • FIDM LA 564
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • FIDM LA Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • FIDM LA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • FIDM LA -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • FIDM LA For-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • FIDM LA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • FIDM LA $35,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • FIDM LA $35,000
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • FIDM LA $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • FIDM LA $39,494
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • FIDM LA $13,834
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • FIDM LA 78%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • FIDM LA -
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • FIDM LA -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • FIDM LA
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • FIDM LA
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • FIDM LA
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • FIDM LA
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • FIDM LA -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • FIDM LA -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • FIDM LA Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • FIDM LA
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • FIDM LA
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • FIDM LA
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • FIDM LA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • FIDM LA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • FIDM LA 135:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • FIDM LA
    • Visual and Performing Arts (54%)
    • Business (39%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • FIDM LA 100%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • FIDM LA $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • FIDM LA 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • FIDM LA $13,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • FIDM LA $134

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 35%
  • FIDM LA 13%
  • % Women
  • CSU 65%
  • FIDM LA 87%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • FIDM LA Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • FIDM LA No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • FIDM LA 33%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • FIDM LA 11%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • FIDM LA 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • FIDM LA 22%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • FIDM LA 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • FIDM LA 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • FIDM LA 3%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • FIDM LA 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • FIDM LA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • FIDM LA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • FIDM LA 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1.

CSU vs. FIDM LA Cost Comparison

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

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than FIDM LA ($14,630 vs. $39,494).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 25.3% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($16,500 vs. $22,086).
  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is 313.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $26,528 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.1% higher at FIDM LA than at California State University Chico (about $13,928 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $21,072.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising than at California State University Chico (78% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students is 20.2% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($13,834 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. FIDM LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or FIDM LA? 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 FIDM LA and CSU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.

CSU vs. FIDM LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and FIDM LA? 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).

  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($13,000 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($134 vs. $175).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 61%)

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.