CSU vs. Northwest

Deciding between California State University Chico and Northwest Missouri State University? 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
Northwest Missouri State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Northwest based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 9,152 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

CSU vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Northwest? 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 Northwest ($14,630 vs. $16,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Missouri State University are 25.6% lower than at California State University Chico ($12,282 vs. $16,500).
  • Northwest Missouri State University is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $2,139 more per year; $10,611.00 vs. $8,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at CSU than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $3,748 more per year; $21,072.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than at California State University Chico (95% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 26.5% larger than aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students ($11,509 vs. $9,101).

CSU vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwest Missouri State University (1080) is 10 points higher than at CSU (1070).
  • Incoming CSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Northwest (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; Northwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; Northwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Northwest (86.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 22.2% at Northwest.

CSU vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Northwest? 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).

  • California State University Chico's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Northwest Missouri State University's (49%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($17,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($175 vs. $258).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)

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.