CSU vs. Oak Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with Oak Valley College in Rialto, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Oak Valley College based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 75 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Oak Valley College is in Rialto, California (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oak Valley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Oak Valley College 7:1.

CSU vs. Oak Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Oak Valley College? 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 Oak Valley College ($14,630 vs. $21,166).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oak Valley College are 33% lower than at California State University Chico ($11,054 vs. $16,500).
• Oak Valley College is 185.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $15,708 more per year; $24,180.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Oak Valley College than at California State University Chico (about $3,108 more per year; $24,180.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oak Valley College than at California State University Chico (100% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oak Valley College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($12,791 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. Oak Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or Oak Valley College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Oak Valley College and CSU.

• Oak Valley College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Chico 970/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Chico 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Oak Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.

CSU vs. Oak Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Oak Valley College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University Chico's six-year graduation rate is 59%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Oak Valley College.
• Graduates from California State University Chico have median earnings of about $52,400 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Oak Valley College.

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.