CSU vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

CSU vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($14,630 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 6.2% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($16,500 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 582.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $49,331 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 174.3% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Chico (about $36,731 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Chico (100% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 268.5% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($42,407 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and CSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 90 points higher than at CSU (1070).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at CSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CSU (3.37).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

CSU vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $52,400), 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 Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($17,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($175 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 70%)

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.