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CMU Sacramento State San Francisco State GVSU Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno Oakland WSU| California State University Chico | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | WMU | ||
| Location | Chico, CA | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,183 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #659 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuchico.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,212 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,517 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,162 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 93% |
Admission |
CSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,417 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 20,347 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.9% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1170 | 990/1220 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2023 |
Academics |
CSU | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,400 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $275 |
Diversity |
CSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 46% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 29% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
CSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 19% | ||
Campus |
CSU | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Michigan University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 14,183 students)
CSU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 152.9% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at WMU than California State University Chico ($18,154.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than WMU ($15,517 vs. $20,030)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 37% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($11,102 vs. $15,212)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than California State University Chico (93% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 34.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($9,162 vs. $6,813)
CSU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 27 points higher than at CSU (1003)
- Incoming CSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CSU (3.37)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than WMU (84.6%)
CSU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or WMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WMU and CSU.
- The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Western Michigan University (59% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $3,500 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $48,900)
- California State University Chico students graduate with a $9,633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $26,633)
- CSU graduates are paying $100 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($175 vs. $275)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/