CSUDH vs. Vanguard University of Southern California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Dominguez Hills is larger than Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (15,182 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); Vanguard University of Southern California is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanguard University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 27.1% lower than at California State University Dominguez Hills ($13,450 vs. $18,444).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108% higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $21,651 more per year; $41,700 vs. $20,049).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Dominguez Hills (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 113.9% larger than aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students ($29,847 vs. $13,951).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CSUDH and Vanguard University of Southern California.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Vanguard University of Southern California average a 3.31 high school GPA, 0.15 higher than at CSUDH (3.16).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $11,038 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($13,962 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($144 vs. $258).
• More Vanguard University of Southern California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 52%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.