California State University-Fresno vs. CSU Channel Islands

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fresno in Fresno, CA with California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Fresno is larger than CSU Channel Islands based on total student enrollment (24,427 students vs. 5,592 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Channel Islands is in Camarillo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Channel Islands is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; California State University Channel Islands 16:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 22.8% lower than at California State University Channel Islands ($11,960 vs. $15,490).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at California State University-Fresno than at California State University Channel Islands (about $191 more per year; $19,950 vs. $19,759).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at California State University Channel Islands (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 1.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($12,528 vs. $12,326).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State University-Fresno and CSU Channel Islands.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; CSU Channel Islands Jul 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at CSU Channel Islands average a 3.22 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 6.2% at CSU Channel Islands.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $183 lower median loan debt than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,183).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Channel Islands graduates ($155 vs. $156).
• More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 63%).

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