Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State East Bay

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA with California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fullerton is larger than Cal State East Bay based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 12,326 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University East Bay is in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University East Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fullerton 26:1; California State University East Bay 22:1.

Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State East Bay Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or Cal State East Bay? 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 Fullerton than Cal State East Bay ($7,064 vs. $9,850).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University East Bay are 6.5% lower than at California State University Fullerton ($17,831 vs. $19,080).
• California State University East Bay is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $113 more per year; $7,583.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Cal State East Bay than at California State University Fullerton (about $113 more per year; $20,183.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at California State University Fullerton (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 10.1% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($12,369 vs. $11,234).

Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State East Bay Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or Cal State East Bay? 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 Cal State East Bay and Cal State Fullerton.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Fullerton - Test-free; Cal State East Bay - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• Cal State East Bay has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Cal State Fullerton (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 6.9% at Cal State East Bay.

Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State East Bay Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Fullerton and Cal State East Bay? 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).

• California State University Fullerton's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California State University East Bay's (43%).
• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $1,332 lower median loan debt than Cal State East Bay graduates ($15,000 vs. $16,332).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State East Bay graduates ($155 vs. $168).
• More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State East Bay students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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.