Cal State Fullerton vs. GVSU

Should I go to California State University Fullerton or Grand Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Fullerton or GVSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Fullerton vs. Grand Valley State University comparison
California State University Fullerton Grand Valley State University College 3 College 4
California State University Fullerton Grand Valley State University
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Overview

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
Location Fullerton, CA Allendale, MI
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 41,962 22,269
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #786 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fullerton.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $14,628
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $20,820
Room & Board $18,348 $11,142
Avg Net Price $6,283 $17,995
Avg Grant Aid $10,445 $8,925
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 86%

Admission

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 48,591 24,297
Admitted 42,149 23,008
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 94.7%
Enrolled % 16.8% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 21/28
SAT Range 1000/1180 940/1190
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 May 1, 2025

Academics

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
Graduation Rate 50% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $155 $258

Diversity

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 7% 10%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 22% 83%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 40% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
% In-State 99% 91%
% Out-of-State 1% 8%

Campus

Cal State Fullerton GVSU
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

  • California State University Fullerton is larger than than GVSU based on total student enrollment (41,962 students vs. 22,269 students)

Cal State Fullerton vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or GVSU?

  • Grand Valley State University is 154.8% more expensive to attend than Cal State Fullerton for in-state tuition ($14,628.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.1% higher at GVSU than California State University Fullerton ($20,820.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than GVSU ($6,283 vs. $17,995)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 64.7% lower than costs at California State University Fullerton ($11,142 vs. $18,348)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Valley State University than California State University Fullerton (86% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fullerton students is 17% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($10,445 vs. $8,925)

Cal State Fullerton vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or Cal State Fullerton .

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 66 points higher than at Cal State Fullerton (1024)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cal State Fullerton (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at GVSU (3.65)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than Cal State Fullerton (86.7%)

Cal State Fullerton vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Fullerton or GVSU? 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 GVSU and Cal State Fullerton.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than California State University Fullerton (63% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn on average $4,400 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,600)
  • California State University Fullerton students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($15,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Cal State Fullerton graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($155 vs. $258)
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/