GCU vs. Cal State LA

Should I go to Grand Canyon University or California State University Los Angeles? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCU or Cal State LA 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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Grand Canyon University vs. California State University Los Angeles comparison
Grand Canyon University California State University Los Angeles College 3 College 4
Grand Canyon University California State University Los Angeles
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Overview

 GCU Cal State LA
Location Phoenix, AZ Los Angeles, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 101,816 26,460
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #947
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status For-profit Non-profit
Website gcu.edu calstatela.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GCU Cal State LA
Tuition (In State) $16,500 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $16,500 $17,622
Room & Board $7,800 $17,998
Avg Net Price $21,939 $5,801
Avg Grant Aid $9,662 $10,907
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

 GCU Cal State LA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,304 33,939
Admitted 22,818 29,507
Acceptance Rate 77.9% 86.9%
Enrolled % 37% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.31
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 870/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 19, 2024

Academics

 GCU Cal State LA
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (56%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (2%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

 GCU Cal State LA
Graduation Rate 31% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $46,900
Making Student Loan Payments 32% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $12,920
Median Loan Payment $193 $133

Diversity

 GCU Cal State LA
% Men 27% 41%
% Women 73% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 48% 7%
% Black 18% 4%
% Hispanic 19% 63%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

 GCU Cal State LA
% In-State 25% 99%
% Out-of-State 74% 0%

Campus

 GCU Cal State LA
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Canyon University is larger than than Cal State LA based on total student enrollment (101,816 students vs. 26,460 students)

GCU vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCU or Cal State LA?

  • Grand Canyon University is 187.4% more expensive to attend than Cal State LA for in-state tuition ($16,500.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at Cal State LA than Grand Canyon University ($17,622.00 vs. $16,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Los Angeles than GCU ($5,801 vs. $21,939)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Canyon University are 130.7% lower than costs at California State University Los Angeles ($7,800 vs. $17,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Canyon University than California State University Los Angeles (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 12.9% larger than aid received Grand Canyon University ($10,907 vs. $9,662)

GCU vs. Cal State LA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than GCU (77.9%)

GCU vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCU or Cal State LA? 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 Cal State LA and GCU.

  • The graduation rate at Cal State LA is higher than Grand Canyon University (36% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Grand Canyon University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Cal State LA graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $46,900)
  • California State University Los Angeles students graduate with a $5,830 lower median federal student loan debt than GCU graduates. ($12,920 vs. $18,750)
  • Cal State LA graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than GCU graduates. ($133 vs. $193)
  • More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 32%)

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