UC vs. CSU: How Do the Two University Systems Compare?

Updated on August 1, 2023

Edited by

California’s two public university systems include over 30 schools. But how do the UC schools compare to the CSU schools? Find out in this guide.

Altogether, UC and CSU schools enroll over 660,000 undergraduates.
UC schools provide a more traditional atmosphere with a lower acceptance rate.
CSU schools enroll a more diverse student body and charge lower tuition rates.
Both university systems offer benefits and drawbacks.

California is home to two extremely popular public university systems: The University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU). Together, these systems enroll more than 660,000 undergraduates, attracting students from all over the world.

Despite their shared renown, these two school systems differ in terms of factors like student experience, cost, and admission requirements. For example, whereas the UC system appears often on best colleges rankings lists, the CSU schools are considered far more affordable.

Learn more about how the UC schools and CSU schools compare, and get tips on which system may be a better fit for you.

What Are the UC Schools?

Founded in 1868, the University of California system predates the California State University system by nearly a century. The UC system comprises 10 schools, nine of which enroll undergraduates. The 10 UC schools include top-ranked institutions like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego.

Compared to the Cal State schools, the UC schools generally report lower acceptance rates, with UCLA and UC Berkeley accepting just 14% and 17%, respectively, of first-year applicants in fall 2020. Each year, UCLA alone receives over 100,000 applications.

More than 225,000 undergraduates enroll at all UC schools. Several factors attract students, including the system’s strong research programs, its Nobel Prize-winning faculty, and its world-class reputation.

List of UC Schools
School	Nickname(s)	Undergraduate Enrollment (Fall 2020)	Acceptance Rate (Fall 2020)
University of California, Berkeley	UC Berkeley; Berkeley; Cal; California	30,799	17%
University of California, Davis	UC Davis; UCD	31,162	46%
University of California, Irvine	UC Irvine; UCI	29,638	30%
University of California, Los Angeles	UCLA	31,636	14%
University of California, Merced	UC Merced	8,276	85%
University of California, Riverside	UC Riverside; UCR	22,693	66%
University of California, San Diego	UC San Diego; UCSD	31,842	37%
University of California, San Francisco*	UC San Francisco; UCSF	N/A	N/A
University of California, Santa Barbara	UC Santa Barbara; UCSB	23,196	37%
University of California, Santa Cruz	UC Santa Cruz; UCSC	17,207	65%

Source: NCES

*Enrolls only graduate students.

What Are the Cal State Schools?

The oldest CSU campus in San Jose predates UC Berkeley. In fact, San Jose State University is the oldest college in California.

The Cal State system as a whole, however, dates to 1960, when the state legislature passed a plan for California public colleges. Today, CSU includes 23 schools that enroll over 435,000 undergraduates.

Compared to UC schools, CSU schools maintain slightly smaller student bodies and report higher acceptance rates. While most UC campuses are based in California’s major cities, CSU campuses can be found in a mix of urban and rural areas.

The newest CSU campus in Channel Islands is one of the smallest public universities in California.

List of CSU Schools
School	Nickname(s)	Undergraduate Enrollment (Fall 2020)	Acceptance Rate (Fall 2020)
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	Cal Poly Pomona	27,912	65%
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo	Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly	21,456	38%
California State University, Bakersfield	CSU Bakersfield; CSUB	9,979	78%
California State University, Channel Islands	CSU Channel Islands; CSUCI	6,947	79%
California State University, Chico	Chico State	15,747	90%
California State University, Dominguez Hills	CSU Dominguez Hills; CSUDH	16,022	81%
California State University, East Bay	Cal State East Bay	13,141	73%
California State University, Fresno	Fresno State	22,704	90%
California State University, Fullerton	Cal State Fullerton; CSUF	36,975	68%
California State University, Long Beach	Cal State Long Beach; CSULB	34,216	42%
California State University, Los Angeles	Cal State LA	22,832	76%
California State University Maritime Academy	Cal Maritime	907	82%
California State University, Monterey Bay	CSU Monterey Bay; CSUMB	6,509	86%
California State University, Northridge	CSUN	34,916	66%
California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento State; Sac State	29,296	83%
California State University, San Bernardino	Cal State San Bernardino; CSUSB	17,250	78%
California State University, San Marcos	CSU San Marcos; CSUSM	15,040	79%
California State University, Stanislaus	Stanislaus State; Stan State	9,903	89%
Humboldt State University	Humboldt State	6,008	85%
San Diego State University	San Diego State; SDSU	31,491	37%
San Francisco State University	San Francisco State; SF State	24,024	84%
San Jose State University	San Jose State; SJSU	27,701	67%
Sonoma State University	Sonoma State; SSU	7,255	89%

Source: NCES

UC vs. CSU: 7 Key Differences

What’s the difference between schools in the University of California system and schools in the California State University system? This section breaks down seven key differences when comparing UC vs. CSU schools.

1. Enrollment

Overall, the CSU system enrolls nearly twice as many undergraduates as the UC system does. That said, the average UC campus has more undergraduates.

The nine undergraduate-enrolling UC campuses average 25,000 students each, while the average CSU campus has around 19,000 undergraduates. UC Davis, UC San Diego, and San Diego State all enroll around 31,000 undergraduates.

2. Student Demographics

While both university systems report diverse student bodies, CSU schools tend to enroll more historically marginalized students.

In 2018, nearly half of CSU students were Latino/a, compared with 29% of students at UC schools. White students made up around 21-22% of the student population at UC and Cal State schools, while Black students made up less than 5% in both systems.

3. Location

Most UC schools are located in California’s major metropolitan centers, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. In contrast, CSU campuses cover more geographically diverse regions, from urban to rural.

Whether students want an urban college experience or a college town experience, both Cal State and the UC system offer opportunities.

4. Selectivity

All in all, the UC schools report lower admission rates, with some standing as highly selective institutions. For example, UCLA accepts just 14% of applicants, and UC Berkeley accepts 17%. UC Santa Cruz, UC Merced, and UC Riverside are the only UC schools that accept more than 50% of applicants each year.

In contrast, the CSU schools report higher admission rates. The most selective, Cal Poly and San Diego State, accept 37-38% of applicants, while the least selective, Fresno State and Chico State, admit a whopping 90% of applicants.

5. Cost of Attendance

In general, the UC schools charge higher tuition rates than the CSU schools. And due to the higher cost of living in cities with UC campuses, students may also pay more in room and board.

California residents pay an estimated $13,000 per year in tuition to attend UC schools. CSU, meanwhile, charges just $5,700 in tuition per year.

At public colleges, out-of-state students pay higher rates. At UC campuses specifically, out-of-state students typically pay over $44,000 in tuition each year.

6. Academic Offerings

While both Cal State schools and UC schools offer a variety of academic majors, the Cal State system more strongly emphasizes technical and vocational programs.

At Cal Poly, for example, undergraduate fields of study include industrial technology and packaging, culinology, and viticulture.

7. Campus Experience

Students looking for a traditional college experience will likely find that at a UC campus. CSU schools predominantly enroll nontraditional and commuter students, lending them a less traditional campus feel.

The UC system is designed more so for residential students who require campus housing. In comparison, CSU students are more likely to live off campus and commute to classes.

Cal State vs. UC: Which Is Right for You?

So which should you choose: a University of California school or a California State University school?

The answer depends on your unique circumstances. Out-of-state students can count on higher acceptance rates and lower costs at CSU schools. California residents, meanwhile, may still need an impeccable GPA to gain admission to certain UC schools.

Be sure to consider factors such as cost, how competitive your application is, and whether you want to live on campus. You should also factor in the location of the school and majors offered.

Ultimately, many prospective California-based college students apply to both UC and Cal State schools. A campus visit after receiving an admission letter can help break the tie.

Frequently Asked Questions About UC vs. CSU Schools

UC schools tend to have a better academic reputation than Cal State schools. When it comes to college rankings, for example, UC schools top many lists. Institutions like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego rank among the best public universities in the country, while CSU schools tend to rank lower.

Nevertheless, the better system for you depends on your needs, goals, and perspective. When California designed its public university system, the UC schools were meant to emphasize research and theoretical subjects. In contrast, Cal State schools were meant to train learners in practical topics with focused career paths.

Another factor to consider is cost of attendance. Whereas UC schools charge higher tuition rates, CSU schools maintain much more affordable tuition rates.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona tend to rank highest among Cal State campuses. The Cal Poly schools offer a public school education with a polytechnic focus, much like Caltech and MIT. As public institutions, however, Cal Poly charges much lower tuition rates.

Other top-ranking Cal State schools include Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, and San Jose State. Compared to UC schools, these Cal State campuses offer higher acceptance rates. That means students with the same academic record will be more likely to receive an admission offer at a CSU school.