California State University-Los Angeles vs California State University-Fresno

California State University-Los Angeles and California State University-Fresno are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: California State University-Los Angeles is more selective with a 91.9% acceptance rate compared to California State University-Fresno's 96.4%.

Cost: California State University-Los Angeles offers a lower average net price at $4,113, which is $2,367 less than California State University-Fresno ($6,480). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from California State University-Fresno earn a median salary of $61,244 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,033 more than California State University-Los Angeles graduates ($59,211).

Graduation: California State University-Fresno leads with a 55.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 72.9% vs 77.8%.

Campus Size: California State University-Los Angeles is the larger campus with 21,478 total students, while California State University-Fresno has 21,070.

Bottom Line: California State University-Los Angeles wins on affordability while California State University-Fresno leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.