California State University Fullerton (CSUF) is a big public university located in Fullerton, California, within the California State University system. It has approximately 41,408 students, making it one of the biggest campuses in the system. Admissions are fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of approximately 86.7%. The most popular majors are Business, Communications, Psychology, Health Professions, and Education. CSUF boasts a six-year graduation rate of 69%, and alumni earn a median salary of around INR 62,00,000 (from $74,900 median income ten years post-graduation).
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a highly regarded public research university based in Los Angeles, California. It is among the most highly ranked institutions within the UC system and has an enrollment of around 47,500 students. Admissions are extremely competitive, with the acceptance rate being approximately 9%. The popular majors at UCLA are Biology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Engineering. The six-year graduation rate of UCLA is 92%, and its graduates receive a median salary of approximately INR 84,00,000 (equivalent to $101,200 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| California State University Fullerton | University of California | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5 Out of 10 | 7.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1377 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 133 US News 2024 # 1067 US News 2024 | # 46 QS World University 2026 # 17 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 18 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | - | # 13 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 12 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 12 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -106 PG Programs -65 | UG Programs -24 PG Programs -43 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7 % | 9.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-5.5 SAT-1020 TOEFL-61 | GMAT-670 IELTS-7 SAT-1330 TOEFL-87 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 16399 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 19327 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 33068 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 42993 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26544 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 36045 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Masters in Science: $140,000 Masters of Arts: $109,000 Bachelor of Science: $105,000 Bachelor of Arts: $65,000 | Graduate Employability rank: QS-#3 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the top public universities in Los Angeles, United States. It is ranked #44 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
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| application requirements | Submit official transcripts, Submit LORs, Submit English language proficiency, Check program specific requirements | 94% in 12th for UG and 83% in bachelors for graduate admission; Name and email of references; Statement of Purpose |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | - | # 20 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 31 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| application | - | #2865 Applicants # 360 Admissions # 12 % Acceptance Rate |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 65/90TOEFL - 88/120 | Duolingo - 130/160GMAT - 670/800IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 87/120 |
| Return on Investment/Average Package | #Average Salary | #Average Salary153066 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Dec 12, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Date for 2026 Intake) Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Mar 27, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Date for 2026 Intake) Apr 7, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) May 15, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Date for 2026 Intake) Oct 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | California State University Fullerton | University of California |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1957 | 1919 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 23:1 | 19:1 |
| Male:Female | 44% Male, 56% Female | 47% Male, 53% Female |
| Location Facts | The campus is on the site of former citrus groves in northeast Fullerton. It is bordered on the east by the Orange Freeway, on the west by State College Boulevard, on the north by Yorba Linda Boulevard, and on the south by Nutwood Avenue. | Five mile from Pacific Ocean, Located in West-wood neighborhood of LA |
| Library | Pollak Library offers eBooks, streaming video, a wide range of databases, as well as Interlibrary Loan service for anything that it does not owns. | 12 million print and electronic volumes |
| Campus Life | our top priority at college is academic success, and you’ll find supportive staff, educational resources and wellness offerings at Cal State Fullerton to help you achieve that. Outside of the classroom, you’ll enjoy a choice of more than 375 clubs and organizations, study abroad, Division I sports, cultural pursuits and much more! | Over 100 Student organizations |
| Hostel | #Off campus (not with family) - $14502 #On campus - $15642 #Off campus (with family) - $2924 | #Room & Board - $17436 #Room and Board - $18609 |
| Famous Alumni | Actor and filmmaker, Kevin Costner Astronaut ,Tracy Caldwell Dyson Speaker of the California State Assembly and former professor, Anthony Rendon Actor, David Castañeda | 14 Nobel laureates, 15 Mac Authors |
| City Life | Located in North Orange County, Fullerton is approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and less than 20 minutes away from Disneyland. Fullerton has over 280+ days of sunshine and a diverse blend of amenities with abundant cultural, educational and entertainment resources. Boasting a population of approximately 140,000 citizens, Fullerton is a community with a strong sense of tradition, and takes pride in providing an atmosphere that allows both for preservation of its historic past and opportunities to meet the challenges of the future. Fullerton’s offerings are not just confined to the Downtown. Other popular destinations are the award-winning Fullerton Museum Center, home of the Leo Fender Gallery; the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, which offers fine art exhibitions; the Fullerton Arboretum, on campus of California State University at Fullerton, which presents a stunning array of plant and garden ideas, plus is home to Heritage House, a beautifully restored Victorian residence; two championship golf courses and a driving range; an Olympic-sized swim complex; and more than 40 parks, plus recreation and equestrian trails. | Los Angeles (LA) is the second most populous city of USA; Hollywood is located here; 841 Museums and art galleries, California Beaches, Disneyland park, Los Angeles offers various concert halls, regular festivals, and bustling nightlife; Ranked 7th on Global City Index and 9th on Global Economic Power Index; Unemployment rate in December 2019 was 4%; Industries employing maximum number of people are healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing |
| Weather |
California State University Fullerton vs University of California, Los Angeles
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
UCLA is a top global research university, ranked all the time in the top 20 globally (around 16th in QS World University Rankings 2026). UCLA is particularly well-known in life sciences, engineering, social sciences, medicine, and arts & humanities.CSU Fullerton, although not globally ranked alongside UCLA, is a highly regarded regional public university and an integral part of the California State University system. It is nationally ranked for business, communications, education, and health sciences programs, and is known for providing quality, affordable education to a large and diverse student population.
General Information
UCLA, which is in Los Angeles, California, has an enrollment of around 47,000 students (more than 32,000 of whom are undergraduates) and is a member of the University of California. It is a flagship public research university with international reputation, Division I sports, and close industry connections in Los Angeles.
California State University Fullerton (CSUF), which is based in Fullerton, California in Orange County, has approximately 40,000 students (more than 33,000 of them being undergraduates). One of the largest in the CSU system, CSUF provides undergraduate, master's, and some doctoral degrees with an emphasis on accessibility and workforce preparation.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UCLA is very competitive, with an acceptance rate of roughly 9%, admitting highly successful students from both academic and extracurricular experiences. CSUF is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of roughly 86.7%%, offering broader accessibility, particularly for California residents.
Research Impact & Facilities
UCLA is a research giant, investing more than $1 billion a year in research, with top-level medical facilities, research institutes, and among the largest university library systems in the U.S. It is at the forefront in medicine, engineering, film/television, and sciences.
CSUF has a modest but developing research profile, particularly in business, education, communications, and applied sciences. It focuses on teaching and regional workforce development over world research leadership.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are state universities, yet prices vary greatly. UCLA in-state is approximately $14,000 per annum, and out-of-state is approximately $47,000 per year. CSUF in-state is considerably lower, roughly $7,500–$8,000 per year, with out-of-state being approximately $19,000–$20,000. They both offer federal, state, and institutional aid, although UCLA offers more substantial packages to high-achieving students, with CSUF still one of California's most affordable big universities.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UCLA alumni are extremely competitive in medicine, law, business, engineering, entertainment, and academia with median salaries of around $78,000 a decade after joining. Its alumni base spans the globe, having a broad influence and strong connection to Los Angeles-based industries and beyond.
CSUF graduates usually pursue business, education, healthcare, communications, and public service careers with median salaries of near $55,000–$58,000 ten years after admission. CSUF has a solid alumni presence in Southern California businesses, particularly business and education, but less internationally recognizable than UCLA's.
