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California State University, Chico vs Sam Houston State University

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

CSUCalifornia State University, Chico91%admitted · 2025-26Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University90%admitted · 2024-25

Getting in

Acceptance rate91.1%90.3%
Early decision rateNo EDNo ED
SAT middle 50%940–1170940–1120
ACT middle 50%19–2617–24
Applicant reports on our site71

Cost and aid

Tuition$6,450 in-state$7,320 in-state
Tuition, out-of-state$19,552$19,620
Food and housing$16,668$10,812
Sticker price per year$38,666$34,482
Average need-based grant$14,474$11,008
Average % of need met61%58.6%

Outcomes

First-year retention81.5%73.3%
6-year graduation rate60.3%55%
Undergraduates13,59917,787

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

California State University, Chico or Sam Houston State University?

Is California State University, Chico harder to get into than Sam Houston State University?

They are about equally selective: California State University, Chico admitted 91.1% of first-year applicants (2025-26) and Sam Houston State University admitted 90.3% (2024-25).

What SAT scores do California State University, Chico and Sam Houston State University students have?

The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 940–1170 at California State University, Chico and 940–1120 at Sam Houston State University.

Which is cheaper, California State University, Chico or Sam Houston State University?

Before aid, Sam Houston State University costs about $34,482 a year in tuition, fees, food and housing, against $38,666 at California State University, Chico (out-of-state tuition for public universities). The average need-based grant is $14,474 at California State University, Chico and $11,008 at Sam Houston State University.

Does California State University, Chico or Sam Houston State University have a higher graduation rate?

60.3% of California State University, Chico students graduate within six years, compared with 55% at Sam Houston State University.

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