California is lucky to be home to two world-class public university systems. (Left: San Francisco State University. Right: University of California, Santa Barbara.) While thinking about your post-high school options, you’ve probably considered going to an in-state public university. California boasts a wide variety of options for public higher education, with two public university systems: the California State University (CSU) system and the University of California (UC) system. But what’s the difference between the two? Which one should you apply to, or should you apply to both? Here are three main differences between the two systems: 1. Cost of attendance at CSUs is much lower.CSU tuition, at $5,742 per academic year, is much lower than UC tuition, which is $12,630. When factoring all other costs (such as books, food, transportation, and housing), attending a CSU costs around $22,000 per year, while UC attendance costs add up to around $31,000 per year. With that said, CSU’s and UC’s both offer ample need-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities, so don’t let that price tag intimidate you! 2. UC education is more theory- and research-based, while CSU’s provide a more practical education.UC schools are research universities, which means their mission is to produce research. This means that your courses will focus on theory rather than technical skills, and there are plenty of opportunities for student research. Professors tend to be well-known researchers, and courses are often used to prepare students for master’s or PhD programs. Meanwhile, CSU schools offer a more practical curriculum with direct applications. Classes are based on career training and technical skills that prepare students to enter the workforce right after graduating. To better understand this, imagine two people, both of whom want to major in film. One of them wants to learn how to make films so they can work for Disney after college—they’d be better suited for a CSU. The other person is interested in analyzing how film shapes our society and wants to focus their studies on that aspect of film—they would be more satisfied at a UC. Neither education style is better than the other—you have to think about your career goals or learning styles to decide which system works better for you. But, remember that going to a UC or CSU doesn't necessarily limit you to a particular career or grad school path! 3. CSUs generally have higher acceptance rates, but UCs have more holistic admissions.UCs are generally more selective than CSUs. UC acceptance rates are typically around 30 or 40 percent, though this varies by campus. (UC Berkeley’s acceptance rate is 18 percent whiel UC Merced’s is 74 percent.) CSU acceptance rates are around 50 to 60 percent, though some schools, such as Cal Poly SLO, are more selective while others, such as CSU Bakersfield CSU San Marcos, are less selective. However, UC admissions have a more holistic approach that tries to evaluate students as a whole. This is why the UC application requires several short essays about you and asks about extracurricular activities, volunteering, and work. (The CSU application has a short section for you to list your achievements). At UCSB, this personal information is given equal weight to your GPA and test scores.
Cost, education style, and admissions are three main differences between the two systems, and they’re important factors to think about when deciding what’s right for you. It’s also crucial to look into the individual schools themselves, because even within systems, schools can be very different in academic offerings and campus life! And, if you're not sure what your career or academic goals are, apply to both so you have a variety of options.
As a final word, don’t let a school’s reputation discourage you from applying or enrolling. CSUs tend to have a lower reputation than UCs, but both systems offer fantastic educations, and it’s in your best interest to choose the system that is right for your educational goals. Your education is your education, so follow whatever path will satisfy you the most--that's what it means to be FIERCE.
1 Comment
Ana Camaddo
3/16/2018 11:20:21 pm
Thank you for this article! loved the last bit!
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