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Compare Sonoma State University vs California State University-Channel Islands

Rohnert Park, CA · Camarillo, CA

Sonoma State UniversityCalifornia State University-Channel Islands
Cost
Price after aid (average)$12,885/yr$9,849/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$8,310/yr$6,857/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$16,705$15,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$9,795/yr$7,083/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$10,741/yr$9,083/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$13,897/yr$12,286/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$21,195/yr$20,473/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$177/mo$159/mo
Room & board (on campus)$16,802/yr$15,490/yr
Room & board (off campus)$22,086/yr$20,640/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$856/yr$944/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,600/yr$3,878/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$24,648/yr$23,561/yr
Tuition (in-state)$8,624/yr$7,159/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,224/yr$19,759/yr
Students with Pell Grants36%47%
Students taking federal loans27%24%
Getting in
Students who get accepted93%95%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received10,52910,082
Students accepted9,9749,382
Students who enrolled911568
Accepted students who enroll9.1%6.1%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredNot considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredNot considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate58%51%
Freshmen who come back79%72%
Typical earnings 10 years in$65,986/yr$62,152/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$42,120–$91,892$36,869–$86,521
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)69%72%
White students graduating59%47%
Black students graduating38%33%
Hispanic students graduating58%55%
Asian students graduating59%56%
Typical earnings 6 years in$52,179/yr$46,785/yr
Earn more than a HS grad77%76%
Graduate on time39%30%
Pell students who graduate52%50%
First-gen students who finish59%67%
Low-income students who finish58%65%
Students who transfer out6.9%5%
Typical earnings 8 years in$61,137/yr$55,406/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 18% · Psychology 16% · Social Sciences 9%Psychology 20% · Health Professions 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 13%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesPsychology — 20% of degrees
2nd most popular programPsychology — 16% of degreesHealth Professions — 16% of degrees
3rd most popular programSocial Sciences — 9% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees
4th most popular programParks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degreesSocial Sciences — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $144,966/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $105,293/yr
Degrees in STEM14%14%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment5,1665,013
Students per professor17 : 116 : 1
Graduate students619474
Average professor pay$12,780/mo$12,682/mo
Full-time professors51%54%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Median family income$40,508$27,978
SettingSuburb (large)Rural (fringe)
LocationRohnert Park, CACamarillo, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19602002
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.4%0.9%
Men40%34%
Women60%66%
White students40%22%
Black students2.9%2.3%
Hispanic or Latino students42%60%
Asian students4.5%6.3%
Two or more races6.4%4.2%
Other / not reported3.4%3.8%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students41%51%
Part-time students12%23%
Students age 25+16%28%
Spent on teaching per student$11,482/yr$13,045/yr
Endowment$51.6M$19.7M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,2581,528
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,718/yr$9,740/yr
Meal plan charge$6,405/yr$4,920/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by week19 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-25No data reported
College sports levelNCAA Division II without footballNo intercollegiate athletics reported
Football teamNoNo data reported
Varsity teams12No data reported
Student athletes227No data reported
Athletic scholarships$992,695No data reported
Athletics budget$8.9MNo data reported
Athletics revenue$8.9MNo data reported
Recruiting spend$19,865No data reported

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.