Head to head · California
California State University-Fullerton costs less than San Diego State University at every income band federal data covers — between $5,894 and $8,190 less per year, depending on what you earn.
| Household income | California State University | San Diego State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $3,315 | $9,910 | $6,595 |
| $30–48k | $4,123 | $10,017 | $5,894 |
| $48–75k | $6,090 | $12,697 | $6,607 |
| $75–110k | $8,930 | $15,891 | $6,961 |
| Over $110k | $15,631 | $23,821 | $8,190 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Think you make too much for aid? The real income cutoffs, measured →
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed California State University first, then San Diego State University. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again California State University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
California State University-Fullerton — every income band · San Diego State University — every income band · All California public colleges