UC vs CSU. Which one is best for you? The University of California system contains some of the best public universities in the US and typically the #1 public university in the world (UC Berkeley or UCLA, depending on the day). This leads many people to unfairly discredit the California State University (CSU) system, which has a lot to offer. In this article, I will walk through everything you need to know about the CSU system and how it compares to the UC system.

While the UC institutions are more popular, that doesn’t make them the right fit for everyone. The UCs are known for their research prowess, making them the right path for anyone wanting to pursue further education.

The CSU system, on the other hand, has a more practical curriculum that prepares students to directly enter the job force. At CSUs, there’s less theory at the undergraduate level and more hands-on learning, which is why it may be a better fit for many students. CSU’s commitment to job preparation is evident from their list of practical majors, with dozens of degrees that the UCs do not offer, from digital arts to teaching credentials to an actual business administration degree (not some economics program made to look like a business degree, as seen at UCSB and UCLA).

Of course, many students set their sights on attending a UC simply because of the prestige—but it’s critical to first understand your goals and what you hope to get out of your college experience before settling on a school. Most people would rather get a job than an advanced degree. If that’s you, consider where you want to end up, not where you want to get your start. Most CSUs have great connections with many companies that make it easy for you to get a great job right out of college.

For example, San Jose State University is in Silicon Valley, providing you with access to amazing guest lecturers, internships, and connections. Arguably, this gives SJSU more value than UC Berkeley when it comes to jobs in Silicon Valley. Moreover, the practical majors that CSUs offer may make many companies more likely to hire you.

Now, let’s check out some data to see how CSUs rank for popular majors:

One more major advantage you should know about attending a CSU school is the amazing cost savings. The average tuition at UC schools is approximately $14K. This is in stark contrast to the average CSU tuition at $7K.

Furthermore, many CSUs are optimized for commuting. This means you can either live at home or farther away from campus. This increases the cost savings another level, as campus housing tends to be more expensive. You may daydream about getting out of the house now, but you’ll thank yourself years down the line when your student debt is remarkably lower than that of your peers.

All in all, it is pretty obvious that the CSUs have a lot to offer and should be a serious consideration for in-state and out-of-state students alike.

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