California State University-Chico vs University of Houston-Downtown

California State University-Chico and University of Houston-Downtown are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Houston-Downtown is more selective with a 90.6% acceptance rate compared to California State University-Chico's 93.7%.

Cost: University of Houston-Downtown offers a lower average net price at $14,623, which is $215 less than California State University-Chico ($14,838). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from California State University-Chico earn a median salary of $64,172 ten years after enrollment, which is $10,621 more than University of Houston-Downtown graduates ($53,551).

Graduation: California State University-Chico leads with a 63.9% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 83.7% vs 67.4%.

Campus Size: California State University-Chico is the larger campus with 13,057 total students, while University of Houston-Downtown has 12,812.

Bottom Line: University of Houston-Downtown wins on affordability while California State University-Chico leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.