<p>When students in California are applying for colleges, some of the more common questions they will be considering is "what is the difference between a CSU and UC" and "which one is better"? Many will give you the impression that a UC (University of California) is better than a CSU (California State University) in all areas because they are harder to get into and because of the prestige factor that comes with attending it, but depending on your circumstances, going to a CSU can be just as good or even better than a UC and here are some reasons why.</p>
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<li><p>Cost
The average cost of tuition alone for a full year at most CSU's is currently around $7000 while the average cost of an academic year at a UC is around $12000. Consider the difference with how long it takes most to graduate, 4-6 years, and a CSU student would be be spending $20000-$30000 less than a UC student. Remember that this doesn't include other costs like housing and books and could also be different in the long run depending on one's financial aid, scholarships and loans. </p></li>
<li><p>Locations
There are 23 CSU's located throughout California while there are only 9 UC's for undergraduate. So for those who are looking to commute or stay near their home, it is much more likely they will find a CSU near them than a UC. If a person wants to live in a certain area as well, say Southern California, the greater number of CSU's gives them more universities to apply and most likely get into as well. </p></li>
<li><p>High Acceptance Rate
Most CSU campuses have higher acceptance rates than most UC's. Many would consider a higher acceptance rate a bad thing since it means the university is taking most who apply. But for students who had a tough high school experience and want to start over straight from a university rather than a community college, a student who didn't have the time to get those extracurricular activities, or one who simply does not like a competitive atmosphere, going to a CSU could be the right choice.</p></li>
<li><p>Teaching curriculum
Several people will assume that the material taught at UC's is harder than CSU's because they are more difficult to get into. It is true that CSU and UC's do have different teaching styles, but depending on your major, the CSU teaching curriculum could be better than the UC. This is because UC's are more research based and hence want their students to go on and get a masters or PHD. CSU's on the other hand are more practical based and hence teach many of their classes based on the fact that the students will get a job right after their bachelors. So for someone who is looking into a major that doesn't really require a master's, but rather the units and knowledge to take a certain test like accounting does with the CPA exam, a CSU could be a better choice. For one who wants to go to law school, med school, or is majoring in something that will likely require a masters such as psychology, a UC could be a better choice. </p></li>
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<p>One of the main things to remember however when choosing your university is that college isn't the only thing companies look at when you submit your resume. It is true that if a corporation saw two resumes and if both had the same GPA, similar extracurricular activities, etc, but one went to a UC name and other went to a CSU, they are likely to pick the UC student for the interview. But if you do indeed go to a CSU, there are activities you can do to make your resume shine over another students such as stronger internships, a higher GPA, and more experience in your major as a whole. Doing these while you are in college will definitely be a benefit despite where you go and after you get your first few jobs, most companies will look at that over the university you attended.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that this article only expresses the advantages the CSU system has over the UC system. UC's also have some higher points in areas such as sports, getting connections, and most would agree in college experience as a whole. Just remember though that the choices you make and how you perform will change your future more than where you decide to go to college.</p>