Cal State (CSU) Tuition & Fees 2026–27 — Rates, Increases & the UC Gap
What the California State University actually charges in 2026–27, where the numbers are heading through 2028–29, and how CSU stacks up against UC on total cost.
Cal State (CSU) Tuition 2026–27
The California State University system sets one base tuition rate across all 23 campuses. For 2026–27, full-time undergraduate tuition is $6,838 for California residents — a $388 (6%) increase over 2025–26, the third step of the CSU’s five-year plan of 6% annual increases running through 2028–29:
| Year | Resident undergraduate tuition |
|---|---|
| 2024–25 | $6,084 |
| 2025–26 | $6,450 |
| 2026–27 | $6,838 |
| 2027–28 (planned) | ~$7,248 |
| 2028–29 (planned) | ~$7,682 |
On top of base tuition, every campus charges its own campus-based fees — typically $1,000–$4,000 per year (health, facilities, student union, and at some campuses a “student success” fee). That puts total resident tuition + fees at roughly $8,000–$11,000 depending on campus. Out-of-state students pay an additional nonresident tuition charge assessed per unit ($420 per semester unit in 2024–25, rising with the tuition plan — roughly $12,000–$14,000 more per year at a full 30-unit load; check your campus’s current per-unit rate).
CSU vs UC: the Tuition Gap
The comparison that matters for most California families: CSU resident tuition ($6,838) is less than half of UC’s systemwide rate ($15,588 for the 2026–27 entering cohort). Over four years, that’s a ~$35,000 difference before housing. CSU campuses also skew commuter-friendly, so many students save the full cost of room and board. See the full three-way breakdown in our UC vs CSU vs community college comparison.
What Aid Applies at CSU
Cal Grant A covers CSU base tuition for eligible residents; the State University Grant waives tuition for many students with family incomes roughly under $80,000; and the Middle Class Scholarship reaches well into six-figure family incomes. Because base tuition is low, aid packages at CSU frequently cover all of it — making living costs, not tuition, the real budget line to plan for. Model your monthly numbers with the student budget calculator.