Is it true that University of California's are always better than California State University's?

Question

They say that UC's are a lot better than Cal States, so does that mean that I should definitely choose UC over Cal State? Is it also true that if I attend Cal State, I will most likely have to take out smaller loans?

Answer 1

My feeling is that it is possible to get a first rate education at nearly any decent university, and possible to graduate from a top school without learning much. So -- I wouldn't say that UC is ALWAYS better than CSU.

That being said, the worst UC school is more prestigious than the best CSU school. UC schools are research institutions with highly respected faculty. CSU schools are not known for their research, and grant few -- if any -- PhDs.

Because of this, faculty at CSU shools may concentrate more on teaching -- so you might get some teachers there who are better. But teaching in the UC school system meets a pretty high standard. You can get a better education at the UC schools, and probably will get a better job when you are done.

If you have a choice, choose a UC school over any CSU school.

Answer 2

There is no difference in the university's prestige. Simply put the difference is that Cal State are known for teaching and UC's are known for research. Because of this, the UC schools absorb the spot light when something new is discovered. Their time in the limelight makes it seem that they are better schools, when really, they are not. This spotlight on them also causes them to receive more aplicants, making it harder to get in. UC's tend to have large classrooms (less CSU's have stadium style classrooms), and while they do offer THEORETICAL knowledge of ideas, the CSU try to give instead PRACTICAL knowledge. Overall, UC's are thought to be more prestigious, however the only difference is that they are more famous. If you attend the most prestigious CSU's like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or CS Long Beach, you will find the education received just as good as (if not better than) the UC system.
However, more than anything, the quality of your education depends on the specialty of the school. Cal Poly, for example, has strong architecture and physics departments that makes it a location employers look to. UCLA is known for its medical programs, so employers will look there for med students.

As far as graduate school goes, few CSU schools offer PhDs, however as many people do switch schools while studying, where you attend undergraduate will not really affect graduate school.