CSU’s accept students strictly on the basis of A to G gpa and SAT or ACT scores (combined formula). You either make the cut off or not. Math can be re-learned in college. UC vs CSUs in terms of education. The teaching isn’t better at one or the other but the students at UC may be sharper as a whole. Think the difference in playing Varsity vs. Junior Varsity. That being said, a degree is a degree. Grad school matters more in choice of school.