<p>To expand upon what jonline said, classes are taught by professors at both UCs and CSUs. The difference is that at a UC, you are usually offered a small discussion section with a TA (usually a grad student) who will help you one on one to better understand the material. I don’t believe CSUs have discussion sections (correct me if I’m wrong), allowing them to claim that “all classes are taught by professors here!” And the classes at CSUs are generally well above 100 (I don’t know this for a fact. I’m basing this off of what people from Chico State have told me), while the classes at a UC can reach 300 to 500. In all reality, once you surpass 60 students or so, you’re not going to get one-on-one time with your professor unless you go to office hours. Also, at a UC you have a greater opportunity to participate in research, you have access to better established professors in their fields, and in general you’re offered more resources.</p>
<p>That is my uneducated opinion as to why I chose a UC over a CSU. Some of my statements may be incorrect.</p>