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California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

California State University-Fullerton at a glance

California State University-Fullerton is a public university in Fullerton, California with 43,662 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 91% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $7,470 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $6,555 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 70% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 22% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $13,750 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Nursing (RN), master's ($182,816) and Educational Administration, doctoral ($141,254) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$7,470

2024-25

Acceptance

91%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

43,662

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Suburban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$7,470

Out-of-State Tuition

$20,070

Avg On-Campus Living

$19,080

Avg Off-Campus Living

$19,074

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $26,550
Net price (after aid): $6,555

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $3,315
$30k – $48k: $4,123
$48k – $75k: $6,090
$75k – $110k: $8,930
$110k+: $15,631

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $62,951
Median debt at graduation: $13,750
Est. monthly loan payment: $146

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Strong · 4.6×

Graduates earn about 4.6× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 48%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 22%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

California State University-Fullerton does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $67,233, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which California schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

70%

Freshman Retention

82%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Cost advantage

Affordable public option

In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.

This school$7.5k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Lower net price

$6.6k below avg

Strong aid for lower incomes

Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.

Need-based aid friendly

48% above avg

Affordability snapshot

In-state tuition

$7.5k

below avg

Out-of-state

$20.1k

below avg

Net price

$6.6k

below avg

Pell

48%

above avg

Median debt

$13.8k

below avg

Earnings (10y)

$63k

above avg

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

91%

SAT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

ACT range

Institution does not report this

Institution does not report this

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

Fullerton, CA 92832

Academics

Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online

In Fall 2023, 3,752 of California State University-Fullerton's 41,962 students (9%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 21,199 (51%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

California State University-Fullerton reported conferring credentials in 63 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

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Graduate earnings by program

What California State University-Fullerton graduates earn, by program

California State University-Fullerton's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $71,646 four years after graduating, 5% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,256; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,982 in federal loans at this college (about $148 a month on a 10-year plan).

80 programs at California State University-Fullerton have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for California State University-Fullerton (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Business Administration, Bachelor's$71,646$68,257, +5%$13,982$148/mo
Psychology, Bachelor's$51,661$50,706, about the same$12,502$133/mo
Communication, Bachelor's$58,082$56,359, +3%$13,000$138/mo
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's$51,787$54,562, −5%$14,250$151/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's—$47,382$13,000$138/mo
Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's$44,365$41,367, +7%$15,917$169/mo
Nursing (RN), Bachelor's$119,353$88,910, +34%$12,500$133/mo
Sociology, Bachelor's$50,922$52,657, −3%$13,399$142/mo
Public Health, Bachelor's—$58,808$12,489$132/mo
Computer Science, Bachelor's$87,460$107,009, −18%$13,750$146/mo
Criminal Justice, Bachelor's$57,135$55,378, +3%$11,000$117/mo
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Bachelor's$48,094$50,497, −5%$16,500$175/mo

Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 68 more programs
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for California State University-Fullerton (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Bachelor's$62,436$58,928, +6%$14,750$156/mo
English, Bachelor's$51,845$48,590, +7%$13,873$147/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's$57,408$53,072, +8%$12,550$133/mo
Educational/Instructional Media Design, Master's$91,755$70,644, +30%$20,300$231/mo
Business Administration, Master's$125,086$103,485, +21%$32,033$364/mo
Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's$86,808$92,135, −6%$18,874$200/mo
Political Science, Bachelor's$53,966$63,293, −15%$14,869$158/mo
History, Bachelor's$48,309$50,680, −5%$13,812$146/mo
Social Work, Master's$81,397$65,123, +25%$31,100$354/mo
Civil Engineering, Bachelor's$95,854$86,517, +11%$13,274$141/mo
Theatre, Bachelor's$42,455$39,775, +7%$15,000$159/mo
Computer Engineering, Master's$134,032$136,736, about the same$34,066$388/mo
Computer Science, Master's$126,439$145,571, −13%——
Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's$92,618$100,647, −8%$18,952$201/mo
Biochemistry, Bachelor's$68,170$65,466, +4%$18,240$193/mo
Music, Bachelor's$39,590$42,892, −8%$18,000$191/mo
Mathematics, Bachelor's$80,055$69,562, +15%——
International Business, Bachelor's$60,832$73,201, −17%$21,589$229/mo
Computer Engineering, Bachelor's$101,408$109,015, −7%$16,500$175/mo
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Master's$113,715$92,629, +23%$20,500$233/mo
Accounting, Master's$97,802$95,833, about the same$34,317$390/mo
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's$47,581$55,000, −13%$7,345$78/mo
Nursing (RN), Master's$182,816$120,193, +52%$41,000$466/mo
Anthropology, Bachelor's$54,092$46,676, +16%$16,419$174/mo
Economics, Bachelor's$71,595$82,686, −13%$13,750$146/mo
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Bachelor's$46,384$51,710, −10%$19,500$207/mo
Health Sciences, Bachelor's$54,244$61,296, −12%$15,000$159/mo
Area Studies, Bachelor's$50,739$56,625, −10%$17,500$186/mo
Communication, Master's$66,353$71,953, −8%$20,343$231/mo
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's$58,891$60,190, about the same$16,625$176/mo
Educational Administration, Doctoral$141,254$100,573, +40%$61,302$697/mo
Civil Engineering, Master's$108,826$98,323, +11%$12,168$138/mo
Public Administration, Bachelor's$68,497$65,093, +5%$12,981$138/mo
Geography and Cartography, Bachelor's$48,979$57,853, −15%——
Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, Master's$90,382$67,030, +35%——
History, Master's$67,675$55,360, +22%$44,181$503/mo
Music, Master's$37,850$48,285, −22%——
Educational Administration, Master's$76,311$71,685, +6%$27,334$311/mo
Chemistry, Bachelor's$64,857$65,120, about the same$17,377$184/mo
Statistics, Master's—$123,816——
Philosophy, Bachelor's$44,533$54,455, −18%——
Teacher Education (by subject), Master's$91,226$63,707, +43%$27,925$318/mo
Public Health, Master's$72,617$82,751, −12%——
Mechanical Engineering, Master's$129,073$115,974, +11%——
Dance, Bachelor's—$39,980$24,702$262/mo
Taxation, Master's$117,922$114,810, +3%——
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Master's$54,191$62,033, −13%$30,500$347/mo
Special Education, Master's$95,677$64,397, +49%$25,320$288/mo
Natural Resources and Conservation, Master's$91,697$74,607, +23%——
Biology, Master's$91,755$69,830, +31%——
Theatre, Master's$36,154$49,978, −28%——
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Bachelor's$29,715$49,984, −41%$12,979$138/mo
English, Master's$63,212$55,512, +14%$22,672$258/mo
Physics, Bachelor's$86,504$76,786, +13%——
Fine and Studio Arts, Master's$65,759$49,079, +34%——
Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's$77,214$59,916, +29%$20,500$233/mo
Information Science, Bachelor's$76,482$85,294, −10%$13,071$139/mo
Teacher Education (by subject), Bachelor's$63,798$51,389, +24%$14,265$151/mo
Human Development and Family Studies, Bachelor's$51,261$48,568, +6%$12,500$133/mo
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Bachelor's$71,185$66,697, +7%$12,789$136/mo
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Bachelor's$53,518$48,842, +10%$17,387$184/mo
Statistics, Bachelor's$51,298$92,425, −44%——
Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's$76,598$65,184, +18%$37,058$422/mo
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other, Master's$84,516$70,515, +20%——
Mental Health and Social Services, Master's$69,914$59,571, +17%$45,387$516/mo
Nursing (RN), Doctoral$181,807$138,131, +32%$40,710$463/mo
Management Science, Bachelor's$83,878$86,176, −3%$12,375$131/mo
Management Science, Master's$108,748$124,807, −13%——

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.

Frequently asked questions

About California State University-Fullerton

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is California State University-Fullerton located?
California State University-Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA, in the United States.
What type of institution is California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton is approximately 91% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton's published in-state tuition is approximately $7,470 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton reports total enrollment of approximately 43,662 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does California State University-Fullerton actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at California State University-Fullerton is approximately $6,555 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $3,315 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $15,631. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton reports a graduation rate of approximately 70% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of California State University-Fullerton have?
Students who borrowed at California State University-Fullerton left with a median of approximately $13,750 in federal loans, and about 22% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of California State University-Fullerton earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $62,951 for students who received federal financial aid at California State University-Fullerton. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about California State University-Fullerton?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with California State University-Fullerton.
How much do Business Administration graduates from California State University-Fullerton earn?
California State University-Fullerton's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $71,646 four years after graduating, 5% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,256; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,982 in federal loans at this college (about $148 a month on a 10-year plan).
How much do Psychology graduates from California State University-Fullerton earn?
California State University-Fullerton's bachelor's graduates in Psychology earned a median $51,661 four years after graduating, about the same as the $50,706 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $27,965; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $12,502 in federal loans at this college (about $133 a month on a 10-year plan).
Which programs at California State University-Fullerton have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 60 programs at California State University-Fullerton with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Nursing (RN), master's ($182,816); Nursing (RN), doctoral ($181,807); and Educational Administration, doctoral ($141,254) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does California State University-Fullerton get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, California State University-Fullerton's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $67,233, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 63 fields California State University-Fullerton reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields California State University-Fullerton reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Business Administration, Management and Operations2,329Graduate (142 graduate · 2,187 bachelor's)
Psychology, General1,025Graduate (29 graduate · 996 bachelor's)
Computer Science677Graduate (157 graduate · 520 bachelor's)
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness612Graduate (18 graduate · 594 bachelor's)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods580Graduate (88 graduate · 492 bachelor's)
Communication and Media Studies549Graduate (16 graduate · 533 bachelor's)
Fine and Studio Arts504Graduate (5 graduate · 499 bachelor's)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing368Graduate (106 graduate · 262 bachelor's)
Public Health336Graduate (23 graduate · 313 bachelor's)
Sociology331Graduate (15 graduate · 316 bachelor's)
Criminal Justice and Corrections307Bachelor's
Biology, General274Graduate (18 graduate · 256 bachelor's)
Human Services, General207Bachelor's
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication185Bachelor's

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of California State University-Fullerton are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). California State University-Fullerton, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/california-state-university-fullerton

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