California State University-Fullerton
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Fullerton, California
Net price / year
$6,555
after grants & scholarships
lower than 88% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
70%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 87% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$63,753
4 years after graduating
higher than 68% of public 4-year colleges
California State University-Fullerton at a glance
- What is the tuition at California State University-Fullerton?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $7,470 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $20,070 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at California State University-Fullerton?
- The average cost of attendance is $18,269 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at California State University-Fullerton?
- The average net price for in-state students is $6,555 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton?
- About 91% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is California State University-Fullerton test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
- 70% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of California State University-Fullerton earn?
- The median graduate earns $63,753 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.0 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $6,555 a year, the average net price is lower than 88% of public 4-year colleges.
- 70% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 87% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $3,315 a year on average, versus $15,631 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 91% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
Tuition and cost of attendance at California State University-Fullerton
Average net price (in-state)
$6,555 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the California State University-Fullerton net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$26,220
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $3,315
- $30–48k $4,123
- $48–75k $6,090
- $75–110k $8,930
- $110k+ $15,631
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $18,269
- Tuition & fees$7,470
- Books & supplies$1,005
- Room & board$19,080
- Other expenses$4,443
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $7,470
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $20,070
California State University-Fullerton acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from California State University-Fullerton
Graduation rate
70%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
84%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$146
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.0 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.2×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 2.7%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 70%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $39,060 · median $62,951 · 75th percentile $89,304
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 10,460 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 12%
- Making progress 14%
- Not making progress 9%
- Delinquent 1%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 51%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
10,460 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at California State University-Fullerton ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 313 | $119,353 | 1 yr$103,0284 yrs$119,3535 yrs$116,259 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $101,408 | 1 yr$55,0934 yrs$101,4085 yrs$113,278 | U.S. median $109,015 U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Below the U.S. median | $16,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 117 | $95,854 | 1 yr$72,6064 yrs$95,8545 yrs$93,096 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median | $13,274 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 79 | $92,618 | 1 yr$63,4684 yrs$92,6185 yrs$95,011 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $18,952 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 283 | $87,460 | 1 yr$57,3074 yrs$87,4605 yrs$108,989 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $13,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 197 | $86,808 | 1 yr$65,2524 yrs$86,8085 yrs$93,073 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Below the U.S. median | $18,874 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $86,504 | — | U.S. median $76,786 U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $83,878 | 1 yr$49,8304 yrs$83,878 | U.S. median $86,176 U.S. middle half $61.8K–$114.7K · Below the U.S. median | $12,375 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $80,055 | 1 yr$44,9034 yrs$80,055 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 151 | $76,482 | 1 yr$49,8974 yrs$76,4825 yrs$70,302 | U.S. median $85,294 U.S. middle half $59.8K–$116.9K · Below the U.S. median | $13,071 |
Show all 44 programs
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 2,447 | $71,646 | 1 yr$48,2564 yrs$71,6465 yrs$70,718 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $13,982 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 59 | $71,595 | 1 yr$39,9934 yrs$71,5955 yrs$86,084 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $13,750 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 62 | $71,185 | 1 yr$27,8874 yrs$71,1855 yrs$69,963 | U.S. median $66,697 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$93.4K · Above the U.S. median | $12,789 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $68,497 | 1 yr$36,6264 yrs$68,4975 yrs$68,007 | U.S. median $65,093 U.S. middle half $47.2K–$86.7K · Above the U.S. median | $12,981 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 109 | $68,170 | 1 yr$38,8694 yrs$68,1705 yrs$76,273 | U.S. median $65,466 U.S. middle half $44.9K–$88.4K · Above the U.S. median | $18,240 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $64,857 | 1 yr$45,0764 yrs$64,857 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median | $17,377 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $63,798 | 1 yr$33,4934 yrs$63,7985 yrs$73,048 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Above the U.S. median | $14,265 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 160 | $62,436 | 1 yr$24,5944 yrs$62,4365 yrs$65,573 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $14,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 58 | $60,832 | 1 yr$45,4194 yrs$60,8325 yrs$57,105 | U.S. median $73,201 U.S. middle half $51.3K–$98.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,589 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $58,891 | 1 yr$35,5094 yrs$58,8915 yrs$79,103 | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | $16,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 1,008 | $58,082 | 1 yr$34,1204 yrs$58,0825 yrs$60,920 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 143 | $57,408 | 1 yr$24,7064 yrs$57,4085 yrs$52,783 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $12,550 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 408 | $57,135 | 1 yr$34,5704 yrs$57,1355 yrs$58,736 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $11,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 456 | $54,244 | 1 yr$35,5634 yrs$54,2445 yrs$58,041 | U.S. median $61,296 U.S. middle half $42.8K–$82.3K · Below the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $54,092 | 1 yr$26,7944 yrs$54,0925 yrs$51,703 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median | $16,419 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 87 | $53,966 | 1 yr$31,7114 yrs$53,9665 yrs$62,338 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $14,869 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $53,518 | 1 yr$35,1104 yrs$53,5185 yrs$64,330 | U.S. median $48,842 U.S. middle half $36K–$64.3K · Above the U.S. median | $17,387 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 156 | $51,845 | 1 yr$23,7834 yrs$51,8455 yrs$46,143 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median | $13,873 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 351 | $51,787 | 1 yr$23,5434 yrs$51,7875 yrs$54,777 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $14,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 734 | $51,661 | 1 yr$27,9654 yrs$51,6615 yrs$56,770 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $12,502 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $51,298 | — | U.S. median $92,425 U.S. middle half $64.6K–$125.5K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 823 | $51,261 | 1 yr$31,8574 yrs$51,2615 yrs$49,529 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 443 | $50,922 | 1 yr$34,7144 yrs$50,9225 yrs$52,832 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $13,399 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $50,739 | 1 yr$29,3164 yrs$50,7395 yrs$55,602 | U.S. median $56,625 U.S. middle half $37.2K–$78.5K · Below the U.S. median | $17,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $48,979 | 1 yr$26,0404 yrs$48,9795 yrs$52,460 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 100 | $48,309 | 1 yr$27,0834 yrs$48,3095 yrs$50,071 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $13,812 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 209 | $48,094 | 1 yr$24,6504 yrs$48,0945 yrs$49,196 | U.S. median $50,497 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$70.1K · Below the U.S. median | $16,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $47,581 | 4 yrs$47,5815 yrs$45,854 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $7,345 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $46,384 | 1 yr$25,3054 yrs$46,3845 yrs$54,046 | U.S. median $51,710 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$68.1K · Below the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $44,533 | 1 yr$30,1714 yrs$44,533 | U.S. median $54,455 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$78K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 370 | $44,365 | 1 yr$22,8394 yrs$44,3655 yrs$46,226 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $15,917 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 80 | $42,455 | 1 yr$18,1824 yrs$42,4555 yrs$34,683 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $39,590 | 1 yr$23,9694 yrs$39,5905 yrs$26,392 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $18,000 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $29,715 | 1 yr$22,7234 yrs$29,7155 yrs$43,659 | U.S. median $49,984 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$69.9K · Below the U.S. median | $12,979 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 13.2%
- Black or African American 2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino 56.2%
- Asian 20.8%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
- Two or more races 3.8%
- U.S. nonresident 1%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 2.3%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 44.1%
- Women 55.9%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
16%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 38,546
- Part-time students
- 18%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 48%
- Receive federal loans
- 22%
- Students per faculty member
- 26 : 1
- Setting
- Suburb
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
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Florida Atlantic University
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in California
In California
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at California State University-Fullerton?
For the 2024-25 academic year, California State University-Fullerton reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $7,470 for in-state students and $20,070 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at California State University-Fullerton?
The average cost of attendance at California State University-Fullerton is $18,269 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $6,555 a year. That is lower than 88% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at California State University-Fullerton get?
48% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 22% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $3,315 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $15,631 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton admitted about 91% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at California State University-Fullerton?
70% of first-time, full-time students at California State University-Fullerton finish within 150% of normal time. 84% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do California State University-Fullerton graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $63,753 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $39,215.
Is California State University-Fullerton worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For California State University-Fullerton, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.0 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $13,750, about 0.2 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 70% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do California State University-Fullerton graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $13,750, or about $146 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things