California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, California · Public · 94.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CSU Channel Islands scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The ROI is built on two structural advantages: a $9,849 average net price and $15,000 median debt - both exceptionally low. The earnings premium score of 95 (raw 0.689) reflects that graduates earn significantly above the national median for bachelor's holders. The 51.3% completion rate is a genuine liability - nearly half of students do not graduate - which is why the overall score falls short of the 90s. Registered Nursing dominates the outcome profile: 90 graduates, $103,484 year-one, $112,691 at year four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.191. Computer Science (53 graduates, $59,374 year-one, ROI grade B+) and Business Administration (261 graduates, $47,581 year-one) are the next largest programs. The Pell grant rate is 46.6%. Scorecard does not report SAT/ACT ranges for this institution.
California State University-Channel Islands scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Channel Islands
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,159/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,759/yr |
| Average net price | $9,849/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $39,396 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,152 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,013 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,159/year ($19,759/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $9,849/year, or roughly $39,396 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,857/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,473/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,100) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,857 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,083 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,083 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,286 |
| $110,001+ | $20,473 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $6,857 per year. Four-year cost around $27,400 against $38,100 in average 6-year earnings is a genuinely compelling value proposition. The completion risk remains real at 51.3%, but students who finish at CSUCI at this price point have a strong financial foundation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $9,083, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,286. At these prices, even average earnings yield quick payback. The 6.6-year institutional payback period shrinks considerably for middle-income families paying under $10k/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $20,473 per year. The 79 ROI score is justified: even at the higher end of the income schedule, the cost structure supports a reasonable financial return for students who complete.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Channel Islands with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $48,789 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,183 | B+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $58,396 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $54,015 | C |
| Sociology | $56,855 | B |
| Biology | $62,384 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $112,691 | A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,332 | B+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $45,548 | C |
| Education, Other | $49,106 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is exceptional at CSUCI: 90 graduates, $103,484 year-one, $112,691 at year four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.191 with $19,750 median debt. This program pairs a near-six-figure starting salary with under $20,000 in debt. California nursing wages are high due to strong labor protections. Students who gain admission to this competitive program have a clear and strong financial path.
Computer Science
Computer Science shows 53 graduates with $59,374 year-one and $100,887 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.316 (ROI grade B+) and $18,750 median debt. Students in CS here face a challenging curriculum but exit into a labor market that pays very well. The low debt load makes this a financially solid choice.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 261 graduates, $47,581 year-one, $71,183 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.334 (ROI grade B+) with $15,888 median debt. Low debt paired with near-$50k starting salaries makes this program look reasonable despite modest year-one earnings. The trajectory to $71k at four years reflects career advancement in the regional business economy.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest program by graduates (366) with a C+ ROI grade: $32,706 year-one, $48,789 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.459 with $15,000 median debt. At $15,000 in debt, even weak starting earnings are more manageable than at high-debt institutions. However, $32k in year-one earnings remains low for any degree. Psychology at CSUCI makes sense primarily as a pre-graduate pipeline; students who do not continue to graduate school will find the standalone bachelor's financially marginal.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Channel Islands’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 94.8% |
| Enrollment | 5,013 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,682 |
CSUCI admits 94.8% of applicants and Scorecard does not report standardized test ranges. Admission is broadly open access.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Channel Islands (this school) | 79 | $9,849 | $62,152 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 75 | $16,032 | $61,760 |
| Metropolitan State University | 72 | $16,863 | $64,705 |
| Rhode Island College | 69 | $9,478 | $56,318 |
Who Thrives Here
CSUCI admits 94.8% of applicants. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. Enrollment is 5,013. The Pell grant rate of 46.6% is unusually high - nearly half of students receive federal need-based aid. CSUCI serves a heavily first-generation, Hispanic-serving student population in Ventura County. The institution's accessibility and affordability make it a viable pathway for students who would otherwise forgo a four-year degree. The completion rate of 51.3% signals that many students face barriers to finishing; strong support-seeking behavior is important here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Channel Islands pays off. You'd pay about $9,849 a year after aid ($39,396 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $62,152 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 51.3% graduation rate.
Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-Channel Islands: Common Questions
Is California State University-Channel Islands worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Channel Islands pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $9,849 a year after aid ($39,396 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $62,152 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.6 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Channel Islands cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,849 a year, or roughly $39,396 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-Channel Islands graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,152 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,352 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-Channel Islands?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.6 years for California State University-Channel Islands. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Channel Islands graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $38,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Channel Islands?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.