California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, California · Public · 93.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CSU Dominguez Hills scores 71 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale, presenting a split story: exceptional earnings premiums for students who complete, weighed down by a 42.8% completion rate and a 57.3% repayment rate that signal real financial difficulty among graduates. The earnings premium score is 94, and graduates who finish earn substantially more than they would without a degree. The problem is that fewer than half of enrollees reach that finish line. Registered Nursing anchors the institution: 185 graduates, $110,626 year-one earnings, $118,588 four-year earnings, A-grade ROI with median debt of $18,750. Business Administration (547 graduates, $63,662 four-year) and Psychology (538 graduates, $52,742 four-year) are the two largest programs by volume. Median debt is $13,807 - low for a four-year institution - which reflects the California State system's low tuition. CSUDH's net price is $8,615 on $7,449 in-state tuition. The 93.3% acceptance rate confirms it is an access institution serving the Los Angeles region's diverse working population.
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,449/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,049/yr |
| Average net price | $8,615/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $34,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,162 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,807 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $146 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,538 |
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: $7,449/year ($20,049/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 $8,615/year, or roughly $34,460 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 $7,303/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,947/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,807, which works out to about $146 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,300) and comes to 0.36, 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 | $7,303 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,090 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,855 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,323 |
| $110,001+ | $18,947 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $7,303 net per year at CSUDH - $29,212 over four years. Against nursing earnings of $110,626 year-one, the nursing program recovers full four-year cost in approximately three months of employment. For non-nursing programs, the low net price still supports manageable outcomes: even business graduates earning $43,905 year-one face a comfortable payback on $29,212 total investment. CSUDH is genuinely affordable for low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,855 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,323 per year. Middle-income families in LA who want their student to stay regional and keep costs low will find CSUDH's price-to-outcome ratio competitive, provided the student completes - the 42.8% completion rate is the primary risk factor.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $18,947 per year - about $75,788 over four years. Even at this price, CSUDH's B+ and A-grade programs in nursing and business represent good value relative to private LA-area alternatives.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Dominguez Hills with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,662 | B+ |
| Psychology | $52,742 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $44,654 | B |
| Sociology | $55,100 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $118,588 | A |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,727 | B+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $62,164 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,185 | C |
| Biology | $54,405 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $59,603 | C+ |
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
Nursing is CSUDH's flagship program: 185 graduates, $110,626 year-one earnings, $118,588 at year four, median debt $18,750, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.169 (ROI grade A). These are exceptional outcomes, and CSUDH graduates enter a labor market where the LA County healthcare system creates substantial demand. Graduates recover the full cost of their education in under two years of post-graduation earnings.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program by volume at 547 graduates, with $43,905 year-one and $63,662 four-year earnings. Median debt is $15,250 with a 0.347 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). For a program costing $8,615 per year net, a B+ ROI with $63,662 four-year earnings represents solid value. At this price point, business at CSUDH is difficult to fault on financial grounds.
Psychology
Psychology is the second-largest program at 538 graduates, with $29,727 year-one and $52,742 four-year earnings. Median debt $13,625, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.458 (ROI grade C+). The C+ reflects modest near-term earnings - psychology graduates often pursue graduate school, and the Scorecard's six-year window captures them during and immediately after that transition. At CSUDH's price point, the debt burden is light enough to remain manageable even at lower starting salaries.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (172 graduates) earns $36,092 at year one and $57,727 at year four, with $12,256 median debt and a 0.340 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). A B+ outcome for a criminal justice program is strong - the low debt figure at CSUDH's price makes the payback period short. Students targeting law enforcement, corrections, or legal support careers will find a financially defensible pathway here.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 57.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 54.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Dominguez Hills’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 | 93.3% |
| Enrollment | 12,538 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 63.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,789 |
Enrollment is driven by location, cost, and program availability rather than selectivity. Students should inquire specifically about support resources for first-generation and working students, as the institution's challenges are in completion rather than access.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Dominguez Hills (this school) | 71 | $8,615 | $57,162 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Western Washington University | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
| Oakland University | 71 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| Portland State University | 69 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
Who Thrives Here
CSUDH serves 12,538 undergraduates in Carson, California, drawing heavily from the South Bay and greater LA area. The Pell grant rate is 63.3%, reflecting a large population of first-generation, low-income students. No SAT or ACT data is reported, consistent with the university's test-optional practice. Students who need to work while in school, who are returning students, or who are community college transfers will find a welcoming institutional culture. The risk is that the low completion rate - 42.8% - suggests many students face barriers to finishing that the institution has not fully overcome.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
California State University-Dominguez Hills is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $8,615 a year after aid ($34,460 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,162 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
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 42.8% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 57.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $13,807 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, 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-Dominguez Hills: Common Questions
Is California State University-Dominguez Hills worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether California State University-Dominguez Hills is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 71/100 on our ROI scale. At $8,615 a year after aid ($34,460 over four years) against $57,162 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does California State University-Dominguez Hills 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 $8,615 a year, or roughly $34,460 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-Dominguez Hills graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,162 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,362 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-Dominguez Hills?
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 7.9 years for California State University-Dominguez Hills. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,807, against average earnings of $38,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36. 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-Dominguez Hills?
The six-year graduation rate is 42.8%. 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.