California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, California · Public · 90.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 88/100 · Strong Value
CSU Fullerton scores 88 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale and has the highest earnings premium score in this dataset at 98, reflecting a 106.6% wage premium over non-college earnings -- graduates earn more than double the benchmark without a degree. With a $6,555 net price per year ($26,220 estimated four-year total) and $38,500 median 6-year earnings, CSUF delivers a 5.9-year payback period that competes with many elite universities at a fraction of the cost. The 70.2% completion rate is a weakness relative to CSUF's otherwise strong metrics. Nursing leads program earnings: 333 graduates, $103,028 year-one, A-grade ROI. Civil Engineering (84 graduates, $72,606 year-one, A-grade) and Electrical Engineering (66 graduates, $63,468 year-one, A-grade) anchor STEM. Computer Science (371 graduates, $57,307 year-one, B+ grade) provides high-volume STEM value. Business Administration is the largest program at 2,134 graduates with $48,256 year-one earnings at B+ grade. At $7,470 in-state tuition, CSUF is a case study in public university value for California residents -- especially for students in STEM, nursing, and business.
California State University-Fullerton scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Fullerton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,070/yr |
| Average net price | $6,555/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $26,220 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,951 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $146 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 38,546 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at California State University-Fullerton is $7,470/year ($20,070/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $6,555/year, or roughly $26,220 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $3,315/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,631/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $13,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $146 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $62,951 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.36 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $3,315 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,123 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,090 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,930 |
| $110,001+ | $15,631 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $3,315 per year -- $13,260 over four years. This is among the lowest four-year public university net prices in the country for this income bracket. Nursing graduates earning $103,028 year-one recover total four-year investment in about seven weeks of employment. Even for lower-earning programs, CSUF's price for low-income students creates a financial floor that is hard to undercut.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,090 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $8,930 per year. At these price levels -- $35,720 total for the upper-middle bracket -- CSUF's B+ and A-grade programs in business, CS, and engineering are among the best financial values available to California residents. Middle-income students should model their specific program's earnings against their expected debt before accepting to compare with UC system alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $15,631 per year -- $62,524 over four years. Even at this higher net price, CSUF remains competitive on value for STEM and nursing. Electrical Engineering's $92,618 four-year earnings recovers $62,524 in under nine months of employment. Higher-income families with access to UC campuses should compare CSUF against Berkeley and UCLA on program-specific outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Fullerton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,646 | B+ |
| Psychology | $51,661 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,082 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,787 | C |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,365 | D |
| Teacher Education | $28,933 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $87,460 | B+ |
| Sociology | $50,922 | B |
| Public Health | $34,909 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,135 | 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
Nursing is CSUF's top-earning program: 333 graduates, $103,028 year-one earnings, $119,353 year-four, median debt $17,375, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.169 (ROI grade A). In the Southern California labor market, nursing graduates command wages among the highest in the country. At $17,375 median debt, the payback period is under two months of post-graduation nursing income. This is one of the strongest program-level ROI profiles at any institution in this dataset.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (84 graduates) earns $72,606 at year one and $95,854 at year four with median debt of $13,548 and a 0.187 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade A). A-grade ROI for civil engineering at $6,555 annual net price is exceptional value. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.187 means graduates owe less than two and a half months of annual earnings -- a structure that rarely appears outside the most selective institutions.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 371 graduates earning $57,307 at year one and $87,460 at year four, with $16,500 median debt and a 0.288 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). At $26,220 total four-year net cost, CS at CSUF is one of the most financially rational options for students pursuing technology careers in California. Year-four earnings of $87,460 from a program costing $16,500 in debt is a compelling economic case.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 2,134 graduates, with $48,256 year-one and $71,646 four-year earnings. Median debt $14,000, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.290 (ROI grade B+). A B+ outcome for a business program at $6,555 annual net cost is strong value. Fullerton's business school, which feeds into the Los Angeles and Orange County job markets, delivers competitive outcomes relative to private business schools at three to five times the cost.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (66 graduates) earns $63,468 at year one and $92,618 at year four with $15,054 median debt and a 0.237 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade A). A-grade ROI alongside A-grade Civil and A-grade Nursing confirms CSUF's STEM and health pipeline is performing at the top tier of the dataset. At the California State price point, EE graduates achieve near-private-university earnings with a fraction of the debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.5% |
| Enrollment | 38,546 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,295 |
CSUF admits 90.5% of applicants as a broadly accessible CSU campus. No test score data is published. Admission is not the enrollment question -- the question is whether a student will complete. With a 70.2% completion rate, there is a meaningful gap between enrollment and graduation. Prospective students should ask about program-specific academic support and success rates, particularly in nursing and engineering where admission to the major program is a separate and more competitive step.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSUF's Scorecard peers include Cal Poly SLO, CSU Bakersfield, George Mason, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and University of Utah. Among CSU campuses, CSUF's earnings premium score of 98 places it near the top of the system. Cal Poly SLO has higher earnings overall but a more selective admission profile. George Mason (~ROI 75) and Minnesota (~ROI 82) are both strong public universities but cost more for most students. CSUF's combination of near-zero cost for low-income students and strong STEM and nursing outcomes is difficult to match in this peer group.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton (this school) | 88 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 88 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| George Mason University | 86 | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| University of Utah | 84 | $16,200 | $67,170 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Who Thrives Here
CSUF enrolls 38,546 undergraduates in Fullerton, California -- one of the larger CSU campuses, serving Orange County's working and commuter student population. The Pell grant rate of 48.1% reflects substantial lower- and middle-income enrollment. No SAT or ACT data is reported for the admitted class. CSUF is effectively test-optional with a broad access mission. Students who are self-directed and willing to navigate a large commuter campus will find strong program resources. Students who want a residential, traditional college experience will find CSUF's infrastructure less oriented toward that.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
California State University-Fullerton delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $6,555 per year ($26,220 over four years), graduates earn a median of $62,951 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 5.9 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 70.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $13,750 is very manageable against $62,951 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.