California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California · Public · 91.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 80/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Cal State LA scores 80 (Strong Value), driven by an extraordinary earnings premium of 1.526, a $3,967 net price, and a 6.4-year payback period. Average 6-year earnings of $37,200 are modest in absolute terms, but the comparison to cost is exceptional: graduates borrow a median $13,000 and pay only $3,967 per year net. The 53% completion rate is the school's main weakness - nearly half of entering students do not earn a degree. The earnings premium score of 99 reflects the LA labor market and the strong earnings trajectory of students who complete. Registered Nursing (147 graduates, $98,811 year-one, A grade) and the engineering programs - Civil ($73,178), Electrical ($63,981), Mechanical ($55,405) - all carry A or B+ grades. Business Administration is the largest program by graduates (896), with $42,062 year-one and B+ ROI. The school serves an economically diverse student body, with a 66.3% Pell grant rate.
California State University-Los Angeles scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Los Angeles
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,160/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,760/yr |
| Average net price | $3,967/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $15,868 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,211 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $138 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 19,562 |
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: $7,160/year ($19,760/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,967/year, or roughly $15,868 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 $2,877/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,578/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,000, which works out to about $138 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,200) and comes to 0.35, 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 | $2,877 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,974 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,002 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $7,355 |
| $110,001+ | $13,578 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay only $2,877 net price per year at Cal State LA - roughly $11,500 over four years assuming continuous enrollment. At this cost, almost any program produces positive financial outcomes for completers. The primary risk is the 53% completion rate - students who don't finish carry debt without credentials, though at this cost level even debt is modest.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $5,002 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $7,355. These prices are competitive with California community colleges for students who need a bachelor's degree. Middle-income families get exceptional value at these prices, particularly in engineering, nursing, and computer science programs where earnings substantially exceed the school's aggregate median.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $13,578 net price per year - about $54,312 over four years. At a 6.4-year payback and strong STEM program earnings, the financial case is robust at every income level. Cal State LA's main challenge for higher-income families is campus culture and residential infrastructure rather than cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Los Angeles with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,716 | B+ |
| Psychology | $37,567 | C |
| Teacher Education | $50,444 | B |
| Sociology | $50,249 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,695 | B |
| Social Work | $59,545 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,930 | C+ |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $39,867 | C |
| Computer Science | $87,525 | B+ |
| Public Health | $56,466 | 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 (147 graduates) earns $98,811 year-one and $116,182 year-four with an A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.192). Median debt is $18,964 against near-six-figure year-one earnings. LA County hospital and clinic employment provides strong placement. Nursing graduates from Cal State LA pair a low-cost education with strong earnings and minimal debt.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (51 graduates) earns $63,981 year-one and $96,014 year-four with an A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.229). Median debt of $14,676 is very low - reflecting Cal State LA's minimal cost structure - against strong LA tech market earnings. The four-year trajectory to $96,014 reflects career progression into the aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics industries concentrated in Southern California.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (126 graduates) earns $55,405 year-one and $93,028 year-four with an A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.235). Median debt of $13,000 is essentially at the school's aggregate median. The four-year trajectory mirrors the regional aerospace and manufacturing industry salary curves.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Cal State LA's largest program at 896 graduates. Year-one earnings of $42,062 and four-year earnings of $62,716 earn a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.327). At a net price of $3,967, even these modest earnings produce excellent payback math. Cal State LA business graduates enter the LA small business, public sector, and regional corporate market. The school's alumni network in the LA Latino business community is a practical advantage not captured in Scorecard data.
Computer Science
Computer Science (170 graduates) earns $44,530 year-one and $87,525 year-four with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.344). Median debt of $15,321 is extremely low relative to expected earnings. Cal State LA CS graduates who target LA-area tech employers - especially mid-size firms and defense contractors - will find the cost-to-outcome ratio hard to beat.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Los Angeles’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 | 91.3% |
| Enrollment | 19,562 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 66.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,690 |
Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges for Cal State LA. The 91.3% admission rate reflects an access mission rather than selectivity. Net price is remarkably low across all income brackets - $2,877 for the lowest bracket and $13,578 for the highest. At these price points, even modest earnings justify enrollment. The combination of low cost and strong LA labor market creates a favorable economic environment for graduates who complete.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The earnings premium score of 99 - the raw value of 1.526 - is exceptional and reflects LA's high wage floor combined with Cal State LA's ultra-low cost. Cal State LA's ROI of 80 reflects its cost efficiency.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Los Angeles (this school) | 80 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| Iowa State University | 79 | $18,589 | $63,386 |
| University of Kansas | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Illinois State University | 74 | $19,398 | $62,117 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State University-Los Angeles side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Cal State LA admits 91.3% of applicants and the Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges - the school uses a comprehensive review process and serves primarily first-generation, low-income, and working-adult students in the Los Angeles basin. At 19,562 undergraduates, it is a large commuter university. The Pell rate is 66.3%. Students who are cost-sensitive, rooted in the LA region, and targeting healthcare or STEM fields will find the financial case compelling. Students seeking a traditional residential campus experience will not find it here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Los Angeles pays off. You'd pay about $3,967 a year after aid ($15,868 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,211 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 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: a three-year loan repayment rate of 67.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $13,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, 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-Los Angeles: Common Questions
Is California State University-Los Angeles worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Los Angeles pays off. It scores 80/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $3,967 a year after aid ($15,868 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,211 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Los Angeles 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 $3,967 a year, or roughly $15,868 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-Los Angeles graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,211 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,411 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-Los Angeles?
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 6.4 years for California State University-Los Angeles. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Los Angeles graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,000, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. 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-Los Angeles?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.0%. 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.