California State University-Dominguez Hills is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Carson, California. It enrolls 12,538 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes23
Value96
Affordability94
Selectivity13
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 93.3%, California State University-Dominguez Hills is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
93.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Dominguez Hills is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California State University-Dominguez Hills isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,615 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,615
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
63%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,449
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,049
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,444
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,920
Books & Supplies
$1,152
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,880
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,888
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,191
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,303
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,090
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,855
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,323
Over $110,000
$18,947
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$13,807Medianpercentile
$22,75075%percentile
$32,30290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,250
↓ $2,557
No Pell $12,500
↓ $1,307
Dependent students $8,872
↓ $4,935
Independent students $13,000
↓ $807
Female students $12,000
↓ $1,807
Male students $11,649
↓ $2,158
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,458, less than completers ($13,807), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Dominguez Hills graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Dominguez Hills earn a median of $57,162 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,162
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,500, about 11% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California State University-Dominguez Hills is home to 12,538 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 59% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
12,538
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
59%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 70.8%8,882
Black 12.6%1,581
Asian 6.9%866
White 4.0%497
Other 2.5%318
International 0.9%108
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Dominguez Hills. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityCarson, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing1,167 beds
Adult Learners
31%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
California State University-Dominguez Hills offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
66 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Dominguez Hills is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,631
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$24M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$96,999
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
425 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
119
28%
$125,802
Associate Professors
88
21%
$104,715
Assistant Professors
92
22%
$86,610
Lecturers
126
30%
$71,995
Pros & Cons of California State University-Dominguez Hills
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Dominguez Hills tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, California State University-Dominguez Hills is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Dominguez Hills
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Dominguez Hills.
Is California State University-Dominguez Hills hard to get into?
California State University-Dominguez Hills has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Dominguez Hills?
California State University-Dominguez Hills has an acceptance rate of 93.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California State University-Dominguez Hills cost?
The average net price after aid at California State University-Dominguez Hills is $8,615 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California State University-Dominguez Hills worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,162 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,615 per year. That's roughly 6.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California State University-Dominguez Hills known for?
California State University-Dominguez Hills is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Dominguez Hills are $57,162, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California State University-Dominguez Hills accredited?
Yes. California State University-Dominguez Hills is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California State University-Dominguez Hills?
California State University-Dominguez Hills enrolls 12,538 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Dominguez Hills?
California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California State University-Dominguez Hills a public or private college?
California State University-Dominguez Hills is a Public institution.
Where is California State University-Dominguez Hills located?
California State University-Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California.
What programs does California State University-Dominguez Hills offer?
California State University-Dominguez Hills offers 66 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Dominguez Hills?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Dominguez Hills is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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For-profit colleges
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Earnings
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Rankings That Feature California State University-Dominguez Hills
California State University-Dominguez Hills appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$2,984 Lowest Net
$25,619 Avg Net
88 UCD Score
$63,163 Top Earn
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$2,984 Lowest Net
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94 UCD Score
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$3,033 Lowest Net
$20,654 Avg Net
94 UCD Score
$110,066 Top Earn
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