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California State University-Fullerton

Public Graduate Strong 84/100

California State University-Fullerton

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Fullerton, California

About California State University-Fullerton

California State University-Fullerton is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fullerton, California. It enrolls 38,546 students (a very 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.

Official website: fullerton.edu

Acceptance: 90.5%
Graduation: 72.9%
Net Price: $6,555
Median Earnings (10yr): $62,951
Enrollment: 38,546
Student : Faculty: 22:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

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

84/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 75

Value 99

Affordability 89

Selectivity 20

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 90.5%, California State University-Fullerton is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

90.5%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants 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-Fullerton is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 34.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California State University-Fullerton 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 $6,555 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$6,555

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

48%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

22%

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): $7,470
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $20,070
Room & Board (on-campus): $19,080
Room & Board (off-campus): $19,074
Books & Supplies: $1,005
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,443
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,190
Total Cost of Attendance: $18,269

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

$3,315
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,123
$48,001 – $75,000

$6,090
$75,001 – $110,000

$8,930
Over $110,000

$15,631

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.

$3,537

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$13,750

Median percentile

$23,095

75% percentile

$31,000

90% 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 $11,000 ↓ $2,750

No Pell $13,443 ↓ $307

Dependent students $11,250 ↓ $2,500

Independent students $12,500 ↓ $1,250

Female students $11,913 ↓ $1,837

Male students $12,000 ↓ $1,750

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($13,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

73% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Fullerton graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

73%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

84%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Fullerton earn a median of $62,951 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$62,951

Earning > $25K

82%

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

$47,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$58,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$50,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$52,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$55,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,700, about 18% 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 ↑ 12.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California State University-Fullerton is home to 38,546 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

38,546

Part-Time

18%

First-Generation

49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 56.2% 21,663

Asian 20.8% 8,014

White 13.2% 5,100

Other 4.1% 1,561

Black 2.5% 964

International 1.0% 378

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Fullerton. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Fullerton, California

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 2,278 beds

Adult Learners

16% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

California State University-Fullerton offers an extensive catalog of programs: 99 distinct programs across 23 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.

5 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
International Business $73K ($51K–$99K)

10 Programs

Health

Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)

3 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

9 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

2 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

9 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fullerton is 22:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

22:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$6,642

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$131M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$99,964

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,054 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	372	35%	$120,474
Associate Professors	246	23%	$107,337
Assistant Professors	155	15%	$93,988
Lecturers	281	27%	$69,653

Pros & Cons of California State University-Fullerton

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Fullerton 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
Wide variety of programs and student life
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal

Best for: Based on the data, California State University-Fullerton 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; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.

Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Fullerton

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Fullerton.

Is California State University-Fullerton hard to get into?

California State University-Fullerton has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.5%.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton?

California State University-Fullerton has an acceptance rate of 90.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does California State University-Fullerton cost?

The average net price after aid at California State University-Fullerton is $6,555 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-Fullerton worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,951 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,555 per year. That's roughly 9.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is California State University-Fullerton known for?

California State University-Fullerton is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do California State University-Fullerton graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Fullerton are $62,951, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is California State University-Fullerton accredited?

Yes. California State University-Fullerton is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend California State University-Fullerton?

California State University-Fullerton enrolls 38,546 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?

California State University-Fullerton graduates 73% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is California State University-Fullerton a public or private college?

California State University-Fullerton is a Public institution.

Where is California State University-Fullerton located?

California State University-Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California.

What programs does California State University-Fullerton offer?

California State University-Fullerton offers 99 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Communication & Media.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fullerton?

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fullerton is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.