Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large suburb

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, California. 38,546 undergraduates. Admits 91% of applicants.

68%Graduation rate14 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$5,115Average net price per year74% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$69,015Median earnings 10 years after starting17% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$13,594Median debt at graduation37% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($13,594) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($69,015). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$2,620
$30,000–$48,000$2,878
$48,001–$75,000$3,852
$75,001–$110,000$6,994
Over $110,000$14,753

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $7,952 in-state, $21,272 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate68%54%
Return for second year82%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$54,356$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$69,015$58,912
Median debt at graduation$13,594$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

111 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing292$110,306$117,513$19,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering39$79,893$109,325$21,619
Computer Engineering44$57,140$108,549$20,163
Mechanical Engineering136$73,880$99,434$14,000
Computer Science450$66,678$98,448$15,062
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods—$60,906$95,685$15,000
Civil Engineering92$73,973$94,822$11,000
Economics48$51,587$82,223$15,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$37,176$79,452$17,316
Information Science/Studies—$61,915$76,495$12,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations2,245$55,060$75,129$13,313
Public Administration25$46,239$72,926$11,375
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas—$27,439$71,249$16,250
International Business56$50,495$69,952$14,900
Chemistry22$37,661$69,570$16,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology54$43,901$66,879$13,126
Communication and Media Studies601$43,310$66,618$12,437
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences25$48,818$64,859$21,249
Political Science and Government92$32,934$64,468$12,200
Criminal Justice and Corrections392$41,640$64,058$12,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services146$36,334$63,508$11,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General4$38,412$62,814—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness613$32,809$60,484$11,480
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities155$32,889$60,001$13,669
Sociology330$40,907$58,907$12,500
Area Studies30$32,943$58,397—
Psychology, General1,085$35,532$57,729$12,250
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services16—$57,125—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$41,114$55,760$12,466
History127$32,968$55,339$15,000
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication154$32,283$55,106$13,000
Philosophy25$34,825$54,944—
English Language and Literature, General144$31,757$53,744$15,992
Anthropology32$44,837$52,876$18,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies28$35,010$51,345$22,941
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology—$39,027$50,683$18,750
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft72$23,349$50,343$14,792
Geography and Cartography20$45,212$48,588—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics29$39,257$46,877—
Music67$25,043$46,473$27,000
Fine and Studio Arts447$28,901$45,259$14,928
Public Health347$42,323—$12,000
Human Services, General226$39,019—$12,800
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods507$33,776—$12,016
Dance16$29,111——
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics12———
Biology, General244———
Mathematics64———
Religion/Religious Studies6———
Physics5———
Social Sciences, General39——$24,121
Visual and Performing Arts, General———$11,000

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

91%Admission rate
26:1Students per faculty member
53%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does California State University-Fullerton cost per year?
The average net price at California State University-Fullerton, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $5,115 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California State University-Fullerton graduates earn?
Former California State University-Fullerton students earn a median of $69,015 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
68% of California State University-Fullerton students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California State University-Fullerton graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California State University-Fullerton is $13,594. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.