California State University-Fullerton
#9 Best Education Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 70% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $62,951 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $6,555 A-
- 62% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 67.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $67.7 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Education Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $67.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,748,611.
What The Data Says
-
A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 54% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $67.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Fullerton Matters
California State University-Fullerton is a public research university in Fullerton, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 38,546
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications, Health Professions
Why students choose California State University-Fullerton
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 91% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,555 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,951 ten years after enrolling — 54% above the typical college, against $13,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.65 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
California State University-Fullerton enrolls 38,546 students, making it one of the largest public universities in California. With an acceptance rate of 91%, it opens doors for a diverse group of learners, providing ample opportunities for those looking to pursue higher education.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights positive outcomes for graduates, with a median earnings figure of $62,951 a decade after graduation. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's strong focus on career-oriented programs, particularly in Business, Psychology, and Health Professions, suggests a supportive environment for upward economic mobility.
Students can expect a net price of just $6,555, making it an affordable option for many. The median debt for graduates stands at $13,750, allowing many to graduate with manageable financial commitments. This environment is ideal for students dedicated to their studies and career preparation, particularly those who thrive in large, vibrant campus settings.
Rankings
- #9 Best Education Colleges in California
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #15 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #21 Most Affordable Colleges for Communications
- #21 Best Business Colleges in California
- #21 Best MBA Programs in California
- #23 Colleges With the Highest ROI
- #24 Best Communications Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Fullerton is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Fullerton? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fullerton, California, California State University-Fullerton admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,295
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
- Applicants
- 48,748
- Admitted
- 32,527
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · unknown
The acceptance rate tells you how hard California State University-Fullerton is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 14% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 14%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 4%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 0%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 5% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Fullerton? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Fullerton is $20,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,555. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,315 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,470
- Out-of-State
- $20,070
- Avg Net Price
- $6,555
- Median Debt
- $13,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 48%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,315
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,123
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,090
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,631
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State University-Fullerton — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California State University-Fullerton Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Fullerton earn a median of $62,951, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,558
- 8 Years
- $56,954
- 10 Years
- $62,951
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,083)
- 26%
- 100% (1,083)
- 26%
- 100% (1,083)
- 26%
- 100% (1,083)
- 26%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is California State University-Fullerton Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Fullerton delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,555/year ($26,220 total). Graduates earn $62,951 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,774,831 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,748,611 (67.7× your investment). The median debt is $13,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $26,220
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,774,831
- Net Return
- $1,748,611
- ROI Multiple
- 67.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,555
- Median Debt
- $13,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $75,787
- Investment Income
- $-22,162,494
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Fullerton awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 24% $52,762 early-career
- Psychology 11% $35,271 early-career
- Communications 8% $44,031 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $102,234 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $35,271 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $79,729 early-career
- Education 5% $34,410 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $62,657 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California State University-Fullerton's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Fullerton? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fullerton, California, California State University-Fullerton admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Fullerton? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Fullerton is $20,070, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,555. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,315 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,750 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Fullerton Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Fullerton earn a median of $62,951, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Fullerton? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Fullerton. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does California State University-Fullerton offer Early Decision?
No. California State University-Fullerton does not report a binding Early Decision plan (unknown Common Data Set).
Is California State University-Fullerton really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 5% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at California State University-Fullerton (unknown Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at California State University-Fullerton?
About 14% of admitted students choose to enroll at California State University-Fullerton — its yield rate (unknown Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California State University-Fullerton.
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · Close peer57% grad $59,115 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- California State University-FresnoFresno, CA · Close peer56% grad $61,244 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CA · Close peer56% grad $64,876 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · Close peer67% grad $59,979 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of HoustonHouston, TX · Close peer65% grad $62,377 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · Close peer68% grad $62,668 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Fullerton? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Fullerton. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note