California State University-Los Angeles
#7 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,211 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $3,967 A
- 77% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 105.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $105.1 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Colleges for Low-Income Students.
Every $1 spent returns $105.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,651,809.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 45% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $105.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Los Angeles Matters
California State University-Los Angeles is a public university in Los Angeles, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 19,562
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Why students choose California State University-Los Angeles
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 $3,967 a year after grants and scholarships — 77% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,211 ten years after enrolling — 45% above the typical college, against $13,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.28 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
California State University-Los Angeles has a low net price of $3,967, making higher education accessible for many students. With an acceptance rate of 91%, this school welcomes a diverse range of applicants. Enrollment stands at 19,562, creating a vibrant campus community in Los Angeles.
Graduates from California State University-Los Angeles earn an average of $59,211 within ten years of completing their degree. The school serves a significant population of Pell Grant recipients, with 66% of students receiving financial aid. This support plays a crucial role in helping students from lower-income backgrounds achieve their educational goals and improve their economic standing.
Students thrive here if they are interested in practical fields such as Business, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice. The graduation rate is 53%, which indicates that while many students successfully complete their degrees, there is room for improvement. With a median debt of $13,000, graduates leave with manageable loans in relation to their potential earnings. Overall, California State University-Los Angeles represents a solid option for students seeking affordability and strong earning potential in a vibrant urban setting.
Rankings
- #7 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #10 Most Affordable Colleges in California
- #10 Most Affordable Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #14 Best Education Colleges in California
- #15 Cheapest Online Bachelor's Programs
- #15 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #15 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Programs
- #16 Most Affordable Colleges
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Los Angeles 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-Los Angeles? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, California State University-Los Angeles admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 42%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,690
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.38
- First-Gen Students
- 62%
- Applicants
- 33,939
- Admitted
- 29,507
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard California State University-Los Angeles 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. 9% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 9%
- of admits enroll
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-Los Angeles? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Los Angeles is $19,760, 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 $3,967. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,877 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,160
- Out-of-State
- $19,760
- Avg Net Price
- $3,967
- Median Debt
- $13,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 66%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,877
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,974
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,002
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,578
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-Los Angeles — 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-Los Angeles Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Los Angeles earn a median of $59,211, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,702
- 8 Years
- $51,588
- 10 Years
- $59,211
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (297)
- 9%
- 100% (297)
- 9%
- 100% (297)
- 9%
- 100% (297)
- 9%
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-Los Angeles Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Los Angeles delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,967/year ($15,868 total). Graduates earn $59,211 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,667,677 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,651,809 (105.1× your investment). The median debt is $13,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $15,868
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,667,677
- Net Return
- $1,651,809
- ROI Multiple
- 105.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,967
- Median Debt
- $13,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-17,233,461
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Los Angeles 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 16% $46,949 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $104,024 early-career
- Psychology 9% $29,511 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $47,206 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $40,390 early-career
- Communications 6% $26,589 early-career
- Education 6% $34,164 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $27,526 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-Los Angeles'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Los Angeles? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, California State University-Los Angeles admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Los Angeles? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Los Angeles is $19,760, 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 $3,967. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,877 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,000 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Los Angeles Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Los Angeles earn a median of $59,211, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Los Angeles? 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-Los Angeles. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does California State University-Los Angeles offer Early Decision?
No. California State University-Los Angeles does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at California State University-Los Angeles?
About 9% of admitted students choose to enroll at California State University-Los Angeles — its yield rate (2024-25 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-Los Angeles.
- California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · Close peer55% grad $59,977 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-FresnoFresno, CA · Close peer56% grad $61,244 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · Close peer57% grad $59,115 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-BakersfieldBakersfield, CA · Close peer50% grad $59,009 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Portland State UniversityPortland, OR · Close peer53% grad $57,906 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, CA · Close peer45% grad $57,162 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Los Angeles? 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-Los Angeles. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note