California State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-Fullerton at a Glance
California State University, Fullerton is a public research university in Fullerton, California, United States. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the California State University (CSU) system, and its graduate student body of more than 5,000 is one of the largest in the CSU and in all of California. As of fall 2016, the school had 2,083 faculty, of whom 782 were on the tenure track. The university offers 109 degree programs: 55 undergraduate degrees a…
1957
69 years old
$149M
$148.7 million (2023-24)
43,662
38,597 undergrad · 5,065 grad
236 acres
Identity
Is California State University-Fullerton Worth It?
California State University-Fullerton is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $6,555/year net price and $62,951 median earnings, graduates earn 9.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: California State University-Fullerton delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-Fullerton compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 46 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #2 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #3 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #4 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #5 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| #6 | California State University-Sacramento | 97 | $9,338 | $64,876 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-Fullerton's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-Fullerton
The highest-earning program at California State University-Fullerton is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $83,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $15,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-Fullerton earns $83,800, while a Music graduate earns $15,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $13,850 in median debt vs. $15,701 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,555/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,800 | $83,800 | $13,850 |
| Computer Science | $63,200 | $63,200 | $16,552 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $63,000 | $63,000 | $22,638 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,200 | $62,200 | $18,228 |
| Computer Engineering | $59,700 | $59,700 | $19,811 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,200 | $58,200 | $22,000 |
| Economics | $50,100 | $50,100 | $15,379 |
| Information Science/Studies | $45,100 | $45,100 | $16,748 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,900 | $41,900 | $15,000 |
| Public Administration | $37,700 | $37,700 | $14,458 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $37,400 | $37,400 | $15,000 |
| International Business | $34,500 | $34,500 | $13,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,200 | $34,200 | $15,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,200 | $32,200 | $12,500 |
| Philosophy | $31,800 | $31,800 | $24,625 |
| Sociology | $31,500 | $31,500 | $13,774 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,300 | $31,300 | $15,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,000 | $30,000 | $12,750 |
| History | $29,900 | $29,900 | $19,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $29,200 | $29,200 | $15,000 |
| Area Studies | $28,400 | $28,400 | $21,537 |
| Geography and Cartography | $27,600 | $27,600 | $18,085 |
| Psychology, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $12,698 |
| Social Work | $27,400 | $27,400 | N/A |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $27,200 | $27,200 | $15,341 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,100 | $27,100 | $12,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,000 | $27,000 | $18,814 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $26,400 | $26,400 | $17,652 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $26,100 | $26,100 | $17,368 |
| Anthropology | $25,300 | $25,300 | $15,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,200 | $25,200 | $15,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $25,100 | $25,100 | $15,125 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $24,200 | $24,200 | $21,037 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,400 | $22,400 | $24,557 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $22,100 | $22,100 | $14,898 |
| Music | $15,900 | $15,900 | $15,701 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Fullerton, CA
- Student Body
- 38,546 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,555
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,951
- Median Student Debt
- $13,750