California State University-Los Angeles
California State University-Los Angeles — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-Los Angeles at a Glance
California State University, Los Angeles is a public research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. Cal State LA offers 142 bachelor's degree programs, 122 master's degree programs, and 4 doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy in special education, Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Audiology. It also offers 22 teaching credentials.
1947
79 years old
$63M
$62.52 million (2023–24) As of June 30, 2024.
22,740
19,350 undergrad · 3,390 grad
1,031
175 acres
Identity
Is California State University-Los Angeles Worth It?
California State University-Los Angeles is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,967/year net price and $59,211 median earnings, graduates earn 14.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 53% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
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-Los Angeles delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-Los Angeles compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 107 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-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #2 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #3 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #4 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #5 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-Los Angeles's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 14 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-Los Angeles
The highest-earning program at California State University-Los Angeles is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $82,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $20,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-Los Angeles earns $82,000, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $20,700. 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 $12,500 in median debt vs. $14,485 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,967/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 | $82,000 | $82,000 | $12,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $57,200 | $57,200 | $15,125 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $54,600 | $54,600 | $12,833 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $49,500 | $49,500 | $16,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $44,500 | $44,500 | $16,542 |
| Computer Science | $39,900 | $39,900 | $19,207 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $36,700 | $36,700 | $14,666 |
| Air Transportation | $35,200 | $35,200 | N/A |
| History | $33,200 | $33,200 | $12,730 |
| Social Work | $32,300 | $32,300 | $11,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,100 | $31,100 | $10,475 |
| Mathematics | $30,900 | $30,900 | $12,337 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $29,600 | $29,600 | $13,000 |
| Public Health | $29,100 | $29,100 | $13,291 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $28,900 | $28,900 | $14,107 |
| Sociology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $11,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $28,000 | $28,000 | $11,688 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,700 | $27,700 | $12,833 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $13,630 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,300 | $27,300 | $14,464 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $27,100 | $27,100 | $13,291 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,200 | $26,200 | $14,667 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $25,700 | $25,700 | $15,810 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $25,400 | $25,400 | $19,631 |
| Anthropology | $25,200 | $25,200 | $14,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $24,200 | $24,200 | $12,676 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $21,100 | $21,100 | $15,731 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,700 | $20,700 | $14,485 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Student Body
- 19,562 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,967
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,211
- Median Student Debt
- $13,000