California State University-Fullerton
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at California State University-Fullerton, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 22% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 57th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at California State University-Fullerton
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $103,028 | $119,353 | +34% | #23 of 966 | #50 | $12,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $55,093 | $101,408 | -7% | #112 of 189 | #156 | $16,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $72,606 | $95,854 | +11% | #18 of 233 | #104 | $13,274 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $63,468 | $92,618 | -8% | #218 of 258 | #248 | $18,952 |
| Computer Science | $57,307 | $87,460 | -18% | #265 of 349 | #304 | $13,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,252 | $86,808 | -6% | #266 of 318 | #311 | $18,874 |
| Physics | — | $86,504 | +13% | #33 of 107 | #47 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $49,830 | $83,878 | -3% | #64 of 126 | #78 | $12,375 |
| Mathematics | $44,903 | $80,055 | +15% | #85 of 309 | #125 | — |
| Information Science/Studies | $49,897 | $76,482 | -10% | #96 of 148 | #120 | $13,071 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,256 | $71,646 | +5% | #323 of 1176 | #618 | $13,982 |
| Economics | $39,993 | $71,595 | -13% | #254 of 368 | #304 | $13,750 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $27,887 | $71,185 | +7% | #13 of 35 | #18 | $12,789 |
| Public Administration | $36,626 | $68,497 | +5% | #15 of 47 | #26 | $12,981 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $38,869 | $68,170 | +4% | #40 of 110 | #70 | $18,240 |
| Chemistry | $45,076 | $64,857 | +-0% | #123 of 209 | #173 | $17,377 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $33,493 | $63,798 | +24% | #16 of 345 | #57 | $14,265 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $24,594 | $62,436 | +6% | #60 of 215 | #159 | $14,750 |
| International Business | $45,419 | $60,832 | -17% | #102 of 115 | #106 | $21,589 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $35,509 | $58,891 | -2% | #82 of 138 | #113 | $16,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,120 | $58,082 | +3% | #217 of 660 | #375 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $24,706 | $57,408 | +8% | #144 of 476 | #260 | $12,550 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $34,570 | $57,135 | +3% | #243 of 660 | #460 | $11,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | $35,563 | $54,244 | -12% | #100 of 156 | #136 | $15,000 |
| Anthropology | $26,794 | $54,092 | +16% | #37 of 188 | #67 | $16,419 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,711 | $53,966 | -15% | #457 of 565 | #530 | $14,869 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $35,110 | $53,518 | +10% | #16 of 62 | #29 | $17,387 |
| English Language and Literature | $23,783 | $51,845 | +7% | #195 of 576 | #344 | $13,873 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $23,543 | $51,787 | -5% | #350 of 610 | #528 | $14,250 |
| Psychology | $27,965 | $51,661 | +2% | #421 of 1027 | #732 | $12,502 |
| Statistics | — | $51,298 | -44% | #50 of 50 | #50 | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $31,857 | $51,261 | +6% | #50 of 172 | #122 | $12,500 |
| Sociology | $34,714 | $50,922 | -3% | #272 of 462 | #379 | $13,399 |
| Area Studies | $29,316 | $50,739 | -10% | #50 of 70 | #53 | $17,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $26,040 | $48,979 | -15% | #110 of 117 | #112 | — |
| History | $27,083 | $48,309 | -5% | #291 of 459 | #399 | $13,812 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $24,650 | $48,094 | -5% | #93 of 158 | #133 | $16,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $47,581 | -13% | #196 of 225 | #210 | $7,345 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $25,305 | $46,384 | -10% | #78 of 103 | #94 | $19,500 |
| Philosophy | $30,171 | $44,533 | -18% | #74 of 86 | #78 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,839 | $44,365 | +7% | #134 of 423 | #249 | $15,917 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,182 | $42,455 | +7% | #88 of 255 | #148 | $15,000 |
| Music | $23,969 | $39,590 | -8% | #196 of 268 | #223 | $18,000 |
| Public Health | $34,909 | — | — | — | — | $12,489 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $22,723 | $29,715 | -41% | #90 of 90 | #90 | $12,979 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $28,933 | — | — | — | — | $13,000 |
| Dance | $24,087 | — | — | — | — | $24,702 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The California State University-Fullerton Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $899,502
- Avg rent near campus: $2,857/mo — vs ~$1,523/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 90638 (2.9% cap, La Mirada)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
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🏆 Where California State University-Fullerton Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,742 | $17,622 |
| Room | $13,710 | |
| Board | $4,644 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $30,640 | $42,520 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,675 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,466 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,438 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,101 |
| $110,001+ | $14,831 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from California State University-Fullerton's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton?
How much does it cost to attend California State University-Fullerton?
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
Is California State University-Fullerton a good school?
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend California State University-Fullerton?
Is there rental demand near California State University-Fullerton?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for California State University-Fullerton — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology