California State University-Los Angeles
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-Los Angeles, 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: 44th 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-Los Angeles
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 | $98,811 | $116,182 | +31% | #39 of 966 | #74 | $12,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $63,981 | $96,014 | -5% | #167 of 258 | #234 | $14,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $73,178 | $94,760 | +10% | #23 of 233 | #125 | $16,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $55,405 | $93,028 | +1% | #127 of 318 | #277 | $12,500 |
| Computer Science | $44,530 | $87,525 | -18% | #264 of 349 | #302 | $14,429 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $45,287 | $86,970 | +8% | #16 of 51 | #36 | $15,967 |
| Mathematics | $37,845 | $70,677 | +2% | #152 of 309 | #204 | $13,221 |
| Air Transportation | $46,267 | $70,508 | -18% | #47 of 52 | #49 | $14,914 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $45,355 | $69,022 | -25% | #387 of 459 | #432 | $13,200 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $50,428 | $67,441 | +3% | #48 of 110 | #75 | $16,156 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $39,266 | $65,366 | +4% | #27 of 49 | #39 | $15,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,062 | $62,716 | -8% | #681 of 1176 | #946 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $30,824 | $59,904 | +13% | #97 of 476 | #206 | $14,971 |
| Social Work | $37,477 | $59,545 | +15% | #51 of 420 | #177 | $11,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $32,805 | $57,695 | +3% | #36 of 85 | #56 | $12,500 |
| Public Health | $40,750 | $56,466 | -4% | #114 of 215 | #157 | $12,457 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,818 | $56,063 | -11% | #416 of 565 | #507 | $9,895 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $27,058 | $55,970 | +8% | #31 of 103 | #45 | $22,000 |
| History | $26,862 | $55,413 | +9% | #123 of 459 | #242 | $14,777 |
| Economics | $32,877 | $54,998 | -33% | #362 of 368 | #365 | $11,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,974 | $54,695 | -1% | #328 of 660 | #536 | $11,000 |
| Biology | $33,304 | $53,908 | -6% | #562 of 841 | #742 | $12,460 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $28,702 | $53,857 | -9% | #170 of 215 | #205 | $11,900 |
| Philosophy | — | $53,127 | -2% | #53 of 86 | #63 | — |
| Food Science and Technology | $52,806 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | $31,096 | $52,797 | -12% | #49 of 53 | #51 | $13,979 |
| English Language and Literature | $23,858 | $52,259 | +8% | #190 of 576 | #337 | $14,500 |
| Chemistry | $44,944 | $51,747 | -21% | #201 of 209 | #206 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $28,725 | $51,414 | +6% | #52 of 137 | #73 | $12,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,366 | $50,444 | +6% | #219 of 680 | #537 | $11,000 |
| Sociology | $34,092 | $50,249 | -5% | #283 of 462 | #389 | $12,177 |
| Fire Protection | $48,289 | — | — | — | — | $12,500 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $29,457 | $46,060 | -9% | #48 of 59 | #57 | $12,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,687 | $44,930 | -18% | #544 of 610 | #598 | $14,108 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,538 | $40,783 | -1% | #233 of 423 | #322 | $18,500 |
| Natural Sciences | $39,870 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $22,133 | $39,867 | -21% | #148 of 158 | #154 | $16,000 |
| Music | $21,509 | $39,120 | -9% | #206 of 268 | #227 | $12,290 |
| Psychology | $37,567 | — | — | — | — | $20,600 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $20,433 | $35,591 | -35% | #222 of 225 | #223 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $16,645 | $35,097 | -12% | #207 of 255 | #233 | $10,571 |
| Geography and Cartography | $33,727 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Anthropology | $29,364 | — | — | — | — | $14,199 |
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-Los Angeles Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $800,326
- Avg rent near campus: $2,423/mo — vs ~$1,133/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 90012 (3.3% cap, Los Angeles)
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-Los Angeles 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 | $10,198 | |
| Board | $5,346 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $33,345 | $45,225 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,855 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,231 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,373 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,813 |
| $110,001+ | $14,599 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from California State University-Los Angeles'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-Los Angeles?
How much does it cost to attend California State University-Los Angeles?
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Los Angeles?
Is California State University-Los Angeles a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (A): 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-Los Angeles?
Is there rental demand near California State University-Los Angeles?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for California State University-Los Angeles — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to California State University-Los Angeles
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology