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EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State University, Fullerton is a public national university located in Fullerton, California. CSUF is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at CSUF is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $54,586 10 years after enrolling, 60th in California, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, CSUF bachelor students earn 1% more than the national average. CSUF is ranked 13th in California.
California State University, Fullerton’s median net annual cost of $8,003 and average years to graduate of 4.8 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at CSUF sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Psychology, Comms & Media Studies, Health & Fitness, Fine & Studio Arts, Registered Nursing - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$8,003
Average years to graduate
4.8
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #13
Economic score: 0.83
Computer Science
Rank: #34
Economic score: 0.87
History
Rank: #19
Economic score: 2.01
Criminal Justice
Rank: #19
Economic score: 2.2
Sociology
Rank: #20
Economic score: 2.51
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #15
Economic score: 2.58
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #51
Economic score: 2.59
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #17
Economic score: 3.54
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #55
Economic score: 3.92
English Language & Lit
Rank: #67
Economic score: 4.28
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at CSUF - Business Administration, Social Work, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Registered Nursing, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.26
Environmental Engineering
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.28
Civil Engineering
Rank: #22
Economic score: 0.29
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.39
History
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.41
Public Health
Rank: #24
Economic score: 0.48
Health & Fitness
Rank: #47
Economic score: 0.53
English Language & Lit
Rank: #16
Economic score: 0.65
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #40
Economic score: 1.42
Music
Rank: #78
Economic score: 1.68
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.8 years. 79% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at CSUF is 12% higher than the state average, and 12% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At CSUF, Pell Grant recipients represent 47% of the measured graduating class, 12% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at CSUF graduates within 4.9 years.
CSUF is in the top 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, Fullerton’s economic mobility score of 44.24 is calculated by adjusting the 0.76 economic score of lower-income students by the 47% pell grant recipients within the student body. CSUF’s EMS of 44.24 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, Fullerton pays $8,003 a year, $20,712 less than the $28,715 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $8,003
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At CSUF, 74% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $8,003 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 17% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,004. This is 37% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,700
Pell grants
$4,798
State grants
$2,576
Institutional grants
$5,692
California State University, Fullerton offers 2 online bachelor programs, both of which are in hybrid format At the master’s level CSUF offers 5 programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
7
Hybrid programs
5
Percentage of programs online
7%
California State University, Fullerton's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 59% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 45,140 applicants, of which 26,827 were admitted and 4,219 enrolled. CSUF has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
84%
83%
Female
60%
59%
First time
47%
59%
In-state
99%
68%
1st generation
49%
35%
White
17%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
48%
15%
Asian
21%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
12%
12%