California State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
California State University-Fullerton is a public research university in Fullerton, California, enrolling about 38,546 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 90.52% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $62,951 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $7,470
- 2024 Average Net Price: $6,555 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 90.52% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 38,546 82.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 70.18%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 49.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 24.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 50.4%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 42,731
- Applicants (IPEDS): 48,591
- Room & Board: $19,080 annual estimate
California State University-Fullerton: what the data shows
Common questions about California State University-Fullerton, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (ZIP 92832-3599).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is California State University-Fullerton public or private?
California State University-Fullerton is a Public institution.
How much does California State University-Fullerton cost?
Published tuition: $7,470 in-state, $20,070 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $6,555.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,315 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,123 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,090 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $8,930 |
| $110,001+ | $15,631 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $29,880.
How hard is it to get into California State University-Fullerton?
Admission rate: 90.52%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is California State University-Fullerton?
Total enrollment: 38,546 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 42,731 students.
Graduate enrollment: 4,902 students.
About 82% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
150%-time completion rate: 70.18%.
First-year retention: 82.4%.
What do graduates of California State University-Fullerton earn?
Median earnings: $48,558 six years after entry; $62,951 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $13,750.
48.07% of students receive Pell grants.
What is California State University-Fullerton known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (2,397 completions)
- Psychology, General (1,106 completions)
- Computer Science (693 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (633 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (628 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (507 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (392 completions)
- Public Health, General (375 completions)
- Sociology, General (342 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (312 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is California State University-Fullerton a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 90.52%; completion rate 70.18%; median earnings $62,951 at 10 years; net price $6,555. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$7,470
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California State University-Fullerton was $7,470.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$6,555
2024 Value
In 2024 California State University-Fullerton had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,555.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,220 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$6,555 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$29,880 4-Year In-State Tuition
$80,280 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,080 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,005 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$27,555 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$110,220 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for California State University-Fullerton.
Financial Aid by Income Level
48.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
21.98% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California State University-Fullerton was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California State University-Fullerton in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,186 | $17,346 | $9,034 |
| 2014 | $6,315 | $17,475 | $7,237 |
| 2015 | $6,437 | $17,597 | $7,454 |
| 2016 | $6,560 | $17,720 | $8,311 |
| 2017 | $6,850 | $18,730 | $8,737 |
| 2018 | $6,886 | $18,766 | $8,234 |
| 2019 | $6,924 | $18,804 | $7,991 |
| 2020 | $6,953 | $18,833 | $8,003 |
| 2021 | $6,976 | $18,856 | $4,211 |
| 2022 | $7,007 | $18,887 | $7,485 |
| 2023 | $7,073 | $18,953 | $5,646 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
90.52% Acceptance Rate
48,591 Total Applicants
42,149 Students Admitted
7,070 First-Time Students Enrolled
16.77% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California State University-Fullerton reported total enrollment of about 38,546 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (56.2%), Asian (20.8%), and White (13.2%). About 48.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 49.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
82.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California State University-Fullerton in 2024 is 38,546 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 42,731 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,902 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 56.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
38.97% 100% Completion Time
70.18% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 38.97% of students graduating from California State University-Fullerton completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 55% male / 45% female
- Psychology, General: 23% male / 77% female
- Computer Science: 80% male / 20% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California State University-Fullerton.
Return on Investment
$13,750 Median Student Debt
$62,951 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
21.84% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
2300.88% Return on Investment
2.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for California State University-Fullerton.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 79 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 2,397 completions
2. Psychology, General: 1,106 completions
3. Computer Science: 693 completions
4. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 633 completions
5. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 628 completions
6. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 507 completions
7. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 392 completions
8. Public Health, General: 375 completions
9. Sociology, General: 342 completions
Most popular programs at California State University-Fullerton.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for California State University-Fullerton graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for California State University-Fullerton from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 50.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,295
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,992
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
California State University-Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Computer Science. Enrollment is approximately 38,546 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (56.2%), Asian (20.8%), White (13.2%). The admission rate is 90.52%. The 150%-time completion rate is 70.18%. Approximately 48.07% of students receive Pell Grants. About 49.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Fullerton, CA 92832-3599
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 79 distinct degree programs, California State University-Fullerton provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is California State University-Fullerton located?
California State University-Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA.
What is California State University-Fullerton's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at California State University-Fullerton is 90.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 48,591 applicants and 42,149 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does California State University-Fullerton cost?
Reported tuition is $7,470 and average net price is $6,555 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,080 annually.
What is the student body demographics at California State University-Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton reports undergraduate enrollment of about 42,731 students, Hispanic or Latino (56.2%), Asian (20.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend California State University-Fullerton?
About 49.4% of students at California State University-Fullerton are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of California State University-Fullerton earn?
Median earnings are $48,558 six years after entry and $62,951 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
The 150%-time completion rate is 70.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do California State University-Fullerton students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,750.
Is California State University-Fullerton public or private?
California State University-Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, CA.
Is California State University-Fullerton an HBCU?
No. California State University-Fullerton is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is California State University-Fullerton a tribal college?
No. California State University-Fullerton is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is California State University-Fullerton a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—California State University-Fullerton reports 56.2% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- University of California-Los Angeles vs University of California-Berkeley vs California State University-Fullerton
- Fullerton, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- University of California-Los Angeles vs University of California-Berkeley vs California State University-Fullerton
- Fullerton, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.