Fullerton College is a public community college in Fullerton, California, with about 17,121 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $6,134 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,150. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (60.5%) and White (14.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,150
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $6,134 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,121 42.1% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 33.83%
  • Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
  • First-Generation Students: 53.3%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 32.7%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,804
  • Room & Board: $22,086 annual estimate

Fullerton College: what the data shows

Common questions about Fullerton College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Fullerton College?

Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (ZIP 92832-2095).

NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.

Is Fullerton College public or private?

Fullerton College is a Public institution.

How much does Fullerton College cost?

Published tuition: $1,150 in-state, $12,379 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $6,134.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$4,944
$30,001–$48,000$5,200
$48,001–$75,000$7,915
$75,001–$110,000$10,392
$110,001+$11,574

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,600.

How big is Fullerton College?

Total enrollment: 17,121 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 28,804 students.

About 42% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Fullerton College?

150%-time completion rate: 33.83%.

First-year retention: 72.0%.

What do graduates of Fullerton College earn?

Median earnings: $34,531 six years after entry; $43,366 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $4,500.

26.55% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Fullerton College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Fullerton College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 33.83%; median earnings $43,366 at 10 years; net price $6,134. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$1,150
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Fullerton College was $1,150.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$6,134
2024 Value

In 2024 Fullerton College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,134.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$24,536 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$6,134 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$4,600 4-Year In-State Tuition

$49,516 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$22,086 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$2,267 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$25,503 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$102,012 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Fullerton College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

26.55% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

2.01% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.10%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Fullerton College was 0.10%.

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 Fullerton College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$1,138$6,010$4,330
2014$1,138$6,010$6,456
2015$1,138$6,010$5,722
2016$1,138$6,010$5,306
2017$1,138$6,010$4,285
2018$1,138$6,010$5,289
2019$1,142$6,398$5,794
2020$1,154$7,514$7,721
2021$1,154$7,802$9,765
2022$1,150$9,538$8,418
2023$1,150$9,399$8,090

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

Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.

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

Fullerton College reported total enrollment of about 17,121 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (60.5%), White (14.8%), and Asian (12.9%). About 26.55% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 53.3% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

42.1% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Fullerton College in 2024 is 17,121 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 28,804 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

72.0%
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 60.5%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

8.95% 100% Completion Time

33.83% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 8.95% of students graduating from Fullerton College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 42% male / 58% female
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 38% male / 62% female
  • Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% 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 Fullerton College.

Return on Investment

$4,500 Median Student Debt

$43,366 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

10.38% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

1667.44% Return on Investment

1.0 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Fullerton College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 86 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,490 completions

2. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 1,110 completions

3. Business Administration and Management, General: 383 completions

4. Psychology, General: 185 completions

5. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 117 completions

6. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 105 completions

7. Sociology, General: 85 completions

8. Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs: 76 completions

9. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 76 completions

Most popular programs at Fullerton College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Fullerton College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Fullerton College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 32.7%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,251
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,826

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Fullerton College is a public institution located in Fullerton, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 17,121 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (60.5%), White (14.8%), Asian (12.9%). The 150%-time completion rate is 33.83%. Approximately 26.55% of students receive Pell Grants. About 53.3% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional

Location

Fullerton, CA 92832-2095

Region: Far West

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 33.83% graduation rate at Fullerton College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 86 distinct degree programs, Fullerton College 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 Fullerton College located?

Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA.

How much does Fullerton College cost?

Reported tuition is $1,150 and average net price is $6,134 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Fullerton College?

Fullerton College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 28,804 students, Hispanic or Latino (60.5%), White (14.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Fullerton College?

About 53.3% of students at Fullerton College are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of Fullerton College earn?

Median earnings are $34,531 six years after entry and $43,366 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Fullerton College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 33.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Fullerton College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $4,500.

Is Fullerton College public or private?

Fullerton College is a public institution located in Fullerton, CA.

Is Fullerton College an HBCU?

No. Fullerton College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Fullerton College a tribal college?

No. Fullerton College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is Fullerton College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Fullerton College reports 60.5% Hispanic enrollment share.

Is Fullerton College religiously affiliated?

No religious affiliation is reported for Fullerton College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • California trade schools profile
  • 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.