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Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Fullerton, CA NCAA Division I without football

California State University Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

90.5%
Acceptance Rate
$31,998/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$6,555/yr
Avg Price After Aid
69.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
38,546
Undergrads

About California State University Fullerton

California State University Fullerton is a public four-year institution in Fullerton, California, a large suburb in Orange County. It enrolls 38,546 students at a 26:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The cost of attendance is $31,998, against an average net price of $6,555.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
38,546
Avg Faculty Salary
$110,624
Athletics
NCAA Division I without football
Endowment
$142.2M
Pell Students
48.1%
First-Gen
49.4%
What California State University Fullerton Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... 613 graduates · 6.5% of degrees here vs 0.45% nationally 15×
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 504 graduates · 5.3% of degrees here vs 0.63% nationally
Public Health 344 graduates · 3.7% of degrees here vs 0.53% nationally
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 598 graduates · 6.3% of degrees here vs 1.25% nationally
Business Administration and Management,... 2,198 graduates · 23.3% of degrees here vs 6.78% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
90.5%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
48,591
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$6,555 avg net
Average net price after aid
$3,315
Under $30K income
$142.2M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$48,558 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
69.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
$13,750
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

California State University Fullerton Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
90.5%
48,591 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
26:1
Undergrad instruction

California State University Fullerton received 48,591 applications for Fall 2023, admitted 42,149 students, and enrolled 7,070. The reported acceptance rate is 90.5%.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 48,591 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 20,402 17,447 85.5% 3,070
Women 28,189 24,702 87.6% 4,000
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

California State University Fullerton admits 90.5% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
90.5%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
CA (130)
76.5%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (70)
74.9%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

California State University Fullerton Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$6,555
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$13,750
Federal Loan Rate
22%
Students borrowing federal loans

In-state tuition and fees are $7,470 and the full cost of attendance is $31,998. The average net price after grant aid is $6,555.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$31,998
In-state Tuition & Fees
$7,470
23%
Room & Board
$19,080
60%
Books & Supplies
$1,005
3%
Other Expenses
$4,443
14%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$3,315
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,123
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,090
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,930
Over $110,000
$15,631
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
48%
Federal loans
22%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $146.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, California State University Fullerton costs $6,555 a year — about 55% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$18,269
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
CA (253)
$22,850
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (124)
$28,033
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
48%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
CA (409)
84.4%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (202)
86.6%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$13,750
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
CA (416)
$10,750
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (212)
$12,419
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$6,555
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
CA (503)
$20,807
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (257)
$21,840
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

California State University Fullerton Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
69.7%
Median Earnings 6yr
$48,558
6 years after entering

The six-year graduation rate is 69.7%. Median earnings are $48,558 six years after entry, rising to $62,951 at the ten-year mark.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$52,425
Men
$46,549
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
69.2%
Pell recipients
71.5%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Business Administration and Management,...2,198
Psychology, General1,071
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical...613
Speech Communication and Rhetoric598
Early Childhood Education and Teaching504
Computer Science449
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies380
Public Health, General344
Sociology, General322
Fine/Studio Arts, General290
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
79.9%
White
69.9%
Hispanic
66.7%
Black
58.5%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering California State University Fullerton are $56,954, and 66% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former California State University Fullerton students earn $48,558 — 5% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$62,951
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
CA (462)
$41,247
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (239)
$41,472
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$48,558
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
CA (488)
$36,007
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (250)
$35,608
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
69.7%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
CA (168)
61.2%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (94)
62.7%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
83.5%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
CA (124)
81.4%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (68)
80.1%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

California State University Fullerton Campus, Athletics & Faculty

The campus sits in Fullerton, a large suburb in Orange County. Of 38,546 students, 55.9% are women, 56.2% are Hispanic, and 49.4% are first-generation.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
13.2%
Asian
20.8%
Hispanic
56.2%
Black
2.5%
Other Indicators
First-generation
49.4%
Pell grant recipients
48.1%
Women
55.9%
California State University Fullerton Athletics
Total Revenue
$11.2M
Total Expense
$11.2M
Athletes
497
209 men · 288 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$174,718
Women's sports
$116,003

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$1,813,944
Women's aid
$2,746,683
Academic Resources
1,088
Full-time faculty
$110,624
Avg faculty salary
10,086
FT staff
$142.2M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$114,533
Women (avg)
$106,979
Overall avg
$110,624
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
38,546
Graduate students
4,902
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
1.3%

374 of 29,670 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
7.8%
Undergrads taking any
62.3%
Grad students fully online
18%

2,881 of 37,125 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 871 of 4,837 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

California State University Fullerton is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
48.1%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
CA (541)
43.5%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (276)
48.4%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$2,798
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
CA (193)
$6,054
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (96)
$5,525
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
26:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
CA (559)
19:1
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (285)
19:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at California State University Fullerton
52 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
9,421 graduates
Business and Marketing 2,254 grads · 2 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 2,198
International Business/Trade/Commerce 56
Psychology 1,071 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 1,071
Health Professions 773 grads · 4 majors
Public Health, General 344
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 290
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 135
Health Services/Allied Health/Health... 4
Communication and Journalism 747 grads · 2 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 598
Radio and Television 149
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 613 grads · 1 major
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... 613
Visual and Performing Arts 590 grads · 7 majors
Fine/Studio Arts, General 290
Art/Art Studies, General 145
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 71
Music, General 35
Music Performance, General 32
Dance, General 16
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 1
Social Sciences 547 grads · 6 majors
Sociology, General 322
Political Science and Government, General 92
Economics, General 47
Social Sciences, General 39
Anthropology, General 28
Geography 19
Education 504 grads · 1 major
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 504
Computer and Information Sciences 449 grads · 1 major
Computer Science 449
Homeland Security and Protective Services 380 grads · 1 major
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 380
Engineering 310 grads · 4 majors
Mechanical Engineering 136
Civil Engineering, General 92
Computer Engineering, General 43
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 39
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 296 grads · 2 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 242
Biochemistry 54
Public Administration and Social Services 243 grads · 2 majors
Human Services, General 219
Public Administration 24
Liberal Arts and General Studies 154 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 154
English Language and Literature 141 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 141
History 126 grads · 1 major
History, General 126
Mathematics and Statistics 63 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 63
Physical Sciences 50 grads · 4 majors
Chemistry, General 22
Geological and Earth... 12
Geology/Earth Science, General 12
Physics, General 4
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 49 grads · 5 majors
Spanish Language and Literature 22
Linguistics 14
Japanese Language and Literature 11
Comparative Literature 1
French Language and Literature 1
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 37 grads · 3 majors
American/United States Studies/Civilization 16
Women's Studies 11
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and... 10
Philosophy and Religious Studies 24 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 22
Religion/Religious Studies 2
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

California State University Fullerton Location & Campus Safety

California State University Fullerton is in Fullerton, CA, in what IPEDS classifies as a large suburb setting. The campus sits about 2.5 miles from the center of Fullerton. There are 43 other colleges within 25 miles, and Irvine, CA is 15.5 miles away.

California State University Fullerton Other colleges within 30 miles
Large suburb
Campus Setting
2.5 mi
To City Center
43
Colleges Within 25 mi
141,278
Fullerton Population
Living in Fullerton
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$2,124
Median Rent / mo
$104,219
Median Household Income
36.1%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
70.6%
Walk
2.4%
Public transit
2.2%

Orange County scores 13.3 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 8% of Fullerton's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near California State University Fullerton
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Chapman University 7,478 students 6.4 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, California State University Fullerton to each campus

Campus Safety at California State University Fullerton

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures California State University Fullerton reported for 2024.

23
On-Campus Offenses
14
In Residence Halls
0.5
Per 1,000 Students
43
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
29
2023
39
2024
23
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
8
Burglary
7
Aggravated assault
3
Arson
3
Motor vehicle theft
2

Separately, California State University Fullerton reported 11 arrests and 98 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about California State University Fullerton admissions, costs, and outcomes.