California State University-Fullerton

www.fullerton.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,742

2021 Average Net Price

$4,939

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.814%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

59.4%

45,140 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

40,738

73.9% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

71.5%

3,064 Graduates

About

California State University-Fullerton is a higher education institution located in Orange County, CA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at California State University-Fullerton were General Business Administration & Management (2,451 degrees awarded), General Psychology (791 degrees), and Speech Communication & Rhetoric (754 degrees).

In 2021, 11,652 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at California State University-Fullerton. 59.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was hispanic or latino (4,738 degrees), 1.85 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (2,562 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at California State University-Fullerton is $5,742, which is $−23,250 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at California State University-Fullerton is $5,742, which is $−23,250 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $4,939.

In 2021, 66% of undergraduate students attending California State University-Fullerton received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 19% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,742

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at California State University-Fullerton was $5,742. The cost of tuition at California State University-Fullerton is $−23,250 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

This chart compares the tuition costs of California State University-Fullerton (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$4,939

2021 Value

40.7%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 California State University-Fullerton had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $4,939. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of California State University-Fullerton grew by 40.7%.

This chart compares the average net price of California State University-Fullerton (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,944

Room and Board

$1,150

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at California State University-Fullerton was of $15,944 in 2021. The cost of room and board decreased by 0.478% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,150. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 44.1% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at California State University-Fullerton (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

66%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

19%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

66% of undergraduate students at California State University-Fullerton received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 2.94% with respect to 2020, when 68% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at California State University-Fullerton (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.814%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at California State University-Fullerton was 0.814%, which represents 50 out of the 6142 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

California State University-Fullerton received 45,140 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 0.68% annual growth. Out of those 45,140 applicants, 26,827 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 59.4% acceptance rate.

There were 40,738 students enrolled at California State University-Fullerton in 2021. 97% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

California State University-Fullerton has an overall enrollment yield of 15.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

59.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

26,827

Accepted Out of 45,140

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of California State University-Fullerton was 59.4% (26,827 admissions from 45,140 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 67.6%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 0.68%, while admissions declined by −12.7%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of California State University-Fullerton (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

97%

Submission Percentage (2020)

5,251

Scores Submitted (2020)

97% of enrolled first-time students at California State University-Fullerton in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

California State University-Fullerton had a total enrollment of 40,738 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at California State University-Fullerton is 30,104 students and the part-time enrollment is 10,634. This means that 73.9% of students enrolled at California State University-Fullerton are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at California State University-Fullerton, both undergraduate and graduate, is 47.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 17.7% White, 3.75% Two or More Races, 2.07% Black or African American, 0.179% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0687% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at California State University-Fullerton in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (31.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Male (17.9%) and Asian Female (12.4%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (25.9%), followed by White Female (18%) and Asian Female (11.5%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

73.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at California State University-Fullerton in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 40,738 students. The full-time enrollment at California State University-Fullerton is 30,104 and the part-time enrollment is 10,634. This means that 73.9% of students enrolled at California State University-Fullerton are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at California State University-Fullerton (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

87%

2021 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at California State University-Fullerton was 87%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), California State University-Fullerton had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at California State University-Fullerton (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

Hispanic or Latino
19,192 enrolled students
Asian
8,829 enrolled students
White
7,215 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at California State University-Fullerton is 47.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 17.7% White, 3.75% Two or More Races, 2.07% Black or African American, 0.179% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0687% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,039 students (2.55%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 2,218 more women than men received degrees from California State University-Fullerton. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at California State University-Fullerton is hispanic or latino (4,738 degrees awarded). There were 1.85 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (2562 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at California State University-Fullerton is General Business Administration & Management (2,451 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (791 degrees) and Speech Communication & Rhetoric (754 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at California State University-Fullerton, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Communications (962 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (581 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (99 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California State University-Fullerton are Other managers (200,318 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (178,751 people), Social workers, all other (161,909 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (155,366 people), and Secondary school teachers (87,582 people).

The most specialized majors at California State University-Fullerton in 2021 are Communications (962 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (581 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (99 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (469 degrees), and History (145 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California State University-Fullerton are Surgeons, Media and communication workers, all other, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Diagnostic medical sonographers

The most specialized majors at California State University-Fullerton are Communications (962 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (581 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (99 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (469 degrees), and History (145 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California State University-Fullerton are Elementary & secondary schools (439,631 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (260,556 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (190,559 people), Computer Systems Design (135,349 people), and Legal services (131,165 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by California State University-Fullerton.

Most Common (2021)

General Business Administration & Management
2,451 degrees awarded
General Psychology
791 degrees awarded
Speech Communication & Rhetoric
754 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at California State University-Fullerton was General Business Administration & Management with 2,451 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at California State University-Fullerton according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,717

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

6,935

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 4,717 degrees were awarded to men at California State University-Fullerton, which is 0.68 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (6,935).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at California State University-Fullerton by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 1414 degrees were awarded to men at California State University-Fullerton in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.2 times more than the 1174 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 1174 degrees were awarded to men at California State University-Fullerton in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.83 times less than the 1414 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

23%

100% Completion Time

69%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 23% of students graduating from California State University-Fullerton completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 69% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 74% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (85.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at California State University-Fullerton is Female and Asian (85.7% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.61% of graduates (80 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

Hispanic or Latino
4,738 degrees awarded
White
2,562 degrees awarded
Asian
2,340 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at California State University-Fullerton is hispanic or latino (4,738 degrees awarded). There were 1.85 times more hispanic or latino recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (2562 degrees).

3.59% of degree recipients (418 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

Hispanic or Latino Female
3,055 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
1,683 degrees awarded
White Female
1,462 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at California State University-Fullerton is hispanic or latino female (3,055 degrees awarded). There were 1.82 times more hispanic or latino female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino male (1683 degrees).

Operations

California State University-Fullerton has an endowment valued at nearly $106M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 19.8M (18.7%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, California State University-Fullerton had a total salary expenditure of 679M. California State University-Fullerton employs 360 Professors, 248 Associate professors and 232 Lecturers. Most academics at California State University-Fullerton are Male Professor (209), Female Professor (151), and Female Lecturer (144).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at California State University-Fullerton are: Business and Financial Operations, with 325 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 274 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 259 employees.

Endowment

$106M

2021 Endowment

27.5%

growth from 2020

California State University-Fullerton has an endowment valued at about $106M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of California State University-Fullerton grew 27.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $282M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at California State University-Fullerton (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$235M

2021 Salaries

4.33%

decline from 2020

In 2021, California State University-Fullerton paid a median of $235M in salaries, which represents 34.6% of their overall expenditure ($679M) and a 4.33% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$97M

Instructional Salaries

1,023

Number of Employees

In 2021, California State University-Fullerton paid a total of $97M to 1,023 employees working as instructors, which represents 41.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

360 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

325 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at California State University-Fullerton were Professor with 360 employees, Associate professor with 248 employees, and Lecturer with 232 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at California State University-Fullerton were Business and Financial Operations with 325 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 274 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 259 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Lecturer

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at California State University-Fullerton was Male Professor with 209 employees, Female Professor with 151 employees, and Female Lecturer with 144 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at California State University-Fullerton.