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Fullerton, CA · Public · 38,546 undergraduates · suburban

California State University-Fullerton

Less selective

Cal State Fullerton is closely aligned with Orange County's workforce, particularly in business, communications, engineering, education and health.

Arnold C {Buchanan-Hermit} / Attribution required — see source page

Institutional profile

Highly regarded Exceptional in affordability, and exceptional in mobility.
Academic Steady Affordability Exceptional Career Solid Mobility Exceptional Experience Solid
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Exceptional
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Exceptional
Student experience Solid
Admission
86.7% admitted

48,591 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
80.1%

$62,951 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets California State University-Fullerton apart

Academic design

Large colleges of business, communications, engineering and computer science anchor an applied program mix.

Campus pattern

Suburban Fullerton campus sits within the dense Orange County and greater Los Angeles employment market.

Career & value signal

Orange County employers provide internship pathways across business, healthcare, entertainment, technology and public agencies.

Can I get in?

86.7% admitted

Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.

Recent applicant pool

48,591

About 87 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 86.7%
Entering class

Record over scores

No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.

Testingnot considered
Return for a second year83.5%
Finish the degree80.1%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for California State University-Fullerton, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What California State University-Fullerton weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Large colleges of business, communications, engineering and computer science anchor an applied program mix.

02

Make institutional fit specific

Cal State Fullerton is closely aligned with Orange County's workforce, particularly in business, communications, engineering, education and health.

03

Use the application route carefully

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.

Regular DecisionNov 30
Application routeCal State Apply

$70 application fee

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$36,148
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$7,000
Affordability profileExceptional

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

California State University-Fullerton publishes one merit award, the largest reaching full tuition or more. Each one requires a separate scholarship application. All of them renew past the first year.

Separate scholarship application An award reaching full tuition or more

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews · Has a dated deadline

In the season card

This award, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, what it asks of you, and the date one of them closes - which is usually earlier than the application for admission.

  • The name of each award 
  • What it pays 
  • The grades and scores it asks for 
  • The deadline 
  • What to send, and where 
See the full read
Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at California State University-Fullerton

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years80.1%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one83.5%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$62,951

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Psychology, General

Recent graduates992
Median earnings$51,661

Communication and Media Studies

Recent graduates647
Median earnings$58,082

Admits separately

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Recent graduates542
Median earnings$51,787

Fine and Studio Arts

Recent graduates433
Median earnings$44,365

What is campus life like?

California State University-Fullerton beyond the classroom

Suburban Fullerton campus sits within the dense Orange County and greater Los Angeles employment market.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Large colleges of business, communications, engineering and computer science anchor an applied program mix.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Suburban Fullerton campus sits within the dense Orange County and greater Los Angeles employment market.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Orange County employers provide internship pathways across business, healthcare, entertainment, technology and public agencies.

38,546 undergraduatesPacificsuburban settingCampus housing available