Back to Colleges
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA 36,956 Undergrads 79.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$16,767
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,646
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,951
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$5,646
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,951
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate79.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
86.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$540k
+$143k
+$55k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$519k
+$123k
+$35k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$479k
+$83k
-$5k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
43
173%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-8%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return91%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-14%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
CertCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,601
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$16,419
Earnings (5yr)
$51,703
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,240
Earnings (5yr)
$76,273
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$13,982
Earnings (5yr)
$70,718
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$12,789
Earnings (5yr)
$69,963
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,377
Earnings (2yr)
$31,314
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$13,274
Earnings (5yr)
$93,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,920
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$65,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$113,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$108,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$24,702
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$34,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$17,387
Earnings (5yr)
$64,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$86,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$18,952
Earnings (5yr)
$95,011
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$13,873
Earnings (5yr)
$46,143
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$15,917
Earnings (5yr)
$46,226
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (5yr)
$79,103
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,812
Earnings (5yr)
$50,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$13,071
Earnings (5yr)
$70,302
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$21,589
Earnings (5yr)
$57,105
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,550
Earnings (5yr)
$52,783
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$12,979
Earnings (5yr)
$43,659
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$12,375
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$18,874
Earnings (5yr)
$93,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$26,392
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$14,869
Earnings (5yr)
$62,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,502
Earnings (5yr)
$56,770
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$12,981
Earnings (5yr)
$68,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,196
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$116,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$7,345
Earnings (5yr)
$45,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,860
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,399
Earnings (5yr)
$52,832
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$14,265
Earnings (5yr)
$73,048
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$34,317
Earnings (5yr)
$111,024
Lifetime Value Added
+$524k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,033
Earnings (5yr)
$115,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$562k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$12,168
Earnings (5yr)
$102,350
Lifetime Value Added
+$449k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$37,058
Earnings (5yr)
$69,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,343
Earnings (5yr)
$87,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$34,066
Earnings (5yr)
$133,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$714k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$118,312
Lifetime Value Added
+$586k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,334
Earnings (5yr)
$71,729
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,672
Earnings (5yr)
$58,422
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
MastCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$106,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$44,181
Earnings (5yr)
$64,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$45,387
Earnings (5yr)
$74,109
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,811
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
MastCIP: 4499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,116
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,232
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$176,728
Lifetime Value Added
+$1081k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,100
Earnings (5yr)
$78,871
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$25,320
Earnings (5yr)
$88,354
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$448k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$78,465
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,925
Earnings (5yr)
$92,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$61,302
Earnings (5yr)
$134,881
Lifetime Value Added
+$528k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$40,710
Earnings (5yr)
$210,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$1073k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.