College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA 38,546 Undergrads 80.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,269
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,555
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,753
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,555
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$63,753
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,951
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate80.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.5%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$566k
+$99k
+$81k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$542k
+$75k
+$58k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$500k
+$33k
+$15k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
38
244%
Full Cost$18k/yr
53
23%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return146%

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-2%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$16,419
Earnings (4yr)
$54,092
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,739
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Median Debt
$18,240
Earnings (4yr)
$68,170
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,982
Earnings (4yr)
$71,646
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
$12,789
Earnings (4yr)
$71,185
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,377
Earnings (4yr)
$64,857
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$13,274
Earnings (4yr)
$95,854
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,082
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,436
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,408
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$87,460
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,135
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$24,702
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,455
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,387
Earnings (4yr)
$53,518
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$71,595
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
$18,952
Earnings (4yr)
$92,618
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Median Debt
$13,873
Earnings (4yr)
$51,845
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,384
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$15,917
Earnings (4yr)
$44,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,979
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,891
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,244
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,812
Earnings (4yr)
$48,309
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,261
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$13,071
Earnings (4yr)
$76,482
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
$21,589
Earnings (4yr)
$60,832
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
$12,550
Earnings (4yr)
$57,408
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$12,979
Earnings (4yr)
$29,715
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Median Debt
$12,375
Earnings (4yr)
$83,878
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,055
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Median Debt
$18,874
Earnings (4yr)
$86,808
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,590
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,533
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,504
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
$14,869
Earnings (4yr)
$53,966
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,502
Earnings (4yr)
$51,661
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$12,981
Earnings (4yr)
$68,497
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$12,489
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,094
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$119,353
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$482k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,345
Earnings (4yr)
$47,581
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,860
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,399
Earnings (4yr)
$50,922
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,787
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,298
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$14,265
Earnings (4yr)
$63,798
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Design and Applied Arts
PB-CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$34,317
Earnings (4yr)
$97,802
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,755
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
$32,033
Earnings (4yr)
$125,086
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$447k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$12,168
Earnings (4yr)
$108,826
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Median Debt
$37,058
Earnings (4yr)
$76,598
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$20,343
Earnings (4yr)
$66,353
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,382
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Natl Median: $119,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$34,066
Earnings (4yr)
$134,032
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$524k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,439
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$458k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,154
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$355k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,334
Earnings (4yr)
$76,311
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
$20,300
Earnings (4yr)
$91,755
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,624
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Median Debt
$22,672
Earnings (4yr)
$63,212
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,715
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,759
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,858
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$44,181
Earnings (4yr)
$67,675
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,748
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,073
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
Median Debt
$45,387
Earnings (4yr)
$69,914
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,850
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,697
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,516
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,617
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$182,816
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$945k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,100
Earnings (4yr)
$81,397
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Median Debt
$25,320
Earnings (4yr)
$95,677
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,191
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,922
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,214
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
$27,925
Earnings (4yr)
$91,226
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$61,302
Earnings (4yr)
$141,254
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Median Debt
$40,710
Earnings (4yr)
$181,807
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$673k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.