College ROI

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California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 19,562 Undergrads 67.5% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$18,403
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,967
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,756
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,967
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,756
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,211
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate67.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.0
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients66.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.3%
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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$534k
+$67k
+$49k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$519k
+$53k
+$35k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$468k
+$650
-$17k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
42
246%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-25%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return58%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-26%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,391
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$14,914
Earnings (4yr)
$70,508
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$14,199
Earnings (5yr)
$42,878
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,156
Earnings (4yr)
$67,441
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,460
Earnings (4yr)
$53,908
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,716
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,747
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,760
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,060
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$11,900
Earnings (4yr)
$53,857
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$13,200
Earnings (4yr)
$69,022
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$14,429
Earnings (4yr)
$87,525
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,695
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,358
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$10,571
Earnings (4yr)
$35,097
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,998
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$96,014
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,259
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,970
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,783
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,683
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$14,777
Earnings (4yr)
$55,413
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$184
Median Debt
$15,967
Earnings (4yr)
$86,970
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Median Debt
$14,971
Earnings (4yr)
$59,904
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$13,221
Earnings (4yr)
$70,677
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,028
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,366
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$12,290
Earnings (4yr)
$39,120
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$13,979
Earnings (4yr)
$52,797
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,127
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,895
Earnings (4yr)
$56,063
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,600
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$12,457
Earnings (4yr)
$56,466
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,867
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$116,182
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$467k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,695
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,414
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,591
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,545
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,177
Earnings (4yr)
$50,249
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,108
Earnings (4yr)
$44,930
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,444
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$54,074
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,322
Earnings (4yr)
$126,611
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$465k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,651
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Median Debt
$30,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,235
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$40,968
Earnings (4yr)
$101,094
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$104,192
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$63,878
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,782
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$29,525
Earnings (4yr)
$84,668
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$118,058
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,904
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
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
Median Debt
$32,050
Earnings (4yr)
$90,351
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,734
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,173
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,577
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,455
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$29,334
Earnings (4yr)
$72,670
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$137,184
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$556k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,079
Earnings (4yr)
$92,683
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,958
Earnings (4yr)
$78,135
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,208
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,301
Earnings (4yr)
$88,659
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$59,716
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$80,626
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,645
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.