Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #150 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,221 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Channel Islands in the 84.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #689 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at California State University-Channel Islands earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university's outcomes hold up well relative to its peer group in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn median $59,304 four years after enrollment, and the institution's return on investment ranking reflects a consistent pattern of financial outcomes that outpace what the program mix and student profile would predict.
California State University-Channel Islands prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $6,857 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,083, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,473. Azimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #84 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay. As a California State University campus, California State University-Channel Islands participates in federal Pell Grants, Cal Grants, and institutional aid programs that together reduce the gap between the published cost of attendance of $23,561 and what most students pay out of pocket. Families applying through the FAFSA can access the full range of federal and state aid, and lower-income households typically see the largest reductions from sticker price. For a fuller picture of how net price and sticker price can differ substantially, the gap between published cost and net price is worth examining carefully before drawing conclusions about affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,033; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,304, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State University-Channel Islands is a strong fit for students in CA who want an accessible public university with a clear path to solid post-graduation earnings, particularly those drawn to Psychology and related applied fields. Graduates earn about $9,221 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Channel Islands in the 84.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for students focused on long-term financial outcomes relative to what their background and field of study would predict elsewhere. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 46.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 50.7% are first-generation — and delivers completion outcomes that make it a credible option for cost-sensitive families seeking a regional public university with genuine upward-mobility potential. Median student debt at graduation is $15,000, and the admission rate of 94.8% means the school is broadly accessible to most qualified applicants. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Psychology and adjacent fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking engineering-heavy or highly specialized technical programs may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the California State University-Channel Islands hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
California State University-Channel Islands is a public university in Camarillo, CA, enrolling roughly 5,013 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #150 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Retention stands at 72.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.3%, figures that reflect the university's capacity to move students from enrollment through degree completion at a regional public institution serving a mixed enrollment. What anchors California State University-Channel Islands in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 90.3 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student population where 46.6% receive Pell Grants and 50.7% are first-generation college students — shares that signal broad access to students from lower-income and non-college-going households. Psychology is the dominant program family, and the university's admission rate of 94.8% reflects a broad-access admissions posture consistent with the CSU system's public mission. Access sits in the 75.9 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #689 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,304, which sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions; graduates earn about $9,221 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Channel Islands in the 84.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect CA's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $34,672, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 94.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State University-Channel Islands prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $6,857 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,083, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,473.
Azimuth ranks California State University-Channel Islands #84 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay. As a California State University campus, California State University-Channel Islands participates in federal Pell Grants, Cal Grants, and institutional aid programs that together reduce the gap between the published cost of attendance of $23,561 and what most students pay out of pocket.
Families applying through the FAFSA can access the full range of federal and state aid, and lower-income households typically see the largest reductions from sticker price. For a fuller picture of how [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), the gap between published cost and net price is worth examining carefully before drawing conclusions about affordability.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,033; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,304, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California State University-Channel Islands earn median earnings of $59,304 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Channel Islands in the 39.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $9,221 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track CA's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Nursing #47 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $112,691 — 1.27x the national benchmark for the field.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 356 graduates earning median earnings of $48,789, and Azimuth ranks it #155 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General program graduates 236 students with median earnings of $58,396, while The Business Administration program graduates 215 students earning $71,183.
The degree mix leans toward Psychology, with Business representing 11% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 4% — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
100 graduates
Computer Science
66 graduates
Economics
13 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
215 graduates
Mathematics
36 graduates
California State University-Channel Islands's program mix is centered on Psychology, which accounts for 11% of graduates — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Social Sciences represents 10% of degrees and Education accounts for 4%, rounding out a portfolio weighted toward social-science and applied fields.
Across 25 programs serving roughly 1,894 students annually, 19 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a focused set that reflects the university's regional teaching mission. Psychology, General anchors the institution's strongest combination of cohort scale and earnings.
Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 356 students and delivers median earnings of $48,789 four years after enrollment, while The Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General program graduates 236 students with median earnings of $58,396. Business Administration (215 graduates, $71,183) and Sociology (127 graduates, $56,855) add further breadth.
Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #155 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The highest four-year earnings come from Nursing, where graduates earn $112,691 — Azimuth ranks the program #47 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Science follows at $100,887, and Business Administration graduates earn $71,183. Several of the psychology-adjacent and social-science programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory, while applied fields like Nursing and Computer Science reflect more direct labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional and national hiring patterns. ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lamar University Similar quality tier (#4321 ranked) | TX | 86% | $49,652 | #4321 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Clear Lake Similar quality tier (#4318 ranked) | TX | 91% | $59,004 | #4318 | Compare |
University Of Maryland-Baltimore County Similar quality tier (#4329 ranked) | MD | 72% | $69,960 | #4329 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Tyler Similar quality tier (#4332 ranked) | TX | 94% | $57,053 | #4332 | Compare |
Central Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#4336 ranked) | CT | 73% | $58,562 | #4336 | Compare |
