Cost & financial aid brief
California State University-Channel Islands Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does California State University-Channel Islands cost after financial aid?
Aid makes the published price substantially different from the average price paid by recipients. Aid covers about 58% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an average offset of $13,712 against the sticker price.
The resulting average net price is $9,849. The pricing pattern is lowest for families in the lowest income band and highest for those in the highest band, with the middle bands falling between them.
That pattern shows larger average aid reductions at lower family-income levels, rather than a uniform discount across recipients. The $13,616 spread is a difference between band averages, not a charge assigned to any individual family.
California State University-Channel Islands posts a published cost of attendance of $23,561, with average net prices that range widely by family income. The lowest-income band averages $6,857, the lower-middle band $7,083, the middle-income band $9,083, the upper-middle band $12,286, and the highest-income band $20,473, a spread of $13,616 between the bottom and top.
Among nonprofit four-year institutions, Azimuth ranks the university #84 for affordability. Aid covers about 58% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an average savings of $13,712 against the sticker price.
Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $9,849, which is $4,219 below the $14,068 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size). In-state tuition and fees are $7,159, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $19,759; room and board are $15,490.
Both the aid discount and the peer comparison point toward lower out-of-pocket costs. Among federal-loan borrowers who completed, median federal student loan debt at completion is $15,000, and 62.7% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans.
That median is $6,229 below the $21,229 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $170 a month if repaid over ten years.
Parent PLUS borrowers have median borrowing of $22,033.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
At California State University-Channel Islands, federal borrowing at completion sits below the benchmark for comparable institutions. Among completers who borrowed federal student loans, median debt is $15,000, and 62.7% of federal aid recipients borrow through federal loans.
The peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size) is $21,229, placing this university's median below that figure by $6,229. For the separate parent-borrower population using Parent PLUS, median borrowing is $22,033.
California State University-Channel Islands pairs earnings beyond expectations with borrowing below that of comparable institutions, although its reported earnings level sits nearer the middle of the national distribution. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $59,304.
That figure is in the 48th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,518 more than expects for similar students.
The earnings-beyond-expectations measure, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, is in the 80th percentile nationally. The typical earnings scenario matches the reported median, with a downside scenario of $47,682 and an upside scenario of $85,139.
Median federal student debt at completion is $15,000, below the $21,229 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $6,229. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $170 a month if repaid over ten years. Above-expected earnings and lower borrowing point in the same direction.
For the separate parent-borrower population, median Parent PLUS borrowing is $22,033. For student borrowers, the median federal debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $170 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $22,033
- Estimated parent payment
- $280/mo
| Income | Risk level |
|---|---|
| $35,000 | High pressure |
| $50,000 | High pressure |
| $75,000 | High pressure |
| $100,000 | Caution |
| $150,000 | Safe |
| $200,000 | Safe |
The model holds the parent balance fixed and varies parent income. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $15,000
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $22,033
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $170/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $280/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $450/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $59,304, with a $22,590 annual allowance for basic expenses:
5.6% of income above the allowance · Excellent
- Excellent Under 8% · selected scenario
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $22,590, uses the published framework’s 2024 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.