Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State University-Dominguez Hills #48 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. California State University-Dominguez Hills sits in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $13,715 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-Dominguez Hills #49 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at California State University-Dominguez Hills earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful advantage for a broad-access public university serving a large share of first-generation and Pell-eligible undergraduates in the Los Angeles region. The institution's mobility ranking reflects how consistently California State University-Dominguez Hills translates access into upward economic movement — a combination that anchors its standing on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions.
California State University-Dominguez Hills prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum, reflecting its mission as a broad-access public institution in the Los Angeles region. Low-income families pay approximately $7,303 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,855, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,947. Azimuth ranks California State University-Dominguez Hills #54 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The net price illusion is real at many institutions, but at CSUDH the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay is meaningful, particularly for students who qualify for need-based aid. Need-based grant and scholarship aid plays a central role in how CSUDH serves its student population. The university draws a large share of Pell-eligible students, and the net price figures above reflect the impact of federal, state, and institutional aid working together to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Families applying for aid use the FAFSA, and California's Cal Grant program provides additional state-funded support that further reduces costs for qualifying residents — a meaningful advantage for the predominantly California-resident student body. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $13,807, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,061; 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 $58,922, median federal debt of $13,807 projects to a monthly payment of about $156 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State University-Dominguez Hills is a strong fit for students from Southern California who want an accessible public university with a business-oriented program mix and a clear path to meaningful post-graduation earnings without taking on excessive debt. Graduates earn about $13,715 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Dominguez Hills in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,922, placing California State University-Dominguez Hills in the 39.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 63.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 59.1% are first-generation college students — among the highest concentrations of any public university in West. California State University-Dominguez Hills sits in the 52.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — making it a particularly strong option for Pell-eligible and first-generation students who need both access and demonstrated outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and applied professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $13,807 against the institution's earnings trajectory before enrolling.
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
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This is the California State University-Dominguez Hills hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
California State University-Dominguez Hills is a public university in Carson, CA, enrolling roughly 12,538 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks California State University-Dominguez Hills #48 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Retention stands at 73.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 42.8% — figures that reflect the realities of a broad-access regional institution serving a student body where 63.3% receive Pell Grants and 59.1% are first-generation college students. What anchors the composite is mobility. California State University-Dominguez Hills sits in the 96.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, a reflection of how effectively the university converts wide access into measurable economic progress for students from low-income backgrounds. Access reinforces that story — the university sits in the 96.5 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 93.3% and heavy enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students. The dominant program family is Business, which shapes both the career pathways available to graduates and the institution's overall earnings profile. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — California State University-Dominguez Hills sits in the 60.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,715 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 96.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by the CSU system's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach. For many students in the region, California State University-Dominguez Hills offers a path to a bachelor's degree and upward mobility that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State University-Dominguez Hills prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum, reflecting its mission as a broad-access public institution in the Los Angeles region. Low-income families pay approximately $7,303 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,855, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,947.
Azimuth ranks California State University-Dominguez Hills #54 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real at many institutions, but at CSUDH the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay is meaningful, particularly for students who qualify for need-based aid.
Need-based grant and scholarship aid plays a central role in how CSUDH serves its student population. The university draws a large share of Pell-eligible students, and the net price figures above reflect the impact of federal, state, and institutional aid working together to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Families applying for aid use the FAFSA, and California's Cal Grant program provides additional state-funded support that further reduces costs for qualifying residents — a meaningful advantage for the predominantly California-resident student body. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $13,807, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,061; 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 $58,922, median federal debt of $13,807 projects to a monthly payment of about $156 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-Dominguez Hills earn median earnings of $58,922 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Dominguez Hills in the 39.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $13,715 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 91.2 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 #25 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 $118,588 — 1.33x the national benchmark for the field.
Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 17% of degrees, followed by Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 6%. Among the largest programs, Business Administration program graduates 591 students annually with median earnings of $63,662, while Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #71 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $52,742.
Sociology and Criminal Justice round out the top earners, with median earnings of $55,100 and $57,727 respectively.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny Lehman College Similar quality tier (#2106 ranked) | NY | 57% | $58,013 | #2106 | Compare |
San Francisco State University Similar quality tier in West (#2103 ranked) | CA | 96% | $68,077 | #2103 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill Similar quality tier (#2108 ranked) | NC | 15% | $72,200 | #2108 | Compare |
California State University-San Bernardino Similar quality tier in West (#2102 ranked) | CA | 94% | $59,977 | #2102 | Compare |
Cuny City College Similar quality tier (#2100 ranked) | NY | 60% | $66,039 | #2100 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
181 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
62 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
31 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
71 graduates
Mathematics
32 graduates
California State University-Dominguez Hills's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 17% of degree output — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Social Sciences represents 10% of graduates and Education accounts for 6%, rounding out a portfolio oriented toward applied professional fields.
Business Administration combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's aggregate financial outcomes. Across 38 programs serving roughly 3,741 students annually, 20 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The largest programs reflect the business-and-health orientation. The Business Administration program graduates 591 students annually with median earnings of $63,662 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #144 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Psychology, General program graduates 576 students with median earnings of $52,742, and the The Sociology program graduates 286 students with median earnings of $55,100. Criminal Justice (249 graduates, $57,727) and Teacher Education (243 graduates, $44,654) round out the high-enrollment programs.
On the earnings side, Nursing leads with median earnings of $118,588 four years after enrollment from a cohort of 181 graduates, and Azimuth ranks the program #25 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration follows at $63,662 with 591 graduates, and General Studies earns $62,164 with 190 graduates.
Several of these fields — particularly nursing and health-related programs — feed directly into high-demand local labor markets in the greater Los Angeles region, where [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) favors applied health and business credentials. Business-track programs like Criminal Justice ($57,727) and Sociology ($55,100) offer solid applied-professional pathways with direct workforce entry four years after enrollment. ```
