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Programs & majors brief

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# California State University-Fullerton Majors & Programs

Updated October 1, 2026

[Overview](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/)[Cost & aid](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at CSU Fullerton?

Among California State University-Fullerton programs with a reported four-year earnings value, the highest medians are: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($119,353); Computer Engineering ($101,408); Civil Engineering ($95,854); Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($92,618); Computer Science ($87,460). These are earnings after completion for the covered cohort.

A program median describes the middle reported outcome in that group. It is not a starting-salary offer or a prediction for every graduate, and an earnings comparison does not by itself explain why fields differ.

Compare these results with the subjects you want to study and the program’s reported award count. Awards measure degree output, not the number of people in the earnings sample.

California State University-Fullerton fields 32 nationally ranked bachelor's programs. The highest-earning among the largest program with published earnings is Nursing, where completers earn a median of $119,353 four years after completion, with 432 degrees awarded.

Business Administration and Management, the university's largest program at 2,233 degrees awarded, reports median earnings of $71,646 and an Azimuth national rank of #49 in its field. In a more moderate band, Psychology and Kinesiology and Physical Education show medians of $51,661 and $51,787, with Azimuth national ranks of #96 and #83 respectively.

Communication and Media Studies sits between the two clusters at $58,082 and a national rank of #55, with 645 degrees awarded.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Business**2,283 · 23.5%**
-   Health professions**1,014 · 10.4%**
-   Psychology**890 · 9.2%**
-   Communication**803 · 8.3%**
-   Visual and performing arts**612 · 6.3%**
-   Other**4,111 · 42.3%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

43 of 43 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 432 degrees awarded**
$119,353

**Computer Engineering 60 degrees awarded**
$101,408

**Civil Engineering 124 degrees awarded**
$95,854

**Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 65 degrees awarded**
$92,618

**Computer Science 325 degrees awarded**
$87,460

**Mechanical Engineering 125 degrees awarded**
$86,808

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 432 | $119,353 | #12 |
| Computer Engineering | 60 | $101,408 | #72 |
| Civil Engineering | 124 | $95,854 | #10 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 65 | $92,618 | #135 |
| Computer Science | 325 | $87,460 | #111 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 125 | $86,808 | #173 |
| Physics small degree count | 11 | $86,504 | — |
| Mathematics | 75 | $80,055 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2,233 | $71,646 | #49 |
| Economics | 40 | $71,595 | #135 |
| Public Administration | 36 | $68,497 | #7 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 67 | $68,170 | #34 |
| Chemistry | 28 | $64,857 | #79 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 160 | $62,436 | #26 |
| International Business | 50 | $60,832 | #49 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 40 | $58,891 | #43 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 645 | $58,082 | #55 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 152 | $57,408 | #46 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 352 | $57,135 | #36 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 58 | $54,244 | #47 |
| Anthropology | 40 | $54,092 | #25 |
| Political Science and Government | 105 | $53,966 | #202 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 159 | $51,845 | #80 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 541 | $51,787 | #83 |
| Psychology, General | 890 | $51,661 | #96 |
| Sociology | 378 | $50,922 | #82 |
| Area Studies | 44 | $50,739 | #27 |
| Geography and Cartography | 37 | $48,979 | — |
| History | 102 | $48,309 | #127 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 158 | $48,094 | #32 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 42 | $47,581 | #93 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 53 | $46,384 | #55 |
| Philosophy | 28 | $44,533 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 422 | $44,365 | #34 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 93 | $42,455 | #25 |
| Music | 68 | $39,590 | #96 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 15 | $29,715 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 530 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 24 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biology, General | 237 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Human Services, General | 276 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Dance | 29 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Public Health | 364 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at CSU Fullerton?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Business Administration, Management and Operations**
2,233

**Psychology, General**
890

**Communication and Media Studies**
645

**Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness**
541

**Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods**
530

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing**
432

**Fine and Studio Arts**
422

**Sociology**
378

**Public Health**
364

**Criminal Justice and Corrections**
352

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

The largest program records at California State University-Fullerton, by reported degrees awarded, are: Business Administration, Management and Operations (2,233 awards); Psychology, General (890 awards); Communication and Media Studies (645 awards); Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (541 awards); Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (530 awards). These counts describe degree output in the source reporting period, not current enrollment or unique people.

Among those larger programs, reported median earnings four years after completion include Business Administration, Management and Operations at $71,646; Psychology, General at $51,661; Communication and Media Studies at $58,082. Program size and earnings answer different questions; the largest program need not have the highest earnings.

## How do CSU Fullerton majors rank nationally?

California State University-Fullerton’s national program ranks compare each field with the same field at other institutions in Azimuth’s ranking data. For example, a Computer Science rank compares programs in Computer Science, while a Biology rank compares programs in Biology.

A lower rank number indicates a higher position within that field; comparing the numbers across different fields does not tell you which major will pay more or suit you better.

These are Azimuth program-value rankings. The source orders programs by its composite program-value measure, so this view answers a different question from the highest-earning majors section.

A field can report lower earnings than another California State University-Fullerton field while holding a stronger position against its own national competitors. Read its national position alongside the earnings and degree counts to understand both the comparison with other schools and the scale of the program at California State University-Fullerton.

### National program rankings

1.  Public Administration**#7**
2.  Civil Engineering**#10**
3.  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing**#12**
4.  Anthropology**#25**
5.  Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft**#25**
6.  Communication Disorders Sciences and Services**#26**
7.  Area Studies**#27**
8.  Radio, Television, and Digital Communication**#32**
9.  Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology**#34**
10.  Fine and Studio Arts**#34**
11.  Criminal Justice and Corrections**#36**
12.  Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences**#43**
13.  Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities**#46**
14.  Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General**#47**
15.  Business Administration, Management and Operations**#49**
16.  International Business**#49**

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

The list includes California State University-Fullerton programs ranked in the national top 50 for their field. If fewer than ten qualify, it adds the largest remaining programs with a reported national rank, using degrees awarded to select them, until the list reaches ten or no ranked programs remain.

These additions broaden the comparison to larger California State University-Fullerton programs; they are not necessarily ranked in the national top 50.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Azimuth evaluates bachelor's programs by four-year earnings among federally aided completers, debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. Earnings and debt differ from one field to another at California State University-Fullerton.

37 programs carry published earnings data, and 32 hold an Azimuth national rank. Business makes up 23.5% of degrees awarded, with Health Professions at 10.4% and Psychology at 9.2%.

Business Administration and Management is the largest program at 2,233 degrees awarded. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #49 in its field, with graduates earning $71,646 four years after completion.

Public Administration ranks #7 nationally in its field, and its graduates earn $68,497 four years after completion.

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).

Four-year earnings are measured after completion for the covered federally aided cohort of people working and not enrolled. Measures taken six, eight or ten years after entry use a different starting point and should not be treated as one graduating class followed over time.

Program award counts describe credentials awarded, not current enrollment, unique graduates or earnings-sample size. Reporting periods differ across measures; the shared field definitions do not establish the exact vintage of every school-level value.