Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Cal State Fullerton graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout the early-to-mid career period, with median earnings rising from $48,558 six years after enrollment to $56,954 at eight years and $62,951 at ten years. This represents robust 29.6% growth from the six-year to ten-year mark, indicating strong career progression and advancement potential.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $13,750 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Cal State Fullerton graduates maintain remarkably low debt burdens, with median debt of $13,750 ranking in the 88th percentile for low debt levels nationally. Debt distribution spans from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $23,095 at the 75th percentile, indicating that most students graduate with manageable borrowing levels.
Cal State Fullerton delivers above-average return on educational investment, ranking at the 67.7th percentile for return index performance with above-average tier designation. Graduates earn $7,382 beyond expectations compared to students with similar backgrounds and demographics, placing the university at the 81st percentile for value creation nationally.
Approximately 25.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced edu...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate the breadth of Cal State Fullerton's academic strengths, with Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leading at $105,346, followed by Computer Science at $89,630, and Civil Engineering at $83,693. Business Administration, serving the largest cohort of 2,374 graduates, produces solid earnings of $60,980, while Communication programs generate $51,693 for substantial enrollment of 730 students.
Even programs with more moderate earnings like Psychology ($46,506) and the social sciences maintain viable economic outcomes. This diversity allows students to pursue their academic interests while maintaining reasonable expectations for economic success, supporting the university's role as a comprehensive institution that serves diverse career aspirations while delivering consistently strong return on educational investment across its program portfolio.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful but manageable variation, with the distribution spanning from $39,060 at the 25th percentile to $89,304 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles. Low-income graduates earn $50,200, demonstrating the university's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
