California State University-Los Angeles prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $2,877 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $5,002, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $13,578.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $18,403 |
| Tuition and Fees | $19,760 |
| Room and Board | $19,696 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,054 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$14,436 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $3,967 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $2,877 |
| $30–48k | $2,974 |
| $48–75k | $5,002 |
| $75–110k | $7,355 |
| $110k+ | $13,578 |
California State University-Los Angeles prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $2,877 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $5,002, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $13,578. Azimuth ranks California State University-Los Angeles #22 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That positioning reflects the university's public-tuition structure and its broad commitment to need-based aid delivery. 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. Cal State LA's aid structure draws on federal, state, and institutional sources. The university offers work-study as part of its standard aid package, per the financial aid page, and administers the Dream Act Service Incentive Grant for eligible students — a named institutional program that extends aid access to a broader range of families. These programs help close the gap between the published cost of attendance of $18,403 and what students actually pay, though the depth of that gap varies by household income and documented need. Families applying for aid use the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application depending on eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $13,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,526; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,756, median federal debt of $13,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $147 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of California State University-Los Angeles earn median earnings of $59,756 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Los Angeles in the 45.1 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 $15,440 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations 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 age 25–34 with only a high school credential. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 14% of degrees, followed by Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 8%. Business Administration combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #145 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions , with 726 graduates earning median earnings of $62,716 — 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Teacher Education #33 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 391 graduates earning median earnings of $50,444. Azimuth ranks Sociology #72 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $50,249, and Azimuth ranks Criminal Justice #67 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 348 graduates earning median earnings of $54,695.
