California State University-Fullerton tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at California State University-Fullerton is $18,269 a year for California residents. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $6,555 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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Yearly household income. Saved on this device only. No account needed.

What your family pays
$6,555 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $18,269. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for California residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusIn-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$7,470$20,070
Housing & meals$18,348$18,348
Books & supplies$965$965
Personal & travel$4,254$4,254
Living-at-home adjustment−$12,768−$12,768
Total cost of attendance$18,269$30,869

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$12,000
Loan default rate2.5%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out19%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants48%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$11,714Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission

College Scorecard

California State University-Fullerton net price compared with other California colleges

California State University-Fullerton has the 15th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
11Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses$5,52462%$39,248
12California State University-Bakersfield$5,65250%$59,009
13San Diego Mesa College$5,81435%$45,120
14California State University-Stanislaus$6,06753%$63,188
15California State University-Fullerton$6,55570%$62,951
16California State University-Fresno$7,00057%$61,244
17California State University-Northridge$7,02157%$59,115
18MiraCosta College$7,33941%$43,845
19Foothill College$7,65356%$57,072

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →

Why California State University-Fullerton costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
California State University-Fullerton91%$6,55570%$62,951This school
San Jose State University85%$13,76069%$78,988
California State University-Northridge93%$7,02157%$59,115
California State University-Sacramento94%$9,33856%$64,876
University of California-Merced91%$11,98369%$64,368

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

California State University-Fullerton would cost you $7,205 less per year than San Jose State University, on average.

  • Lower sticker price at California State University-Fullerton, mostly from more California State University-Fullerton students living at home, which lowers its average (−$6,633).
  • San Jose State University gives aided families $1,119 more in grants, on average.
Per year, California residentCalifornia State University-FullertonSan Jose State UniversityDifference
Tuition & fees$7,470$8,410−$940
Books & supplies$965$938+$27
Housing & meals$18,348$19,866−$1,518
Personal & travel$4,254$3,514+$740
Living-at-home adjustment−$12,768−$6,135−$6,633
Sticker price$18,269$26,593−$8,324
Average grants−$11,714−$12,833+$1,119
You pay$6,555$13,760−$7,205

“+” means California State University-Fullerton costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

California State University-Fullerton cost questions

How much is tuition at California State University-Fullerton?

Tuition and fees are $7,470 a year for California residents and $20,070 for out-of-state students.

What is the total cost of attending California State University-Fullerton?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $18,269 a year for California residents living on campus and about $30,869 for out-of-state students.

What do families actually pay at California State University-Fullerton?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $6,555 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $3,315; $48–75k pay $6,090; $110k+ pay $15,631. These figures are for California residents.

How much debt do California State University-Fullerton graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $12,000, and 2.5% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is California State University-Fullerton the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to California State University-Fullerton overview