California State University-Fullerton
About
California State University, Fullerton is a public research university in Fullerton, California, United States. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the California State University (CSU) system, and its graduate student body of more than 5,000 is one of the largest in the CSU and in all of California. As of fall 2016, the school had 2,083 faculty, of whom 782 were on the tenure track. The university offers 109 degree programs: 55 undergraduate degrees and 54 graduate degrees, including three doctoral programs.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 3.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 128 Title IV programs, 73 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 3 fail. 52 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing73 · 57.0%
- No Data52 · 40.6%
- Failing3 · 2.3%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 17
Action history · 14
- Sep 2025Initial AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNDNP) - Nursing education programs at the doctorate degree levels
- Jul 2024Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- Aug 2022Renewal of AccreditationAccreditation Commission for Midwifery Education · Nurse Midwifery (MIDWF) - Basic certificate and graduate nurse-midwifery education programs for registered nurses
- Jun 2021Renewal of AccreditationCouncil on Education for Public Health · Public Health Programs (PHPG) - Graduate level program offered outside a school of public health
- Feb 2020Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 22,158 students received $125.2M in Pell grants, alongside $82.6M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 6,142 borrowers who entered repayment, 50 (0.8%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Fullerton
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 9
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus39
- Non-campus7
- Public property2
Includes 26 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Race1
- Ethnicity1
- Sexual orientation1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Data quality: 1 report was later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Fullerton vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Fullerton selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia State University-Fullerton | 70% | — | 43,662 | $5,646 | R2 Research |
| 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $8,931 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 93.4% | 38,313 | $7,599 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 56% | 94.0% | 31,943 | $10,512 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 59% | 89.8% | 14,488 | $16,041 | R2 Research | |
| 74% | 54.7% | 54,723 | $9,133 | R1 Research | |
| 68% | 87.5% | 39,766 | $18,287 | R1 Research | |
| 53% | 55.4% | 34,944 | $15,931 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 86.3% | 26,374 | $19,614 | R1 Research | |
| 49% | 69.8% | 15,414 | $12,909 | R2 Research | |
| 76% | 36.2% | 41,137 | $16,174 | R2 Research | |
| 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,882 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 84.6% | 37,661 | $13,741 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 75% | 80.4% | 29,640 | $29,219 | R1 Research | |
| 55% | 89.3% | 40,674 | $16,438 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 72.6% | 40,757 | $20,071 | R1 Research | |
| 78% | 40.1% | 69,713 | $10,650 | R1 Research | |
| 65% | 73.9% | 47,980 | $13,853 | R1 Research | |
| 61% | 72.2% | 46,864 | $14,352 | R1 Research | |
| 63% | 92.6% | 28,464 | $19,452 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 89.0% | 23,643 | $12,997 | R1 Research | |
| 58% | 84.6% | 16,744 | $18,701 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 64% | 84.6% | 37,987 | $14,103 |
Institutions like Fullerton
Explore the federal data for institutions in Fullerton's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate69%Admit rate46.3%Enrollment42,003Net price$8,931View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate57%Admit rate93.4%Enrollment38,313Net price$7,599View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Sacramento
Grad rate56%Admit rate94.0%Enrollment31,943Net price$10,512View data - R2 ResearchMichigan
Central Michigan University
Grad rate59%Admit rate89.8%Enrollment14,488Net price$16,041View data - R1 ResearchFlorida
Florida International University
Grad rate74%Admit rate54.7%Enrollment54,723Net price$9,133View data - R1 ResearchVirginia
George Mason University
Grad rate68%Admit rate87.5%Enrollment39,766Net price$18,287View data - R1 ResearchGeorgia
Georgia State University
Grad rate53%Admit rate55.4%Enrollment34,944Net price$15,931View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Kent State University at Kent
Grad rate64%Admit rate86.3%Enrollment26,374Net price$19,614View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Northern Illinois University
Grad rate49%Admit rate69.8%Enrollment15,414Net price$12,909View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Diego State University
Grad rate76%Admit rate36.2%Enrollment41,137Net price$16,174View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Francisco State University
Grad rate50%Admit rate96.4%Enrollment22,563Net price$12,882View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
San Jose State University
Grad rate69%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment37,661Net price$13,741View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
Temple University
Grad rate75%Admit rate80.4%Enrollment29,640Net price$29,219View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Texas State University
Grad rate55%Admit rate89.3%Enrollment40,674Net price$16,438View data - R1 ResearchTexas
Texas Tech University
Grad rate69%Admit rate72.6%Enrollment40,757Net price$20,071View data - R1 ResearchFlorida
University of Central Florida
Grad rate78%Admit rate40.1%Enrollment69,713Net price$10,650View data - R1 ResearchTexas
University of Houston
Grad rate65%Admit rate73.9%Enrollment47,980Net price$13,853View data - R1 ResearchTexas
University of North Texas
Grad rate61%Admit rate72.2%Enrollment46,864Net price$14,352View data - R1 ResearchVirginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate63%Admit rate92.6%Enrollment28,464Net price$19,452View data - R1 ResearchWest Virginia
West Virginia University
Grad rate64%Admit rate89.0%Enrollment23,643Net price$12,997View data - R2 ResearchMichigan
Western Michigan University
Grad rate58%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment16,744Net price$18,701View data
Fullerton Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The page belongs to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at California State University, Fullerton. It provides links to important institutional data, including student and faculty statistics, dashboards, and the Common Data Set. For more information or assistance, visitors are encouraged to contact the office via email.
Visit IR office page- Su Swarat, Ph.D.Senior Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Accreditation Liaison Officer
- Yessica De La Torre Roman, Ed.D.Director, Assessment
- Kale Yi, B.S.Research Analyst
- Gina Park, Ph.D.Senior Data Strategist
- Rachel RobbinsStrategic Initiatives Specialist
- Doug VuBusiness Intelligence Analyst
- April KiyabuStudent Success Analyst
- Allan TaingSenior Research Analyst
- Noha Abdou, Ed.D.Director, Institutional Research
- Afshin KarimiSenior Research Associate & IR Lead
- Robert Dawson, M.A.Enrollment Planning Specialist
- Esperanza Villegas, M.F.A.Assessment Analyst
- Kyusang Park, Ph.D.Research Analyst
- Sarah HenschelAdministrative Support Coordinator
- Thomas LeungResearch Analyst
Common Data Set
Fullerton's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardfullerton.edu
- Data definitionGlossary - Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning | CSUFThis page from California State University-Fullerton provides a glossary of terms related to institutional planning and effectiveness, including detailed definitions of concepts and metrics such as Academic Year, Census Data, and Graduation Rate. The glossary aims to clarify the terminology used in institutional research and data reporting at CSUF.fullerton.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookCSUF Facts2025The CSUF Facts document contains several key data points about California State University, Fullerton, including applications, enrollment, demographic breakdown, and degrees awarded, focusing on fall semester census data. The information is maintained by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.fullerton.edu
- GlossaryGlossary - Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning | CSUFThe glossary from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at California State University-Fullerton provides definitions for key terms used in institutional research and planning. It offers descriptions and explanations for terms related to academic schedules, student demographics, enrollment statistics, and faculty classifications. This resource assists in understanding various metrics and reports used within the university's institutional framework.fullerton.edu
Grants & funding (6)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
- opportunityJudith A. Presch Desert Research ScholarshipCSU Fullertoninstitution_site$500
- opportunityCSU Desert Studies Faculty Grant-writing Support AwardCSU Fullertoninstitution_site
- opportunityDesert Conservation ProgramWildlife Conservation Boardinstitution_site
- opportunityIntramural Funding OpportunitiesCalifornia State University-Fullertoninstitution_site
- opportunityNational Park Service FellowshipsNational Park Serviceinstitution_site
- opportunityWestern National Parks Association GrantsWestern National Parks Associationinstitution_site
Notable alumni of Fullerton (16)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Omid AbtahiFilm and Television
- Kevin CostnerFilm and Television
- Gwen StefaniMusic
- Valorie CurryFilm and Television
- Roy ChoiCulinary Arts
- Adam LambertMusic
- Tracy Caldwell DysonAstronautics
- Marc CherryTelevision
- Lou CorreaPolitics
- Anthony RendonPolitics
- Michael ShermerAuthor
- Philip ChenPolitics
Frequently asked questions about California State University-Fullerton
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Fullerton.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fullerton?
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Where is California State University-Fullerton located?
Who runs Institutional Research at California State University-Fullerton?
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