Cal State Fullerton: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-blind
- 53,559
- Applicants
- 48,482
- Admitted91%
- 6,886
- Enrolled
- 14%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access91% admittedRanked #156 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #149 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #32 (tie), Computer Science #217 (tie), Nursing #94 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by California State University-Fullerton (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is Cal State Fullerton a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Cal State Fullerton against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Cal State Fullerton is a public university in Fullerton, California that admits about 91% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $6,555 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 72% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, Cal State Fullerton admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 91%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 950. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $6,555 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Cal State Fullerton?
66% of enrolled students at Cal State Fullerton had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.434, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Compare Cal State Fullerton with the other schools on your list
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What does Cal State Fullerton weight in admissions?
Cal State Fullerton reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Academic GPA
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
15- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Cal State Fullerton typically admits
Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 860 |
| 50th percentile | 950 |
| 75th percentile | 1070 |
| % submitting SAT | 4.3% |
| 25th percentile | 21.5 |
| 50th percentile | 25 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 0.2% |
- • Test-blind: Cal State Fullerton does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU system does not use SAT/ACT for admission; scores may be used only for math/English placement.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Cal State Fullerton's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Cal State Fullerton actually cost?
Published tuition is $7,470 for in-state students and $20,070 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,080 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $6,555 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 48% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,450 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,010 |
| Room and board | $19,842 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $6,555 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 90% |
| Average need-based grant | $5,360 |
| Average merit award, no financial need22 first-year students received one | $1,028 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 20% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $6,967 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Cal State Fullerton
| Regular deadline | 2025-11-30 |
| Notification date | 2025-04-01 |
| Reply deadline | 2025-05-01 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Cal State Fullerton?
These predict outcomes at Cal State Fullerton better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Cal State Fullerton
The most popular undergraduate programs at Cal State Fullerton, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies. Across all programs, Cal State Fullerton confers roughly 6,071 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $70,718 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2,233 | $70,718 |
| Psychology, General | 890 | $56,770 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 645 | $60,920 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 541 | $54,777 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 530 | n/a |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 432 | $116,259 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 422 | $46,226 |
| Sociology | 378 | $52,832 |
Is Cal State Fullerton safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Cal State Fullerton disclosed 26 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Cal State Fullerton?
About 3% of undergraduates at Cal State Fullerton live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 3% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31% acceptance
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona75% acceptance
- California State University-Los Angeles91% acceptance
- California State University-Fresno95% acceptance
- California State University-Sacramento94% acceptance
- Claremont McKenna College10% acceptance
- Harvey Mudd College13% acceptance
Next steps for Cal State Fullerton
Common questions parents ask about Cal State Fullerton
What GPA do I need for Cal State Fullerton?
66% of enrolled students at Cal State Fullerton had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.434, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Cal State Fullerton typically admit?
Cal State Fullerton is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Cal State Fullerton actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Cal State Fullerton after grants and scholarships is $6,555 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $7,470 and $20,070 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Cal State Fullerton realistic for my child?
Cal State Fullerton admits 91% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $6,555 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Cal State Fullerton?
Cal State Fullerton accepts about 91% of applicants out of roughly 53,559 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Cal State Fullerton test-optional?
Cal State Fullerton is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Cal State Fullerton?
About 72% of students at Cal State Fullerton graduate within six years, and 39% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Cal State Fullerton look for in applicants?
Cal State Fullerton rates GPA, geographic residence and state residency as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Cal State Fullerton a public or private school, and where is it located?
Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California.
What are the most popular majors at Cal State Fullerton?
The largest undergraduate majors at Cal State Fullerton by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies. The school awards about 6,071 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Cal State Fullerton safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Cal State Fullerton reported 26 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Cal State Fullerton?
At Cal State Fullerton, 3% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 3% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Fullerton, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers