
History
California State University, Fullerton opened its doors in 1959 in Orange County to 457 students. Since its founding the school has grown rapidly, expanding its offerings, student base and service area through an additional campus, art center and more. Cal State Fulelrton is the largest school in the CSU System, with enrollment reaching nearly 40,000 students. It is the third largest school in California after UCLA and CSU Long Beach. Fullerton is considered one of the best public institutions in the west and has been improving steadily.
Academics
Cal State Fullerton offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. The goal of the school is to provide an affordable quality education to residents of California. The diversity in educational opportunities offered by CSUF ensures that students will find a major that suits their goals.
Programs offered:
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- International Business
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Women's Studies
Admissions and Financial Aid
Admission to Cal State Fullerton as freshmen is highly competitive due to there being more applicants than spaces available. Thus, the admission review is much stricter for freshman than the admission guidelines for non-freshman students. Students should review the minimum requirements as put forth by Cal State Fullerton for local residents, California State Residents, and out of state applicants to see if they exceed the minimum for admissions. Financial aid is available for eligible applicants. To determine the what awards an individual may be eligible for students should contact the financial aid office and submit all necessary forms as per the offices instruction.
Athletics
The CSU Fullerton Titans participate in the NCAA Division I as part of the Big West Conference.
Sports programs:
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Admission Requirements & Details
The admission details below may provide a better idea of the applicants Cal State Fullerton accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
California State University – Fullerton has a total student population of about 39,000, with undergraduate students making up about 85% of the total student population and graduate students making up the rest.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $7,900. There is also a $55 application fee for students applying to the school. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- State Residents: $5,500-$6,600
- Out-of-State: $17,000-$19,960
Financial Aid Details
The information below lists the financial aid types students are receiving. Also shown are the percent of students receiving aid and the average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 75% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 71% | $8,161 |
Receiving Student Loans | 32% | $5,609 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, California State University – Fullerton may provide student services like those listed below:- Distance learning
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Student employment
- Helping students find work after graduation
- Child care
Graduation Rates
The overall graduation rate of Cal State Fullerton is close to 53%.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 14% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 27% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 13% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Art and Design Program
- Dance Program
- Music Program
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Program
- Nurse Midwifery Education Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Graduate Level Public Health (Outside School of Public Health) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Theatre Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
California State University – Fullerton is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-AAA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Big West Conference)
- Basketball (Big West Conference)
- Track and Field (Big West Conference)
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by California State University – Fullerton by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, M)
- Biochemistry (B)
- Biotechnology (M)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Accounting (M)
- International Business (B)
- Taxation (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B, M)
- Radio and Television (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B, M)
- Information Technology (M)
Education
- Early Childhood Education (B)
- Education (M)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
Engineering
- Civil Engineering (B, M)
- Mechanical Engineering (B, M)
- Software Engineering (M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, M)
- Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering (M)
- Computer Engineering (B, M)
- Engineering
English Language and Literature
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- United States Studies (B, M)
- Ethnic and Cultural Minority Studies (B)
- Women's Studies (B)
- Latin American Studies (B)
- European Civilization Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, M)
- Linguistics (B, M)
- Japanese Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- Comparative Literature (B)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Health Services (B)
- Nursing (B, M)
- Communication Disorders (B, M)
- Public Health (M)
- Nursing Practice (D)
- Athletic Training (B)
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Gerontology (M)
- Natural Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, M)
- Statistics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B)
- Religious Studies (B)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B, M)
Public Administration and Social Services
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (B, M)
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B)
Social Sciences
- Sociology (B, M)
- Political Science (B, M)
- Economics (B, M)
- Geography (B, M)
- Anthropology (B, M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Arts (B, M)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B, M)
- Art Studies (B, M)
- Music (B, M)
- Music Performance (B, M)
- Dance (B)
- Playwriting and Screenwriting (M)
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to California State University – Fullerton.
- California State Polytechnic University - Pomona in Pomona, CA (12 miles away)
- California State University - Long Beach in Long Beach, CA (15 miles away)
- Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI (16 miles away)
- University of California - Irvine in Irvine, CA (16 miles away)
- California State University - Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA (21 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in California
- Browse our list of public colleges in California