CSUDH vs. Cal State Fullerton

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fullerton is larger than CSUDH based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 15,182 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); California State University Fullerton is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; California State University Fullerton 26:1.

CSUDH vs. Cal State Fullerton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or Cal State Fullerton? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Fullerton than CSUDH ($7,064 vs. $9,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Dominguez Hills are 3.3% lower than at California State University Fullerton ($18,444 vs. $19,080).
• California State University Fullerton is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $21 more per year; $7,470.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Cal State Fullerton than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $21 more per year; $20,070.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at California State University Fullerton (93% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 24.2% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($13,951 vs. $11,234).

CSUDH vs. Cal State Fullerton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH or Cal State Fullerton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cal State Fullerton and CSUDH.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; Cal State Fullerton - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• CSUDH has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than Cal State Fullerton (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton.

CSUDH vs. Cal State Fullerton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and Cal State Fullerton? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Fullerton's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than CSUDH graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $1,038 lower median loan debt than Cal State Fullerton graduates ($13,962 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Fullerton graduates ($144 vs. $155).
• More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.