Cal State Fullerton vs. CMA

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA with California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Fullerton is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Maritime Academy is in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fullerton 26:1; California State University Maritime Academy 11:1.

Cal State Fullerton vs. CMA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or CMA? 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 CMA ($7,064 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 23.8% lower than at California State University Fullerton ($14,536 vs. $19,080).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $2,474 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.3% higher at CMA than at California State University Fullerton (about $2,474 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fullerton than at California State University Maritime Academy (78% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fullerton students is 1.8% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($11,234 vs. $11,038).

Cal State Fullerton vs. CMA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or CMA? 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 CMA and Cal State Fullerton.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Fullerton - Test-free; CMA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; CMA Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Fullerton students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at CMA (3.43).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than Cal State Fullerton (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 20.7% at CMA.

Cal State Fullerton vs. CMA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Fullerton and CMA? 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 Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than California State University Fullerton's (50%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $41,500 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $10,526 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($15,000 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($155 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 69%)

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.