California State University-Channel Islands is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Camarillo, California. It enrolls 5,013 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value95
Affordability86
Selectivity11
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94.8%, California State University-Channel Islands is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Channel Islands is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
7.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California State University-Channel Islands isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,849 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,849
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,159
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,759
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,490
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,640
Books & Supplies
$944
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,878
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,868
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,561
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,857
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,083
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,083
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,286
Over $110,000
$20,473
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,67810%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$15,000Medianpercentile
$21,88375%percentile
$30,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $12,270
↓ $2,730
Dependent students $11,287
↓ $3,713
Independent students $13,979
↓ $1,021
Female students $12,500
↓ $2,500
Male students $12,500
↓ $2,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,915, less than completers ($15,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
67% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Channel Islands graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
67%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Channel Islands earn a median of $62,152 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,152
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,700, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
5.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California State University-Channel Islands is home to 5,013 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,013
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 60.4%3,028
White 22.3%1,117
Asian 6.3%314
Other 4.5%227
Black 2.3%114
International 0.9%44
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Channel Islands. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeCamarillo, California
Housing
Partly residential1,528 beds available
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
California State University-Channel Islands offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Channel Islands is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,777
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$18M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$102,185
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
224 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
57
25%
$130,971
Associate Professors
60
27%
$109,084
Assistant Professors
47
21%
$91,898
Lecturers
60
27%
$75,997
Pros & Cons of California State University-Channel Islands
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Channel Islands tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, California State University-Channel Islands is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Channel Islands
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Channel Islands.
Is California State University-Channel Islands hard to get into?
California State University-Channel Islands has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Channel Islands?
California State University-Channel Islands has an acceptance rate of 94.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California State University-Channel Islands cost?
The average net price after aid at California State University-Channel Islands is $9,849 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California State University-Channel Islands worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,152 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,849 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California State University-Channel Islands known for?
California State University-Channel Islands is best known for its programs in Psychology, Business Administration, Health Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California State University-Channel Islands graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Channel Islands are $62,152, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California State University-Channel Islands accredited?
Yes. California State University-Channel Islands is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California State University-Channel Islands?
California State University-Channel Islands enrolls 5,013 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Channel Islands?
California State University-Channel Islands graduates 67% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California State University-Channel Islands a public or private college?
California State University-Channel Islands is a Public institution.
Where is California State University-Channel Islands located?
California State University-Channel Islands is located in Camarillo, California.
What programs does California State University-Channel Islands offer?
California State University-Channel Islands offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Business Administration, Health Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Channel Islands?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Channel Islands is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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