Fullerton College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Fullerton, California. It enrolls 17,121 students (a very 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 Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
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 (2-Year). 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 · 2-Year
Outcomes48
Value83
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Fullerton College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fullerton College 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 $6,134 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,134
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$1,150
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,379
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$2,267
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,369
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
$4,944
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,200
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,915
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,392
Over $110,000
$11,574
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,75025%percentile
$4,500Medianpercentile
$9,03775%percentile
$13,00090%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 $7,626
↑ $3,126
No Pell $5,500
↑ $1,000
Dependent students $4,750
↑ $250
Independent students $9,350
↑ $4,850
Female students $6,500
↑ $2,000
Male students $6,504
↑ $2,004
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,529, close to what completers borrow ($4,500) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
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 Fullerton College earn a median of $43,366 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,366
Earning > $25K
66%
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
$34,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,500, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$7.1 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Fullerton College is home to 17,121 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 53% are first-generation college students, 58% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
17,121
Part-Time
58%
First-Generation
53%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 60.5%10,365
White 14.8%2,541
Asian 12.9%2,215
Other 6.1%1,036
Black 3.0%508
International 1.0%178
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fullerton College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbFullerton, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Fullerton College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
72 distinct programs across
30 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 Fullerton College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,343
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$118,914
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
313 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors
313
100%
$118,914
Pros & Cons of Fullerton College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fullerton College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Fullerton College 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; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fullerton College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fullerton College.
Is Fullerton College hard to get into?
Fullerton College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Fullerton College?
Fullerton College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Fullerton College cost?
The average net price after aid at Fullerton College is $6,134 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fullerton College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,366 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,134 per year. That's roughly 7.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fullerton College known for?
Fullerton College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fullerton College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fullerton College are $43,366, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fullerton College accredited?
Yes. Fullerton College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Fullerton College?
Fullerton College enrolls 17,121 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is Fullerton College a public or private college?
Fullerton College is a Public institution.
Where is Fullerton College located?
Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, California.
What programs does Fullerton College offer?
Fullerton College offers 72 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fullerton College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fullerton College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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