Los Angeles, CA · Private University
Is California State University-Los Angeles Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$59,211
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$6,813
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$18,698
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$74,792
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.17x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.1 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
52.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$13,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$4,113
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California State University-Los Angeles graduates earn $14,211 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California State University-Los Angeles ranked by graduate earnings
241 graduates
98 graduates
85 graduates
180 graduates
155 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California State University-Los Angeles
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California State University-Los Angeles, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $103,598) and the lowest (Music: $21,509) is $82,089/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI | $103,598 | 5.5x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $91,800 | 4.9x |
| Civil Engineering | $90,155 | 4.8x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $78,721 | 4.2x |
| Computer Science | $77,836 | 4.2x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $62,551 | 3.4x |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $62,161 | 3.3x |
| Air Transportation | $61,820 | 3.3x |
| Fire Protection | $61,178 | 3.3x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $54,478 | 2.9x |
| Food Science and Technology(1yr data) | $52,806 | 2.8x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,806 | 2.7x |
| Social Work | $50,567 | 2.7x |
| Sociology | $45,937 | 2.5x |
| Political Science and Government | $45,693 | 2.4x |
| Chemistry(1yr data) | $44,944 | 2.4x |
| Public Health | $44,886 | 2.4x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $43,871 | 2.4x |
| Biology, General | $43,809 | 2.3x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $42,212 | 2.3x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,024 | 2.3x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,837 | 2.2x |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $41,692 | 2.2x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $41,254 | 2.2x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $41,157 | 2.2x |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $40,632 | 2.2x |
| Natural Sciences(1yr data) | $39,870 | 2.1x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $39,472 | 2.1x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $39,266 | 2.1x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,933 | 2.0x |
| Mathematics(1yr data) | $37,845 | 2.0x |
| Psychology, General(1yr data) | $37,567 | 2.0x |
| Anthropology | $37,341 | 2.0x |
| History | $34,625 | 1.9x |
| Geography and Cartography(1yr data) | $33,727 | 1.8x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $33,442 | 1.8x |
| Economics(1yr data) | $32,877 | 1.8x |
| Nutrition Sciences(1yr data) | $31,096 | 1.7x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $30,083 | 1.6x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies(1yr data) | $27,058 | 1.4x |
| MusicLowest(1yr data) | $21,509 | 1.1x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California State University-Los Angeles stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $59,211 10 years after starting, $14,211 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.1 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.