The California Mobility Index, a new four-year college index from the nonprofit College Futures Foundation, ranks Cal State Fullerton in the top 10 of California universities that prioritize economic mobility for students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds.
Out of 82 four-year universities on the index, CSUF ranked No. 7 in the state based on its proportion of students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds and the return on investment those students get for earning a bachelor’s degree.
Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, the index notes that 47% of CSUF’s undergraduate students received a Pell Grant during the 2022-23 school year. These students often come from households with family incomes of $75,000 or less.
These students could pay an average of $21,826 out of pocket over four years for their education after all grants and scholarships are deducted. However, after graduating, they could recoup the costs of their degree in 0.7 years, the index states.
A CSUF graduate has the potential to earn, on average, about $30,159 more than a high school graduate, the index estimates.
For its index, College Futures Foundation ranked universities based on two factors: the proportion of low- and moderate-income students an institution enrolls, and how long it takes low- and moderate-income students to recoup their educational costs.
All 23 campuses in the California State University system appear in the index. Additionally, 13 CSU campuses were among the top 15 institutions ranked.