Photo: User:Geographer · CC BY 2.5Fullerton is home to five colleges, with about 53,000 students on campus
California State University-Fullerton (38,210 students on campus) and Fullerton College (12,859) are inside the city, and American Career College-Anaheim (1,643) is 3.7 miles from the center, just over the line in Anaheim. About 10% of Fullerton’s residents are enrolled in college, above California (8%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Fullerton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Fullerton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Fullerton
33 private colleges within 14.9 miles, three public colleges within 13.4 miles, and 11 community colleges.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Fullerton’s median household income ($104,286) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fullerton: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: American Career College-Anaheim (2); North-West College-Anaheim (4); West Coast University-Orange County (6); Platt College-Anaheim (4); North-West College-West Covina (2); Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (6); InterCoast Colleges-West Covina (4); North-West College-Long Beach (4).
What students study in Fullerton
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Fullerton’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Fullerton
Is Fullerton a college town?
No. About 10 of every 100 Fullerton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above California (8). The largest campus in the city, California State University-Fullerton, has 38,210 students on campus.
What colleges are in Fullerton?
California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton College, Marshall B Ketchum University, Hope International University and 1 more are inside the city. American Career College-Anaheim is 3.7 miles from the center, in Anaheim.
What is the closest community college to Fullerton, and what does it cost?
Fullerton College in Fullerton, 0.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,150 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $6,134, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-Fullerton cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $7,470 a year in-state and $20,070 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,315 (under $30,000 income) to $15,631 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fullerton. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →