Why are your 2026–2027 costs labeled “estimated”?
CSUF publishes official COA budgets by year and living arrangement, and CSU has an approved multi-year tuition plan. Until CSUF posts the final 2026–27 campus tables, the most honest approach is to show families a planning estimate based on published sources.

Why is your on-campus housing number so much higher than “$10,158” I’ve seen before?
Because $10,158 aligns with a commuter/living-at-home budget line in older COA formats. CSUF’s published on-campus housing + food budgets and housing rate tables put true on-campus room-and-board in the high-teens to low-$20Ks per year, depending on the building and meal plan.

Does CSU Fullerton participate in WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange)?
No. CSU Fullerton does not offer WUE pricing or other regional tuition exchange discounts for out-of-state students.

What’s the biggest way out-of-state students can reduce tuition at CSUF?
The biggest lever is a nonresident tuition exemption (such as AB 540 eligibility). Without an exemption, nonresident tuition is charged per unit and can add roughly five figures per year.

How should families use the “average net price” number?
Use it as a reality check for what aided students paid on average — but always run the Net Price Calculator. Net price can be much lower for students with high need, and much higher for nonresidents without exemptions.

Does CSU Fullerton offer automatic merit scholarships just for being admitted?
Not in the way many public universities do. CSUF does not publish guaranteed “admission-based merit tiers” (for example: “3.8 GPA = $X per year”). Most scholarships require using the campus scholarship portal and meeting criteria for specific awards.

If there’s no automatic merit, how do students actually get scholarships at CSUF?
Through the Titan Scholarship Portal. Students complete the general scholarship application and are matched to scholarships based on eligibility (major, year in school, financial need, leadership, community service, etc.). Some scholarships also require extra materials like essays or recommendations.

Do ACT/SAT scores help with scholarships at CSUF?
Usually not. The CSU system is test-blind for admissions eligibility, and CSUF does not have a published “score = automatic scholarship” structure. Some programs may still use test scores for placement or specialized decisions, but most scholarships are not awarded that way.

When should students apply for scholarships?
As soon as the portal cycle opens. Many CSUF scholarship cycles run early in the year (often January through early March). Treat March 1 as a common “final” target date unless the portal lists a different deadline for a specific scholarship.

Is there any “big money” scholarship at CSUF?
Yes — but it’s competitive, not automatic. CSUF’s flagship award is the President’s Scholars Program, which is a separate competitive process and typically restricted to California residents (and it includes University Honors Program entry).

Is the President’s Scholars Program a full ride?
It is a full-tuition and mandatory-fee scholarship, not a full ride. Housing, meals, and personal expenses are not included, though recipients do receive a book stipend and laptop.

Can out-of-state students win President’s Scholars?
Typically no. The program is generally limited to California residents or AB 540–eligible students. Out-of-state students should not plan on this award as a realistic funding option.

How competitive is President’s Scholars?
Extremely competitive. Winners usually have near-perfect academic records, significant leadership roles, strong service involvement, and perform well in interviews. Being admitted to CSUF alone does not make a student competitive.

Does test score superscoring matter for this award?
No. CSU campuses are test-blind for admissions eligibility. Selection is driven by GPA, coursework rigor, leadership, service, essays, and interviews — not ACT or SAT scores.

Are President’s Scholars also part of Honors?
Yes. President’s Scholars receive automatic entry into CSUF’s University Honors Program, which includes priority registration, smaller classes, and enriched academic advising.

If my student isn’t competitive for President’s Scholars, what’s the backup plan?
Most CSUF students rely on a combination of state aid (Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship), federal aid, and department-level or need-based scholarships through the Titan Scholarship Portal rather than flagship merit awards.

What’s the “one thing” families should do to maximize CSUF scholarships?
Complete the Titan Scholarship Portal general application early. Many scholarships on this page pull from that same application, and missing the main cycle deadline can knock students out of multiple awards at once.

Do students need to wait until they’re fully admitted to apply?
Usually no. Students should complete scholarship steps as soon as the portal allows — even if admission is still processing — because scholarship cycles can close before families realize it.

Is Abrego Future Scholars just money, or is it a support program too?
It’s both. The cash award helps, but the bigger value for many first-gen families is the priority services and mentoring that help students stay on track academically.

Can undocumented students receive scholarships at CSUF?
Yes. CSUF has one of the stronger CSU support systems for undocumented students, including the Titan Dreamers Resource Center and scholarships that can be awarded even when AB 540 status is not required.

Are Guardian Scholars benefits mostly financial?
Not always. Guardian Scholars is often most valuable for its support package — stable guidance, priority services, and help navigating housing and financial aid — with additional scholarship dollars depending on funding.

Do these scholarships stack with Cal Grants or federal aid?
Often yes, but many are designed to close funding gaps. In some cases, institutional awards may reduce unmet need rather than fully stack on top of other aid.

Does CSU Fullerton have an Honors College?
Not as a standalone college. CSUF offers a University Honors Program plus college-based honors tracks (like Business Honors).

Is Honors mainly about scholarships?
Usually no. Honors value is mostly priority registration, enriched classes, advising, and academic community. Some honors-linked scholarships exist, but families shouldn’t assume “Honors = tuition discount.”

What are the minimum requirements for the University Honors Program?
CSUF commonly lists minimums around a ~3.6 high school GPA (college-prep courses, grades 10–12) or a ~3.5 college GPA for transfers. Meeting the minimum doesn’t guarantee admission — it’s still a competitive review.

What’s the practical deadline families should follow?
Treat March 1 as the priority target for both University Honors and Business Honors. Some later applications may be considered (often up to around May 1), but space can fill and decisions may be slower or not guaranteed.

How do the Business Honors scholarships work?
Business Honors uses a tiered structure — $500 to $1,500 awards after each completed year for students in good standing, processed annually. Think of it as “keep performing and you keep earning,” rather than one big upfront scholarship.

If my student wants the biggest scholarship path tied to Honors, what is it?
The biggest honors-linked award is President’s Scholars, which includes entry into University Honors. It’s extremely competitive and usually limited to California residents (or AB 540–eligible students).