Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to California State University-Dominguez Hills

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to California State University-Dominguez Hills that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, California · Public

$8,615
Net Price
$57,162
Median Earnings (10yr)
93.3%
Acceptance Rate
44.6%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to California State University-Dominguez Hills

California State University-Dominguez Hills posts an average net price of $8,615 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with California State University-Dominguez Hills across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,877, achieved by Skyline College at $1,738. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above California State University-Dominguez Hills’s $57,162, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $58,070.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,877
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
82%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. California State University- $59k 2. Utah Valley University $55k 3. College of Staten Island CUN $54k 4. CUNY Lehman College $58k 5. California State University- $59k Compared to California State University-Dominguez Hills:$57k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · Public Better Value
$5,652 -$2,963 $59,009 49.6% 82%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public
$6,376 -$2,239 $55,486 43.1% 77%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public
$5,579 -$3,036 $53,501 33.4% 76%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$5,467 $58,013 50.3% 73%
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public Better Value
$3,967 -$4,648 $59,211 52.8% 71%
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public Better Value
$7,021 -$1,594 $59,115 56.5% 71%
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public
$3,203 -$5,412 $56,195 55.7% 71%
Texas A&M University-Victoria
Victoria, TX · Public
$8,109 -$506 $54,467 26.5% 68%
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA · Public
$7,653 -$962 $57,072 58.2% 66%
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · Public Better Value
$6,067 -$2,548 $63,188 55.6% 65%
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public Better Value
$4,195 -$4,420 $62,763 56.4% 65%
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$3,103 -$5,512 $60,752 55.2% 64%
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public Better Value
$4,564 -$4,051 $59,977 54.8% 64%
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public
$1,738 -$6,877 $55,702 42.8% 63%
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA · Public
$6,642 -$1,973 $56,596 67.8% 62%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than California State University-Dominguez Hills are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to California State University-Dominguez Hills?
We found 15 schools similar to California State University-Dominguez Hills that cost less. The closest match is California State University-Bakersfield with 82% similarity and a net price of $5,652.
What is the ROI of attending California State University-Dominguez Hills?
California State University-Dominguez Hills has an average net price of $8,615. Former students earn a median of $57,162 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 6.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than California State University-Dominguez Hills for less money?
Yes - 8 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. California State University-Bakersfield costs $5,652 (saving $2,963) with median earnings of $59,009.
What is the cheapest alternative to California State University-Dominguez Hills?
The most affordable similar school is Skyline College at $1,738, saving $6,877 compared to California State University-Dominguez Hills. It has a 63% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $58,070 compared to California State University-Dominguez Hills's $57,162. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.