California State University-East Bay
Hayward, California · Public · 97.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University-East Bay scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The earnings premium sub-score is 98. Average 6-year earnings of $45,200 on a net price of $9,320 and $7,583 in-state tuition generates a raw earnings premium of 0.976. The payback period of 4.9 years is efficient for a regional public. The completion rate of 48.0% is the primary weakness - fewer than half of entering students complete their degrees - dragging the overall score below what the earnings data alone would suggest. CSU East Bay is located in Hayward, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, which means graduates enter a high-wage labor market. Registered Nursing leads by year-one earnings ($124,392 year one, $150,921 year four, A grade) with 107 graduates. Computer Science hits $60,371 year one and $119,900 at year four (A grade, 175 graduates). Business Administration (734 graduates) is the largest program and earns $51,549 year one with $77,567 at year four (B+ grade). Net price for the lowest-income students is $6,360 per year, making this one of the more affordable paths into a high-wage labor market.
California State University-East Bay scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-East Bay
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,583/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,183/yr |
| Average net price | $9,320/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,280 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,401 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,544 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $175 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,809 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,583/year ($20,183/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $9,320/year, or roughly $37,280 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,360/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,397/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,544, which works out to about $175 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,200) and comes to 0.37, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,360 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,031 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,990 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,015 |
| $110,001+ | $19,397 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $6,360 per year - extremely affordable access to a Bay Area institution with meaningful tech and healthcare employment pipelines. Against a 4.9-year payback and $45,200 average earnings, the financial case is strong for students who complete. The 48% completion rate is the primary risk. Low-income students should investigate completion support resources before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,990 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $12,015. A $12,015 annual net price against $45,200 average 6-year earnings is a reasonable value trade at any income level. The completion rate risk applies uniformly across income brackets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $19,397 per year - modest in absolute terms but representing reduced grant eligibility. Over four years that is roughly $77,588. For a Bay Area family with a student entering CS or nursing, this is a strong investment. The payback math is clean even at this net price level. CSU East Bay's location advantage offsets the completion rate concern at this income tier.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-East Bay with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $77,567 | B+ |
| Psychology | $54,436 | B |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $57,898 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $68,231 | B |
| Sociology | $62,427 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $119,900 | A |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,835 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,938 | C |
| Biology | $74,010 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $46,136 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (107 graduates) is the highest-earning program at CSU East Bay by a wide margin: $124,392 at year one and $150,921 at year four. The A grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.152 and median debt of $18,875 reflects a strong program-level ROI profile. Bay Area RN wages are high due to union contracts and local cost-of-living adjustments. This is the standout ROI case at this institution.
Computer Science
Computer Science (175 graduates) earns $60,371 year one and $119,900 at year four, with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.248, median debt $15,000). The four-year figure of $119,900 reflects the Bay Area tech labor market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (734 graduates) is the dominant program and earns $51,549 year one and $77,567 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.332, median debt $17,140). Volume and accessibility make this the core CSU East Bay program. Graduates access Bay Area corporate, finance, and tech management roles. The four-year figure of $77k is strong for a public regional and reflects the local labor market premium.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (166 graduates) earns $45,387 year one and $64,835 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.342, median debt $15,500). The debt is modest and the ratio clean.
Psychology
Psychology (377 graduates) is the second-largest program and earns $37,702 year one and $54,436 at year four, with a B grade (debt-to-earnings 0.398, median debt $15,000). Year-one earnings are modest but the debt-to-earnings ratio is acceptable given the low debt. Four-year earnings of $54k reflect graduates moving into social services, HR, and related roles in the Bay Area. Students expecting higher earnings from a psychology bachelor's should plan for graduate education.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-East Bay’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.4% |
| Enrollment | 9,809 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,805 |
At 97.4%, CSU East Bay is open access for California residents meeting CSU eligibility requirements. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Admission is not a meaningful barrier; completion is the challenge. Students should focus on support services, advising availability, and program fit rather than admission odds.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSU East Bay's ROI of 81 reflects a strong earnings-to-cost ratio but is held down by the 48% completion rate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-East Bay (this school) | 81 | $9,320 | $71,401 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| University of Wyoming | 77 | $13,599 | $56,880 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Texas Woman's University | 69 | $11,963 | $56,544 |
Who Thrives Here
CSU East Bay admits 97.4% of applicants - effectively open access. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Enrollment is 9,809. Pell grant rate of 44.4% confirms significant low-income and first-generation enrollment. The student body is diverse, reflecting the demographics of Hayward and the East Bay. Students who need affordable access to Bay Area professional networks in tech, health care, and business find a strong cost-to-labor-market match here. The completion rate of 48% means roughly half of students do not finish - prospective students should investigate support services and develop a concrete completion plan.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-East Bay pays off. You'd pay about $9,320 a year after aid ($37,280 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,401 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 47.9% graduation rate.
Median debt of $16,544 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-East Bay: Common Questions
Is California State University-East Bay worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-East Bay pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $9,320 a year after aid ($37,280 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,401 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.9 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-East Bay cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,320 a year, or roughly $37,280 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-East Bay graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,401 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,601 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-East Bay?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.9 years for California State University-East Bay. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-East Bay graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,544, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-East Bay?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.