California State University-Fresno
Fresno, California · Public · 95.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University-Fresno scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, powered by an exceptionally high earnings premium sub-score of 98 - meaning graduates earn significantly more relative to the cost of attendance. In-state tuition of $7,350 and a net price of $7,000 make Fresno State an affordable access point to a four-year degree. Average 6-year earnings of $37,200 rise to a median $61,244 at 10 years, with a payback period of 6.4 years against a $28,000 four-year net cost. The top programs are legitimately strong: Registered Nursing leads with 142 graduates earning $96,890 at year one and $111,278 at year four (ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.185). Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Technology also post A-grade ROI scores with year-one earnings in the $71,000-$79,000 range. The overall completion rate of 57.0% is the score's primary weakness - nearly half of entering students do not graduate - which is a real institutional challenge. The Pell grant rate of 57.0% reflects a student body with substantial financial need, and Fresno State's ability to produce strong earnings outcomes for those students is the core of its value proposition.
California State University-Fresno scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Fresno
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,350/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,950/yr |
| Average net price | $7,000/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $28,000 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,244 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,505 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $154 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 21,605 |
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: $7,350/year ($19,950/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $7,000/year, or roughly $28,000 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 $5,105/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,899/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,505, which works out to about $154 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,200) and comes to 0.39, 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 | $5,105 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,429 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,196 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,291 |
| $110,001+ | $16,899 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $5,105 net price per year at Fresno State. Over four years, that is approximately $20,000 in total costs before living expenses. Against a 6.4-year payback period and $37,200 in average 6-year earnings, the case for low-income students is strong if they can complete. The 57% completion rate is the real risk factor; students who start but do not finish incur debt without the credential boost, so selecting high-ROI programs like nursing or engineering is critical.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the 48001-75000 bracket pay $7,196 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $10,291 - both still extremely low in absolute terms. A four-year cost of $29,000-$41,000 against post-graduation earnings of $37,200 at six years is a compelling equation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $16,899 net per year. The full in-state tuition is $7,350, meaning higher-income students simply pay closer to actual cost rather than receiving large grants.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Fresno with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,133 | B |
| Psychology | $51,526 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,436 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $48,647 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,849 | C+ |
| Biology | $50,728 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $76,268 | - |
| Sociology | $49,407 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $111,278 | A |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $67,731 | B+ |
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 is Fresno State's highest-earning and highest-ROI program: 142 graduates, $96,890 median year-one earnings, $111,278 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.185 (ROI grade A). Against a net price of $7,000 per year, the financial case for nursing at Fresno State is extremely strong. Nurses graduating here enter a robust California healthcare labor market with salary floors well above the state median wage. This program is the institution's clearest ROI anchor.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Construction Engineering Technology (51 graduates) earns $78,716 at year one and $95,072 at year four - A-grade ROI with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.165. This is a specialized program in a field where California's persistent construction demand creates durable employment. Students interested in the built environment who want a fast financial return should look closely at this path.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (70 graduates) earns $71,093 at year one and $87,627 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.215 (ROI grade A). Civil engineers from Fresno State enter California's infrastructure and construction markets, which face sustained demand driven by state investment in water, transit, and energy. Median debt of $15,267 is manageable at these earnings levels.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (72 graduates) earns $65,938 at year one and $88,002 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.266 (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory reflects career progression in a field with steady demand across manufacturing, energy, and defense sectors present in California's Central Valley. Median debt of $17,533 is comfortably within the serviceable range against these earnings.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business and Management is Fresno State's highest-volume distinctive program at 115 graduates, earning $50,100 at year one and $67,731 at year four (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.262). Fresno State sits at the center of California's San Joaquin Valley, the most productive agricultural region in the U.S., giving this program direct labor market relevance. Debt of $13,139 is low, making the B+ grade a solid outcome for a field with real career depth in agribusiness, food production, and farm management.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Fresno’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 | 95.3% |
| Enrollment | 21,605 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,540 |
With a 95.3% acceptance rate, Fresno State is open-access in practice. The California State system applies a formula-based eligibility review rather than competitive selection. Admission is not the bottleneck - financial planning, program fit, and completion support are the more meaningful variables. Low-income students should model net price carefully: the 0-30000 income bracket pays only $5,105 net per year.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Fresno State's earnings premium sub-score is 98, reflecting the low cost base.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fresno (this school) | 81 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| Washington State University | 84 | $14,971 | $68,905 |
| Iowa State University | 79 | $18,589 | $63,386 |
| University of Kansas | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State University-Fresno side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Fresno State is broadly accessible, admitting 95.3% of applicants, with no published SAT or ACT thresholds. The 21,605-student campus serves a predominantly Central Valley population with high Pell grant representation (57%). This is a commuter-friendly, career-focused institution - the program mix skews toward STEM, agriculture, nursing, and applied professional fields. Students who thrive here are typically goal-directed, cost-conscious, and either local to the Central Valley or targeting careers in engineering, healthcare, or agriculture. The challenge is a 57% completion rate; students who need academic support systems should investigate Fresno State's advising and retention infrastructure before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Fresno pays off. You'd pay about $7,000 a year after aid ($28,000 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,244 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 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: a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $14,505 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, 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-Fresno: Common Questions
Is California State University-Fresno worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Fresno pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $7,000 a year after aid ($28,000 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,244 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Fresno 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 $7,000 a year, or roughly $28,000 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-Fresno graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,244 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,444 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-Fresno?
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 6.4 years for California State University-Fresno. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Fresno graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,505, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. 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-Fresno?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.0%. 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.