California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California · Public · 93.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University-San Bernardino scores 78 (Strong Value) on CampusROI, driven by a remarkable earnings premium score of 99 - the highest sub-score in the formula. In-state tuition of $8,093 and a net price of just $4,564 (4-year total cost of $18,256) produce a payback period of 6.3 years against average 6-year earnings of $37,400. The earnings premium raw score of 1.368 means graduates earn 37% more than comparable workers without a degree, an exceptionally strong return on a low base cost. The main drag on the composite score is completion - only 54.9% of students graduate - and a repayment rate of 58.4% at year three, which indicates borrower stress across the student population. Registered Nursing is the anchor program: 161 graduates, $93,142 year-one, $109,499 year-four, with an A-grade ROI and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.194. Computer Engineering (45 graduates) and Computer Science (107 graduates) both hit $92,492 and $74,845 at year four respectively. The school's size - 15,023 enrolled, 57.6% Pell grant recipients - reflects its regional access mission.
California State University-San Bernardino scores in the top 15% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-San Bernardino
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,093/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,693/yr |
| Average net price | $4,564/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $18,256 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,977 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,715 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $156 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,023 |
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: $8,093/year ($20,693/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $4,564/year, or roughly $18,256 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 $2,681/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,316/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,715, which works out to about $156 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,400) 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 | $2,681 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,680 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $4,735 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $7,745 |
| $110,001+ | $14,316 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays just $2,681 per year at CSUSB - roughly $10,724 total over four years before accounting for debt. With a Pell grant rate of 57.6%, this income band is the core of CSUSB's enrollment. At $37,400 average 6-year earnings, even moderate debt is recoverable quickly at this cost level. Low-income students who complete a degree at CSUSB, particularly in nursing or business, achieve a cost-effective college investment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $4,735 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $7,745. Both are exceptionally low net prices for a degree-granting institution in California. Middle-income families receive a genuine subsidy at CSUSB even without high financial need. Against average 6-year earnings of $37,400, a $4,735-$7,745 annual net price produces payback periods well under 10 years for any degree path.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families (110001-plus) pay $14,316 per year - $57,264 over four years. Against average 6-year earnings of $37,400 and a 6.3-year payback, higher-income families investing in CSUSB are buying a solid return at low absolute cost. The primary risk is the 54.9% completion rate, not the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-San Bernardino with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,361 | B+ |
| Psychology | $48,326 | B |
| Sociology | $48,954 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,275 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $52,799 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,944 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $49,171 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $109,499 | A |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $66,202 | B |
| Biology | $56,799 | 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
Nursing is CSUSB's strongest program by both volume and ROI: 161 graduates, $93,142 year-one earnings, $109,499 at year four, median debt $18,116, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.194 (ROI grade A). This is an exceptional outcome at a low-cost public university. At a 4-year total cost of $18,256, a nursing graduate's debt payback is measured in months, not years. The program is selective within the university despite open-access admissions at the institutional level.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (45 graduates) earns $49,043 at year one and $92,492 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.369 (ROI grade B). The trajectory from $49,043 to $92,492 over three years reflects strong career progression in the Southern California tech and defense sectors. Median debt of $18,096 is low relative to the four-year earnings figure. For students who complete the program, the ROI is strong - the B grade reflects primarily the gap between year-one and year-four figures rather than weak terminal outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (107 graduates) earns $45,846 at year one and $74,845 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.371 (ROI grade B). At a net cost of $4,564 per year, the four-year figure of $74,845 represents an exceptional return on investment. CS graduates from CSUSB enter regional tech employers and increasingly remote-work markets.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is CSUSB's largest program by graduate volume (776 graduates), earning $40,817 year-one and $56,361 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.331 (ROI grade B+). The B+ grade on a volume program of 776 graduates is notable - most schools see ROI grades decline with program scale. Against a $4,564 average net price, a $56,361 four-year figure with $13,500 median debt is a clean outcome. This program serves the large regional business employer base in the Inland Empire.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (319 graduates) is one of CSUSB's highest-volume programs, earning $35,029 at year one and $54,275 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.426 (ROI grade B). Criminal Justice graduates enter law enforcement, corrections, probation, and social services in the Inland Empire region. At $4,564 net price, median debt of $14,917 is manageable against year-four earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-San Bernardino’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 | 93.7% |
| Enrollment | 15,023 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,988 |
CSUSB is effectively open-access with a 93.7% admission rate and no published test score ranges. The practical barrier to attendance is completion, not admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-San Bernardino (this school) | 78 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| 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 Kansas | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Western Washington University | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State University-San Bernardino side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CSUSB admits 93.7% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT ranges, reflecting an open-access public university model. Pell grant rate of 57.6% indicates a predominantly first-generation and low-income student body. At 15,023 enrolled, the campus is mid-sized for a CSU. Students who thrive here tend to be regionally rooted, often working part-time, and pursuing vocational tracks in nursing, business, or technology. The completion rate of 54.9% is a genuine risk signal: prospective students should assess their preparation and support resources carefully before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-San Bernardino pays off. You'd pay about $4,564 a year after aid ($18,256 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,977 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 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 58.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $14,715 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,400 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-San Bernardino: Common Questions
Is California State University-San Bernardino worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-San Bernardino pays off. It scores 78/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $4,564 a year after aid ($18,256 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,977 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-San Bernardino 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 $4,564 a year, or roughly $18,256 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-San Bernardino graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,977 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,177 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-San Bernardino?
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 6.3 years for California State University-San Bernardino. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-San Bernardino graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,715, against average earnings of $37,400 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-San Bernardino?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.9%. 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.