Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California · Public · 93.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Sonoma State University scores 81 (Strong Value). The earnings premium subscore of 93 reflects graduates earning 60.1% more than the college wage baseline, which drives the high score despite a 57.6% completion rate. Average 6-year earnings of $41,200 against a net price of $12,885 and a 6.2-year payback produce solid financial return. The completion rate is the primary weakness: fewer than 6 in 10 students finish within 6 years.
Sonoma State University scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Sonoma State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,624/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,224/yr |
| Average net price | $12,885/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,540 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,986 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,705 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $177 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,166 |
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: $8,624/year ($21,224/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 $12,885/year, or roughly $51,540 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 $8,310/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,195/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,705, which works out to about $177 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,200) and comes to 0.41, 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 | $8,310 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,795 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,741 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,897 |
| $110,001+ | $21,195 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $8,310 per year at SSU - a very affordable entry point for low-income Bay Area and North Bay students. With a 6.2-year payback and nursing and computer science options on campus, low-income completers face a strong return. The 57.6% completion rate is the main risk; students who leave early accumulate debt without the credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $10,741, and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $13,897.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $21,195 per year. At this price, SSU is one of the more affordable paths to a Bay Area labor market credential. Even at higher income levels, the cost advantage over private Bay Area institutions is significant. Engineering and nursing students in particular make a compelling financial case.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Sonoma State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,887 | B+ |
| Psychology | $57,335 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $59,444 | B |
| Sociology | $56,581 | C+ |
| Biology | $56,345 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,833 | C+ |
| Education, Other | $52,842 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $67,351 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $59,418 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,892 | 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 is SSU's highest-earning program by a wide margin: 54 graduates, $125,646 year-one, $143,886 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.157 (ROI grade A) reflects median debt of $19,750 against year-one earnings above $125k. This program is an outstanding financial value.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 50 students with $66,481 year-one and $106,181 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.305 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $20,305 against solid early earnings. This is one of the strongest programs at the school.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 323 graduates with $55,001 year-one and $75,887 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.318 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $17,500 - low for California. Year-four earnings of $75k reflect placement in Bay Area and North Bay regional business roles. At SSU's net price, business is a strong-value program.
Psychology
Psychology is the second-largest program at 289 graduates with $33,006 year-one and $57,335 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.500 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $16,500 against year-one earnings that create a manageable if modest financial situation at SSU's low net price. Year-four earnings near $57k suggest graduate school or applied career paths. At $12,885 annual net cost, even modest earnings outcomes produce reasonable financial results.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts graduates 35 students with $29,035 year-one and $46,022 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.636 (ROI grade C) reflects median debt of $18,460 against entry-level arts earnings. For a low-cost public institution, the arts programs are acceptable: the low net price partially compensates for modest earnings. Students pursuing studio arts careers should plan for a creative economy career that diversifies beyond studio practice.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Sonoma State University’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 | 93.4% |
| Enrollment | 5,166 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,780 |
At 93.4% acceptance, Sonoma State is effectively open access for California applicants who meet CSU eligibility requirements. Students who apply and meet basic eligibility should expect admission; the more important challenge is completing the degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The nursing program's exceptional outcomes ($125,646 year-one) elevate the campus average significantly. The 57.6% completion rate is the main drag on the score.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma State University (this school) | 81 | $12,885 | $65,986 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 91 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| Michigan Technological University | 89 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 75 | $16,032 | $61,760 |
Who Thrives Here
Sonoma State admits 93.4% of applicants. No test score data is reported. With 35.9% Pell recipients, the school serves a broad socioeconomic range. Nursing, computer science, and business students have the strongest financial case. Students in the arts or humanities benefit from the low cost structure even with modest earnings outcomes. The 57.6% completion rate is a genuine concern; SSU loses a significant share of its students before graduation.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Sonoma State University pays off. You'd pay about $12,885 a year after aid ($51,540 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $65,986 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $16,705 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, 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.
Sonoma State University: Common Questions
Is Sonoma State University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Sonoma State University pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $12,885 a year after aid ($51,540 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $65,986 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.2 years to earn back.
How much does Sonoma State University 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 $12,885 a year, or roughly $51,540 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 Sonoma State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,986 ten years after enrolling, roughly $24,186 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 Sonoma State University?
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 6.2 years for Sonoma State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Sonoma State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,705, against average earnings of $41,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. 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 Sonoma State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.6%. 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.