Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, California. 21,605 undergraduates. Admits 95% of applicants.

58%Graduation rate4 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$5,418Average net price per year73% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$62,756Median earnings 10 years after starting7% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$13,156Median debt at graduation39% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($13,156) equals 21% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($62,756). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$3,925
$30,000–$48,000$3,848
$48,001–$75,000$4,466
$75,001–$110,000$7,866
Over $110,000$16,245

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $8,224 in-state, $21,544 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate58%54%
Return for second year82%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$48,525$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$62,756$58,912
Median debt at graduation$13,156$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

125 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing152$101,988$111,212$11,750
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering23$79,135$104,662—
Computer Engineering16$81,016$103,947—
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician50$77,700$97,086$12,993
Civil Engineering81$74,082$92,037$12,000
Computer Science69$52,748$90,485$16,250
Mechanical Engineering42$70,915$84,588$14,583
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians27$49,949$81,455$12,500
Plant Sciences63$63,767$80,218$19,025
Finance and Financial Management Services—$50,127$77,699$13,375
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General133—$75,123—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology35—$75,068$12,000
Agricultural Business and Management150$54,673$74,190$10,400
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions0—$72,779—
Food Science and Technology46$57,578$72,670—
Mathematics39—$71,060—
Business Administration, Management and Operations708$47,459$68,423$14,265
Accounting and Related Services—$51,616$68,304$14,336
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas87$40,373$67,083$12,751
Marketing—$37,369$66,899$12,500
Human Resources Management and Services—$51,078$66,867$12,991
Nutrition Sciences11$33,844$66,695—
Political Science and Government69$38,580$66,649$14,793
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies33$47,020$64,308$16,250
Computer and Information Sciences, General—$50,836$64,162$10,997
Chemistry23$42,374$62,261—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities481$31,973$62,141$12,199
Public Health4$39,599$61,975$15,287
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services91$28,654$60,601$14,924
Economics33$37,621$60,573$8,250
Social Work89$38,751$60,532$12,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections—$39,694$58,557$11,125
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness306$33,467$58,546$12,949
History85$31,516$58,461$15,000
Animal Sciences108$38,061$57,777$12,500
Communication and Media Studies77$41,047$57,318$15,000
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions—$36,731$57,044$12,200
Psychology, General561$31,610$56,667$12,500
Biology, General193$32,127$56,193$13,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics60$26,713$53,292$10,250
Anthropology14$25,045$53,078—
Criminology353$39,467$52,694$14,500
English Language and Literature, General59$29,837$49,947$11,750
Sociology155$38,362$49,029$11,000
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General2—$47,063—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods5$31,299$46,474—
Design and Applied Arts56$34,603$46,347$15,857
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General—$44,721—$13,250
International Business——$43,976—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies34—$43,096—
Fine and Studio Arts79$23,160$42,169$12,250
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft21$32,672$42,124—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services78$33,579—$10,707
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology87$30,947—$13,750
Natural Resources Conservation and Research11———
Architecture11———
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning2———
Area Studies2———
Journalism79———
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians5———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services11———
Apparel and Textiles7———
Cognitive Science2———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other74——$18,833
Philosophy26———
Physical Sciences, General8———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences4———
Physics6———
Social Sciences, General14———
Geography and Cartography8———
Music37———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

95%Admission rate
22:1Students per faculty member
62%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does California State University-Fresno cost per year?
The average net price at California State University-Fresno, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $5,418 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California State University-Fresno graduates earn?
Former California State University-Fresno students earn a median of $62,756 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fresno?
58% of California State University-Fresno students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California State University-Fresno graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California State University-Fresno is $13,156. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.