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California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA 21,070 Undergrads 69.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,650
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,480
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,244
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$6,480
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,244
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate69.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.4%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$527k
+$130k
+$42k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$503k
+$107k
+$19k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$459k
+$63k
-$25k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
49
81%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-37%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return37%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-32%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,818
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$13,279
Earnings (5yr)
$69,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,800
Earnings (5yr)
$65,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$15,267
Earnings (5yr)
$93,213
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$14,915
Earnings (5yr)
$49,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,143
Earnings (5yr)
$62,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,652
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$131,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$551k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,480
Earnings (5yr)
$91,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$105,173
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$9,908
Earnings (5yr)
$42,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$19,735
Earnings (5yr)
$46,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$12,413
Earnings (5yr)
$30,004
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (5yr)
$106,377
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Engineering-Related Technologies
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$13,797
Earnings (5yr)
$41,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,299
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$10,900
Earnings (5yr)
$72,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$15,409
Earnings (5yr)
$40,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,372
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,426
Earnings (5yr)
$57,456
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,497
Earnings (5yr)
$48,521
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$18,329
Earnings (5yr)
$66,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$10,518
Earnings (5yr)
$71,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,414
Earnings (5yr)
$54,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,580
Earnings (5yr)
$64,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$12,940
Earnings (5yr)
$97,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$14,833
Earnings (5yr)
$49,029
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$14,061
Earnings (5yr)
$45,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$13,824
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$11,731
Earnings (5yr)
$78,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$11,749
Earnings (5yr)
$52,154
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$13,990
Earnings (5yr)
$53,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$14,926
Earnings (5yr)
$46,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,966
Earnings (5yr)
$113,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$9,241
Earnings (5yr)
$56,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,345
Earnings (5yr)
$52,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,198
Earnings (5yr)
$115,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$564k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,011
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,350
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$34,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,541
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,605
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$699k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$36,236
Earnings (5yr)
$65,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,688
Earnings (5yr)
$79,777
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$25,045
Earnings (5yr)
$68,977
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,314
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$55,954
Earnings (5yr)
$127,186
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$37,030
Earnings (5yr)
$174,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$809k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$75,827
Earnings (5yr)
$100,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.