College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA 21,605 Undergrads 69.7% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$20,095
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,000
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,992
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,000
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,992
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,244
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate69.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$536k
+$69k
+$51k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$510k
+$44k
+$26k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$463k
-$4k
-$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
46
103%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-29%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return50%

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-31%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,818
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,200
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$13,279
Earnings (4yr)
$67,731
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,518
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,579
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,187
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,728
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$15,800
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,522
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$15,267
Earnings (4yr)
$87,627
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,915
Earnings (4yr)
$51,788
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$17,143
Earnings (4yr)
$51,835
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,256
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,896
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,480
Earnings (4yr)
$71,490
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,072
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,438
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$9,908
Earnings (4yr)
$48,647
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,735
Earnings (4yr)
$38,397
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Median Debt
$12,413
Earnings (4yr)
$34,320
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,749
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (4yr)
$108,038
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,353
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Median Debt
$13,797
Earnings (4yr)
$47,223
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,734
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$10,900
Earnings (4yr)
$67,312
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
$15,409
Earnings (4yr)
$39,878
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,225
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,863
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,268
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,497
Earnings (4yr)
$51,676
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$18,329
Earnings (4yr)
$64,479
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Median Debt
$10,518
Earnings (5yr)
$71,074
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,197
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$13,414
Earnings (4yr)
$58,436
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,580
Earnings (4yr)
$57,395
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,664
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$12,940
Earnings (4yr)
$88,002
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
$14,833
Earnings (4yr)
$51,047
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$18,038
Earnings (4yr)
$47,817
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,522
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Median Debt
$14,061
Earnings (4yr)
$56,336
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$13,824
Earnings (4yr)
$42,337
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$11,731
Earnings (4yr)
$77,034
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
$11,749
Earnings (4yr)
$62,298
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$13,990
Earnings (4yr)
$51,526
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$14,926
Earnings (4yr)
$51,693
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,966
Earnings (4yr)
$111,278
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,241
Earnings (4yr)
$45,063
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,345
Earnings (4yr)
$56,038
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,407
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,426
Earnings (4yr)
$54,849
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,819
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,475
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,198
Earnings (4yr)
$111,334
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,488
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,139
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,523
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,545
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,056
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,681
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,549
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$147,082
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$636k
Median Debt
$36,236
Earnings (5yr)
$65,929
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,661
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,688
Earnings (4yr)
$80,905
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,228
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,853
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
$25,045
Earnings (4yr)
$66,610
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,033
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,314
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k

Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,183
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$55,954
Earnings (4yr)
$128,028
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Median Debt
$37,030
Earnings (4yr)
$207,668
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$859k
Median Debt
$75,827
Earnings (4yr)
$101,929
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k

Other Programs

Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,076
Natl Median: $62,645
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.