College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA 21,251 Undergrads 24.7% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$17,198
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,069
After Aid
Median Earnings
$46,885
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,069
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$46,885
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+25%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$37,361
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate24.7%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age23.2
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time31.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 2 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$502k
-$14k
+$17k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$487k
-$29k
+$2k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$470k
-$46k
-$14k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
58
16%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-45%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return28%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-36%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,190
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,112
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $25,340
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,637
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,823
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,761
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,694
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,148
Natl Median: $53,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,745
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,563
Natl Median: $45,268
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,940
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,790
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
CertCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,345
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,925
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,152
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,801
Natl Median: $36,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,805
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,350
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,207
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $24,479
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,128
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,567
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$388k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
AssocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Apparel and Textiles
AssocCIP: 1909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,422
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,181
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,660
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,140
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,933
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,395
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
AssocCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,547
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,047
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
AssocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,162
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,500
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,605
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,378
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
AssocCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,833
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,697
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,310
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,766
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$3,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,504
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,839
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,228
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Sociology
AssocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,709
Natl Median: $44,144
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,997
Natl Median: $58,292
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,555
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,962
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,616
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,488
Natl Median: $46,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$444k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,268
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,614
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,949
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,717
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,553
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,541
Natl Median: $42,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$376k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,453
Natl Median: $48,652
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,740
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,144
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
DegCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,610
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,411
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,636
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DegCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,349
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,514
Natl Median: $50,791
Lifetime Value Added
-$418k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
DegCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,354
Natl Median: $56,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k

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.