Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State University-Fresno #26 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. California State University-Fresno sits in the 92.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $15,241 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-Fresno #31 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at California State University-Fresno earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university's program mix — anchored in social sciences and applied fields — translates into stronger-than-expected financial outcomes. Azimuth's composite ranking reflects how California State University-Fresno combines that earnings advantage with meaningful mobility outcomes for a student population that includes a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation undergraduates.
California State University-Fresno is a public university in Fresno, CA, enrolling roughly 21,605 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks California State University-Fresno #26 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Retention stands at 81.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.0% — figures that reflect the realities of a broad-access regional university serving a high-need student population. What anchors California State University-Fresno's composite is mobility. The university sits in the 98.0 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 57.0% receive Pell Grants and 53.2% are first-generation college students. That combination of deep access and meaningful post-graduation outcomes for low-income graduates is the core of the institution's value proposition. Access reinforces the story — California State University-Fresno sits in the 95.5 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 95.3% signaling a broad-access posture that welcomes students from across the Central Valley and beyond. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. California State University-Fresno sits in the 62.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,992, which sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions; graduates earn about $15,241 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Fresno in the 92.6 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect CA's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $34,672, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 96.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, keeping the overall composite balanced.
California State University-Fresno prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $5,105 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $7,196, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $16,899. Azimuth ranks California State University-Fresno #51 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay at Fresno State. As a California State University campus, the institution participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs — including Cal Grants, which provide substantial support for California residents with demonstrated financial need. The combination of a public-university cost structure and broad state-aid eligibility means that many low- and middle-income families see their net price fall well below the published cost of attendance of $20,095. Families weighing the net price illusion — the gap between sticker price and what they will actually pay — will generally find that Fresno State's aid reach narrows that gap meaningfully for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,505, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,050; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,992, median federal debt of $14,505 projects to a monthly payment of about $164 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State University-Fresno is a public university in Fresno, CA that fits students drawn to Social Sciences and applied professional fields who want a regionally grounded education with a clear path to stable employment in the Central Valley and broader California labor market. Graduates earn median $59,992 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Fresno in the 45.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and graduates earn about $15,241 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Fresno in the 92.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 57.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 53.2% are first-generation — and delivers low-income graduate earnings that place California State University-Fresno in the 69.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Median student debt at graduation is $14,505, keeping borrowing in a range that aligns with the earnings outcomes most graduates see. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Social Sciences and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking highly specialized STEM or professional programs may find a narrower selection. Admission is broadly accessible at California State University-Fresno, making it a realistic option for most qualified applicants in CA and the surrounding region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the California State University-Fresno hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State University-Fresno prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $5,105 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $7,196, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $16,899.
Azimuth ranks California State University-Fresno #51 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay at Fresno State. As a California State University campus, the institution participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs — including Cal Grants, which provide substantial support for California residents with demonstrated financial need.
The combination of a public-university cost structure and broad state-aid eligibility means that many low- and middle-income families see their net price fall well below the published cost of attendance of $20,095. Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between sticker price and what they will actually pay — will generally find that Fresno State's aid reach narrows that gap meaningfully for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,505, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,050; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,992, median federal debt of $14,505 projects to a monthly payment of about $164 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California State University-Fresno earn median earnings of $59,992 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Fresno in the 45.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $15,241 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672, the state median earnings of working adults without a bachelor's degree.
While institution-level earnings track CA's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Nursing #43 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $111,278 — 1.25x the national benchmark for the field.
Business Administration is the largest program with 655 graduates earning median earnings of $64,133, and Azimuth ranks it #130 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Psychology, General program graduates 552 students with median earnings of $51,526, while The General Studies program graduates 529 students earning $58,436.
The degree mix leans toward Social Sciences, which accounts for 13% of graduates, followed by Business at 13% and Engineering at 4% — a distribution that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and helps explain why program-level variation matters when evaluating California State University-Fresno.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida International University Similar quality tier (#28 ranked) | FL | 55% | $60,249 | #28 | Compare |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Similar quality tier (#24 ranked) | NJ | 58% | $74,479 | #24 | Compare |
George Mason University Similar quality tier (#29 ranked) | VA | 87% | $76,343 | #29 | Compare |
University Of California-Los Angeles Similar quality tier in West (#23 ranked) | CA | 9% | $82,511 | #23 | Compare |
University Of California-Riverside Similar quality tier in West (#31 ranked) | CA | 76% | $67,699 | #31 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
177 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
29 graduates
Computer Engineering
30 graduates
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
36 graduates
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
7 graduates
California State University-Fresno's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, health professions, and applied business fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's role as the Central Valley's primary public research institution. Business Administration is the largest program with 655 graduates, followed by Psychology, General (552 graduates), General Studies (529 graduates), Criminology (399 graduates), and Kinesiology (231 graduates).
Across 53 programs serving roughly 5,180 students annually, 37 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The degree output balances Social Sciences (13%), Business (13%), and Engineering (4%), reflecting a broad applied-professional orientation.
The strongest earnings come from health and technical fields. Nursing leads with median earnings of $111,278 four years after enrollment from a cohort of 177 graduates, and Azimuth ranks the program #43 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General follows at $76,268 with 149 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business Administration program graduates 655 students with median earnings of $64,133, and Azimuth ranks the program #130 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These programs represent the clearest high-return pathways at California State University-Fresno, combining strong early-career pay with direct workforce entry. The largest programs — Business Administration and Psychology, General — produce median earnings of $64,133 and $51,526 respectively, more moderate figures that reflect the mix of social-science and liberal-arts pathways where some graduates continue to graduate or professional school and four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
General Studies, with median earnings of $58,436, represents a high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathway where early pay more closely tracks labor-market outcomes. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how California State University-Fresno's strongest program families align with regional and national hiring demand, particularly in health professions and applied business — sectors with sustained workforce need across California's Central Valley. ```
