Cal State San Bernardino delivers above average return on investment through strong earnings uplift combined with controlled educational costs. The return index ranks at the 65.1st percentile with above average performance, reflecting solid long-term value for students. Graduates earn $13,310 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, ranking in the 89.4th percentile and well above average for value-added performance. This earnings premium demonstrates the university's effectiveness in supporting student success beyond what demographics alone would predict. Median earnings of $59,977 rank in the 71st percentile nationally, while peer institutions produce similar earnings of $60,543. However, Cal State San Bernardino achieves these outcomes with median debt of $14,715 compared to a peer median of $20,000, creating a favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25. This combination indicates graduates can expect solid career preparation and economic outcomes while avoiding the excessive debt burdens that might constrain post-graduation financial flexibility and life choices.
Cal State San Bernardino graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over time and strong mobility outcomes. Median earnings rise from $43,149 six years after enrollment to $51,273 at eight years and $59,977 at ten years, representing 39% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on robust cohort sizes of 5,154 six-year graduates, 5,310 eight-year graduates, and 5,140 ten-year graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $13,310 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Cal State San Bernardino in the 89.4th percentile for earnings uplift and well above average performance. This value-added performance indicates the institution's effectiveness in supporting student success beyond what would be predicted by demographics alone. Low-income graduates earn $46,100, demonstrating solid economic outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Earnings span from $36,326 at the 25th percentile to $83,589 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 23.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education. The completion rate of 54.6% rises to 64.0% for Pell-eligible students, showing stronger support for low-income students than the general population.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Earnings outcomes at Cal State San Bernardino show meaningful variation across programs while maintaining strong mobility potential. The gap between the 25th percentile ($36,326) and 75th percentile ($83,589) represents a 2.3:1 ratio, reflecting differences in field of study and post-graduation roles. Adult Health Nursing graduates earn the highest median of $99,072, while Computer Science graduates earn $79,357, and Artificial Intelligence graduates earn $68,354. Business Administration and Management, the largest program with 1,096 graduates, produces median earnings of $48,198. Earnings grow substantially from the early to mid-career period, increasing by 39% between the six-year and ten-year marks, indicating strong career advancement potential. With more than 5,000 graduates included in each earnings cohort, these figures reflect outcomes across a broad range of academic programs rather than isolated high-earning tracks. The consistent earnings growth trajectory suggests graduates develop increasingly valuable skills and advance within their chosen fields over time.
Financial justification for the investment.
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation that supports diverse career pathways and mobility opportunities. The distribution ranges from $36,326 at the 25th percentile to $83,589 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio that reflects program diversity and individual career choices. Low-income graduates earn $46,100, demonstrating solid mobility outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This earnings spread indicates the university serves students with varied career goals while maintaining pathways to middle-class and upper-middle-class economic outcomes across its program portfolio.
Approximately 23.6% of Cal State San Bernardino graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education. This continuation rate, estimated through program mix analysis with high confidence, suggests the university provides solid academic foundation for students pursuing further education while maintaining focus on career preparation for the majority who enter the workforce directly after graduation.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate Cal State San Bernardino's strength across diverse fields, from high-earning healthcare programs to solid business and technology outcomes. Adult Health Nursing leads with exceptional earnings of $99,072, while Computer Science graduates earn $79,357 and Artificial Intelligence graduates earn $68,354. Business Administration, the university's largest program, produces moderate but stable earnings of $48,198 for over 1,000 graduates annually. General Studies achieves impressive outcomes at $47,796 with strong national rankings, while liberal arts fields like Psychology ($39,629) and English ($35,904) provide more modest but meaningful economic returns. This program diversity enables students with varied interests and career goals to find pathways to economic mobility, whether through high-earning professional tracks or solid middle-class career preparation. The range of outcomes reflects the university's commitment to comprehensive educational access rather than narrow focus on only the highest-earning fields, supporting its mission as an Opportunity Builder institution that serves diverse student populations and career aspirations.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation that supports diverse career pathways and mobility opportunities. The distribution ranges from $36,326 at the 25th percentile to $83,589 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio that reflects program diversity and individual career choices. Low-income graduates earn $46,100, demonstrating solid mobility outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This earnings spread indicates the university serves students with varied career goals while maintaining pathways to middle-class and upper-middle-class economic outcomes across its program portfolio.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
