San Bernardino, CA · Private University
Is California State University-San Bernardino Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$59,977
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,675
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$19,555
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$78,220
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.07x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.1 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
54.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$14,715
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$5,918
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California State University-San Bernardino graduates earn $14,977 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California State University-San Bernardino ranked by graduate earnings
138 graduates
58 graduates
104 graduates
185 graduates
38 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California State University-San Bernardino
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California State University-San Bernardino, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $99,072) and the lowest (Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies: $24,378) is $74,694/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI | $99,072 | 5.1x |
| Computer Engineering | $81,634 | 4.2x |
| Computer Science | $79,357 | 4.1x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $68,354 | 3.5x |
| Chemistry | $66,198 | 3.4x |
| Economics | $59,124 | 3.0x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $57,287 | 2.9x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $57,114 | 2.9x |
| Social Work | $54,364 | 2.8x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $54,001 | 2.8x |
| Mathematics | $52,889 | 2.7x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $51,964 | 2.7x |
| Public Administration | $50,540 | 2.6x |
| Political Science and Government | $49,444 | 2.5x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $48,691 | 2.5x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,198 | 2.5x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,034 | 2.5x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $47,979 | 2.5x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $47,804 | 2.4x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $47,796 | 2.4x |
| Marketing | $47,232 | 2.4x |
| Biology, General | $46,258 | 2.4x |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $46,240 | 2.4x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,836 | 2.3x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $45,508 | 2.3x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $42,842 | 2.2x |
| Social Sciences, General | $42,531 | 2.2x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $42,149 | 2.2x |
| Sociology | $41,511 | 2.1x |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology(1yr data) | $40,316 | 2.1x |
| Psychology, General | $39,629 | 2.0x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $39,543 | 2.0x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,478 | 2.0x |
| History | $35,926 | 1.8x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $35,904 | 1.8x |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $33,842 | 1.7x |
| International Business(1yr data) | $31,064 | 1.6x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,068 | 1.4x |
| Music(1yr data) | $27,724 | 1.4x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesLowest | $24,378 | 1.3x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California State University-San Bernardino stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $59,977 10 years after starting, $14,977 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.1 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.