California State University-East Bay
California State University-East Bay — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-East Bay at a Glance
California State University, East Bay is a public university in Hayward, California, United States. The university is part of the California State University system and offers 136 undergraduate and 60 post-baccalaureate areas of study. Founded in 1957, California State University, East Bay had a student body of approximately 11,544 as of Spring 2025. As of Fall 2024, it had 760 faculty. The university's largest and oldest college campus is located in Hayward, with additional centers in the nearb…
1957
69 years old
$22M
$21.95 million (2023-24)
12,323
9,784 undergrad · 2,539 grad
760
200 acres
Identity
Is California State University-East Bay Worth It?
California State University-East Bay is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $9,320/year net price and $71,401 median earnings, graduates earn 7.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 47% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 97% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: California State University-East Bay delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-East Bay compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #10 of 60 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #4 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #5 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #6 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 100 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| #10 | California State University-East Bay | 90 | $9,320 | $71,401 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-East Bay's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 13 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-East Bay
The highest-earning program at California State University-East Bay is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $109,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $22,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-East Bay earns $109,500, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $22,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $16,771 in median debt vs. $15,872 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,320/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $109,500 | $109,500 | $16,771 |
| Computer Science | $56,200 | $56,200 | $14,724 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,800 | $44,800 | $15,000 |
| Biology, General | $40,300 | $40,300 | $17,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $40,200 | $40,200 | $19,666 |
| Economics | $38,200 | $38,200 | $17,863 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,100 | $38,100 | $15,025 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $36,400 | $36,400 | $16,667 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $36,300 | $36,300 | $19,167 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $36,100 | $36,100 | $19,200 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,200 | $35,200 | $20,399 |
| Psychology, General | $35,000 | $35,000 | $15,255 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $34,000 | $34,000 | $16,381 |
| Sociology | $32,900 | $32,900 | $16,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $31,600 | $31,600 | $15,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,100 | $28,100 | $16,124 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $22,600 | $22,600 | $15,872 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Hayward, CA
- Student Body
- 9,809 students
- Admission Rate
- 97%
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,320
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $71,401
- Median Student Debt
- $16,544