California State University-San Bernardino
California State University-San Bernardino — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-San Bernardino at a Glance
California State University, San Bernardino is a public research university in San Bernardino, California, United States. Founded in 1965, it is part of the California State University system. The main campus sits on 441 acres (178 ha) in the University District of San Bernardino, with a branch campus of 40 acres (16 ha) in Palm Desert, California, opened in 1986. Cal State San Bernardino's fall 2020 enrollment was 19,404. In fall 2019, it had 505 full-time faculty, of which 385 were on the tenu…
1965
61 years old
$58M
$57.6 million (2023-24)
17,900
14,993 undergrad · 2,907 grad
505
441 acres
Identity
Is California State University-San Bernardino Worth It?
California State University-San Bernardino is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $4,564/year net price and $59,977 median earnings, graduates earn 13.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% 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 94% 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-San Bernardino delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-San Bernardino compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 109 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-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #2 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #3 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #4 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #5 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-San Bernardino's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 14 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-San Bernardino
The highest-earning program at California State University-San Bernardino is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $81,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is History at $15,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-San Bernardino earns $81,800, while a History graduate earns $15,700. 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 $22,037 in median debt vs. $17,250 for History.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $4,564/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 | $81,800 | $81,800 | $22,037 |
| Computer Science | $51,300 | $51,300 | $16,566 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $43,700 | $43,700 | $17,815 |
| Public Administration | $38,100 | $38,100 | $18,022 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $37,400 | $37,400 | $15,082 |
| Social Work | $37,000 | $37,000 | $15,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $34,300 | $34,300 | $14,682 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $34,000 | $34,000 | $20,502 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $33,800 | $33,800 | $16,526 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33,700 | $33,700 | $16,172 |
| Mathematics | $32,300 | $32,300 | $14,600 |
| Economics | $32,200 | $32,200 | $16,989 |
| Marketing | $31,000 | $31,000 | $17,475 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $30,600 | $30,600 | $15,150 |
| Social Sciences, General | $30,300 | $30,300 | $19,222 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $29,100 | $29,100 | $15,431 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $28,800 | $28,800 | $14,500 |
| Sociology | $27,900 | $27,900 | $13,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,700 | $27,700 | $20,485 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,300 | $26,300 | $16,737 |
| Psychology, General | $26,100 | $26,100 | $14,708 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $26,000 | $26,000 | $15,626 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $24,900 | $24,900 | $14,767 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,400 | $24,400 | $15,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $23,400 | $23,400 | $15,911 |
| Biology, General | $21,700 | $21,700 | $18,315 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $21,600 | $21,600 | $19,833 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $20,700 | $20,700 | $13,664 |
| Anthropology | $17,800 | $17,800 | $20,365 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $16,900 | $16,900 | $16,750 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $16,600 | $16,600 | $15,000 |
| History | $15,700 | $15,700 | $17,250 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- San Bernardino, CA
- Student Body
- 15,023 students
- Admission Rate
- 94%
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,564
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,977
- Median Student Debt
- $14,715