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California State University-Fresno

Public Graduate Strong 78/100

California State University-Fresno

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Fresno, California

About California State University-Fresno

California State University-Fresno is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fresno, California. It enrolls 21,605 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: fresnostate.edu

Acceptance: 95.3%
Graduation: 61.5%
Net Price: $7,000
Median Earnings (10yr): $61,244
Enrollment: 21,605
Student : Faculty: 18:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

78/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 56

Value 98

Affordability 94

Selectivity 9

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 95.3%, California State University-Fresno is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

95.3%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Fresno is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 38.4 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California State University-Fresno isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,000 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$7,000

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

57%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

19%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $7,350
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $19,950
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,960
Room & Board (off-campus): $16,204
Books & Supplies: $1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,656
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,068
Total Cost of Attendance: $20,095

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$5,105
$30,001 – $48,000

$5,429
$48,001 – $75,000

$7,196
$75,001 – $110,000

$10,291
Over $110,000

$16,899

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,250

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$14,505

Median percentile

$21,501

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $12,000 ↓ $2,505

No Pell $12,767 ↓ $1,738

Dependent students $11,250 ↓ $3,255

Independent students $13,755 ↓ $750

Female students $12,462 ↓ $2,043

Male students $12,382 ↓ $2,123

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($14,505), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

61% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Fresno graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

61%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

80%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Fresno earn a median of $61,244 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$61,244

Earning > $25K

82%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$43,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$55,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$46,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$48,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$54,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,700, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 14.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California State University-Fresno is home to 21,605 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 53% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

21,605

Part-Time

16%

First-Generation

53%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 63.2% 13,657

White 14.5% 3,133

Asian 11.5% 2,476

Other 3.0% 655

Black 3.0% 646

International 2.2% 484

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Fresno. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Fresno, California

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 1,228 beds

Adult Learners

16% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

California State University-Fresno offers an extensive catalog of programs: 103 distinct programs across 26 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

3 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Construction Management $95K ($77K–$115K)

10 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

7 Programs

Agriculture

Agricultural Business and Management $67K ($49K–$90K)
Animal Sciences $50K ($36K–$67K)
Plant Sciences $57K ($42K–$74K)

3 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Parks & Recreation $51K ($37K–$67K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fresno is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

18:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$7,983

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$218M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$92,514

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

814 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	221	27%	$116,985
Associate Professors	198	24%	$100,566
Assistant Professors	138	17%	$83,332
Lecturers	255	31%	$69,687
No Rank	2	0%	$135,464

Pros & Cons of California State University-Fresno

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Fresno tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side

Best for: Based on the data, California State University-Fresno is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Fresno

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Fresno.

Is California State University-Fresno hard to get into?

California State University-Fresno has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 95.3%.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fresno?

California State University-Fresno has an acceptance rate of 95.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does California State University-Fresno cost?

The average net price after aid at California State University-Fresno is $7,000 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is California State University-Fresno worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,244 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,000 per year. That's roughly 8.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is California State University-Fresno known for?

California State University-Fresno is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do California State University-Fresno graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Fresno are $61,244, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is California State University-Fresno accredited?

Yes. California State University-Fresno is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend California State University-Fresno?

California State University-Fresno enrolls 21,605 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fresno?

California State University-Fresno graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is California State University-Fresno a public or private college?

California State University-Fresno is a Public institution.

Where is California State University-Fresno located?

California State University-Fresno is located in Fresno, California.

What programs does California State University-Fresno offer?

California State University-Fresno offers 103 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fresno?

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Fresno is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.