California State University-Fresno
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families who need the lowest possible cost. no major red flags in the data. 57% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
California State University-Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California with approximately 21,605 undergraduate students enrolled. California State University-Fresno has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 95%. The average net price after financial aid is $7,000 per year. The graduation rate is 57%, and the typical graduate earns $48,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
California State University, Fresno is a public university in Fresno, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers 60 bachelor's degree program, 45 master's degree programs, 3 doctoral degree programs, 12 certificates of advanced study, and 2 different teaching credentials. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Fresno is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible to be designated as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $6,480/year net price and a low median debt of $12,463, Fresno State is genuinely affordable, making it a smart financial choice for students who need to keep costs down. However, the 55% graduation rate is a real concern — nearly half of students who start don't finish — so ask yourself honestly whether you have the support system and plan to see it through. If you do graduate, median earnings of $48,500 a decade out are modest but reasonable, particularly for students entering fields like agriculture, education, or regional business in the Central Valley.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2022-23). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 15% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
California State University-Fresno graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($111,278 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Communication Disorders Sciences and Services ($51,835 vs $58,928).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 598 | $64,133 | $68,257 | −$4,124 |
| Psychology, General | 553 | $51,526 | $50,706 | +$820 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 529 | $58,436 | $53,072 | +$5,364 |
| Criminology | 352 | $48,647 | $55,556 | −$6,909 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 304 | $54,849 | $54,562 | +$287 |
| Biology, General | 170 | $50,728 | $57,214 | −$6,486 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 146 | $76,268 | $61,296 | +$14,972 |
| Sociology | 145 | $49,407 | $52,657 | −$3,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 142 | $111,278 | $88,910 | +$22,368 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 115 | $67,731 | $66,647 | +$1,084 |
| Animal Sciences | 107 | $53,579 | $49,634 | +$3,945 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 103 | $51,835 | $58,928 | −$7,093 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (21,605 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: California State University-Fresno Common Data Set (2022-23).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Mt San Antonio College
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See How Colleges Compare
California State University-Fresno is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Fresno?
California State University-Fresno has an acceptance rate of 95%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California State University-Fresno hard to get into?
Not especially. California State University-Fresno has an acceptance rate of 95%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does California State University-Fresno cost?
The average net price at California State University-Fresno is about $7,000 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Fresno?
California State University-Fresno has a graduation rate of 57%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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