Sonoma State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Sonoma State University is a public research university in Rohnert Park, California, serving roughly 5,166 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 93.43% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $65,986 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,624
- 2024 Average Net Price: $12,885 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 93.43% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,166 88.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 57.59%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 41.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 50.9%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,938
- Applicants (IPEDS): 10,529
- Room & Board: $16,802 annual estimate
Sonoma State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Sonoma State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Sonoma State University?
Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, CA (ZIP 94928-3609).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Sonoma State University public or private?
Sonoma State University is a Public institution.
How much does Sonoma State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,624 in-state, $21,224 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $12,885.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $8,310 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,795 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,741 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,897 |
| $110,001+ | $21,195 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,496.
How hard is it to get into Sonoma State University?
Admission rate: 93.43%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Sonoma State University?
Total enrollment: 5,166 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,938 students.
Graduate enrollment: 619 students.
About 88% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Sonoma State University?
150%-time completion rate: 57.59%.
First-year retention: 79.2%.
What do graduates of Sonoma State University earn?
Median earnings: $52,179 six years after entry; $65,986 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $16,705.
35.92% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Sonoma State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (366 completions)
- Psychology, General (238 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (105 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (97 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (94 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (93 completions)
- Education, Other (82 completions)
- Sociology, General (72 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (69 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (68 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Sonoma State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 93.43%; completion rate 57.59%; median earnings $65,986 at 10 years; net price $12,885. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$8,624
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Sonoma State University was $8,624.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$12,885
2024 Value
In 2024 Sonoma State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,885.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,540 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$12,885 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$34,496 4-Year In-State Tuition
$84,896 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$16,802 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$856 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$26,282 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$105,128 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Sonoma State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.92% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
26.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Sonoma State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Sonoma State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,234 | $18,394 | $17,350 |
| 2014 | $7,276 | $18,436 | $15,913 |
| 2015 | $7,330 | $18,490 | $15,710 |
| 2016 | $7,388 | $18,548 | $16,721 |
| 2017 | $7,724 | $19,604 | $17,296 |
| 2018 | $7,798 | $19,678 | $16,801 |
| 2019 | $7,880 | $19,760 | $17,478 |
| 2020 | $7,952 | $19,832 | $17,563 |
| 2021 | $7,988 | $19,868 | $6,230 |
| 2022 | $8,060 | $19,940 | $14,528 |
| 2023 | $8,190 | $20,070 | $13,801 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
93.43% Acceptance Rate
10,529 Total Applicants
9,974 Students Admitted
911 First-Time Students Enrolled
9.13% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Sonoma State University reported total enrollment of about 5,166 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (42.4%), White (40.0%), and Two or More Races (6.4%). About 35.92% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 41.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Sonoma State University in 2024 is 5,166 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,938 students. Graduate enrollment is about 619 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 42.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
39.01% 100% Completion Time
57.59% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 39.01% of students graduating from Sonoma State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
- Psychology, General: 23% male / 77% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 17% male / 83% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Sonoma State University.
Return on Investment
$16,705 Median Student Debt
$65,986 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
25.32% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1180.29% Return on Investment
2.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Sonoma State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 51 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 366 completions
2. Psychology, General: 238 completions
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 105 completions
4. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 97 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 94 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 93 completions
7. Education, Other: 82 completions
8. Sociology, General: 72 completions
9. English Language and Literature, General: 69 completions
Most popular programs at Sonoma State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Sonoma State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Sonoma State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 50.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,780
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,482
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Enrollment is approximately 5,166 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (42.4%), White (40.0%), Two or More Races (6.4%). The admission rate is 93.43%. The 150%-time completion rate is 57.59%. Approximately 35.92% of students receive Pell Grants. About 41.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 51 distinct degree programs, Sonoma State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sonoma State University located?
Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, CA.
What is Sonoma State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Sonoma State University is 93.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 10,529 applicants and 9,974 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Sonoma State University cost?
Reported tuition is $8,624 and average net price is $12,885 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,802 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Sonoma State University?
Sonoma State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,938 students, Hispanic or Latino (42.4%), White (40.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Sonoma State University?
About 41.5% of students at Sonoma State University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Sonoma State University earn?
Median earnings are $52,179 six years after entry and $65,986 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Sonoma State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 57.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Sonoma State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $16,705.
Is Sonoma State University public or private?
Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, CA.
Is Sonoma State University an HBCU?
No. Sonoma State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Sonoma State University a tribal college?
No. Sonoma State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Sonoma State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Sonoma State University reports 42.4% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.