Fresno, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Fresno, California shows: median public in-state tuition $7,350 (+33.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $60,070 (+10.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,674 (-20.5% vs U.S.) 54,532 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 11 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 54,532 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,350 (+33.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $60,070 (+10.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.2% (+3.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,190 (+102.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,674 (-20.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 53.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 76.6%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Fresno, California—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Fresno vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, California | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,674 | 53.5% | 54,532 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Fresno, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, California | $60,070 | 91.2% | 76.6% | 4.5% | — | 67.3% | 0.31 |
| California (state median) | $65,986 | 90.1% | 84.0% | 3.9% | — | 74.5% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, California | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,674 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Los Angeles | $19,040 | $21,911 | $17,436 | 71.4% | 121,181 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $12,442 | $24,300 | $15,000 | 61.9% | 115,966 | $64,909 | 87.8% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,600 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,884 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 57.0%, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 50.0%, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Fresno, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 64.1%, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
-
Rank 2, Admission Rate, 95.3%, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $96,890, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,403, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $112,178, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
-
Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $111,278, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,422, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
-
Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,012, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $55,335, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
-
Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,924, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $61,244, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,896, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $229,332, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $204,562, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Fresno, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $7,000, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, Net Price, $13,630, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Top 10 colleges in Fresno, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 81.6%, California State University-Fresno
California State University-Fresno
-
Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 71.6%, Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
In-state tuition: Fresno, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Fresno, California median in-state tuition is $7,350, +33.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Fresno, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Fresno, California is $10,674 (-20.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Fresno, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Fresno, California center around $60,070 (+10.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Fresno, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.2% at the median Fresno, California campus (+3.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Fresno, California median public in-state tuition is $7,350, about +33.4% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +123.8%.
Median graduate debt is $10,674 (-20.5% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Fresno, California are $60,070, about +10.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 91.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+3.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 76.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include California State University-Fresno (92.2%), Fresno Pacific University (90.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Fresno, California is 53.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Fresno?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 11 campuses in Fresno, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Fresno?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Fresno is $7,350 and median net price is $20,190. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Fresno?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Fresno is $60,070 vs $65,986 for California and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Fresno colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Fresno is $10,674 vs $11,400 for California and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Fresno?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include California State University-Fresno (graduation) and California State University-Fresno (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Fresno?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 11 campuses in Fresno, California, 9 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include California State University-Fresno, Fresno City College, and Fresno Pacific University; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Mennonite Brethren Church (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON