California State University-Stanislaus — ROI, Cost & Payback
California State University-Stanislaus charges a net price of $6,067/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $24,268. Graduates earn a median $63,188 ten years after entry, $14,828/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.6 years — a 20-year net return of $272,292, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
California State University-Stanislaus's 1.6-year payback ranks #42 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 97% of them, and #14 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,067/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $24,268 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $63,188 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $14,828/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $13,540 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $272,292 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on California State University-Stanislaus's own numbers. Net price $6,067 × 4 years = $24,268 total. Median earnings $63,188 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $14,828 a year of premium. $24,268 ÷ $14,828 = 1.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $272,292. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do California State University-Stanislaus students graduate with?
A median $13,540 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $63,188 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of California State University-Stanislaus students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,268 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $45,789 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is California State University-Stanislaus expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $6,067 net price runs $13,838 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $55,352 less across the full degree.