California State University-Long Beach vs San Francisco State University: which has better ROI?
San Francisco State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $49,112 in 2.5 years versus 2.6 years at California State University-Long Beach, on median earnings of $68,077 vs $64,403 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Long Beach | San Francisco State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,440 | $12,278 |
| Total net cost | $41,760 | $49,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,403 | $68,077 |
| Median debt | $14,289 | $15,371 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $279,100 | $345,228 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State University-Long Beach or San Francisco State University?
California State University-Long Beach, at $10,440 a year after aid versus $12,278 — a gap of $1,838 a year, or $7,352 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California State University-Long Beach or San Francisco State University graduates earn more?
San Francisco State University graduates report a median $68,077 ten years after entry, $3,674 more than the $64,403 at California State University-Long Beach. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-Long Beach or San Francisco State University?
California State University-Long Beach: its completers carry a median $14,289 in federal loans versus $15,371 at San Francisco State University, a difference of $1,082. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at California State University-Long Beach, against 50% at San Francisco State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.