California State University-Monterey Bay vs Fresno Pacific University: which has better ROI?
California State University-Monterey Bay has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $54,652 in 5 years versus 5.2 years at Fresno Pacific University, on median earnings of $59,247 vs $58,896 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Monterey Bay | Fresno Pacific University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,663 | $13,630 |
| Total net cost | $54,652 | $54,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,247 | $58,896 |
| Median debt | $12,750 | $23,146 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $163,088 | $156,200 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California State University-Monterey Bay or Fresno Pacific University?
Fresno Pacific University, at $13,630 a year after aid versus $13,663 — a gap of $33 a year, or $132 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-Monterey Bay or Fresno Pacific University graduates earn more?
California State University-Monterey Bay graduates report a median $59,247 ten years after entry, $351 more than the $58,896 at Fresno Pacific University. 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-Monterey Bay or Fresno Pacific University?
California State University-Monterey Bay: its completers carry a median $12,750 in federal loans versus $23,146 at Fresno Pacific University, a difference of $10,396. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at California State University-Monterey Bay, against 50% at Fresno Pacific 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.