San Francisco State University vs Pomona College: 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 Pomona College, on median earnings of $68,077 vs $77,779 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Francisco State University | Pomona College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,278 | $19,285 |
| Total net cost | $49,112 | $77,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,077 | $77,779 |
| Median debt | $15,371 | $11,782 |
| Payback | 2.5 yrs | 2.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $345,228 | $511,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, San Francisco State University or Pomona College?
San Francisco State University, at $12,278 a year after aid versus $19,285 — a gap of $7,007 a year, or $28,028 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do San Francisco State University or Pomona College graduates earn more?
Pomona College graduates report a median $77,779 ten years after entry, $9,702 more than the $68,077 at San Francisco State 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, San Francisco State University or Pomona College?
Pomona College: its completers carry a median $11,782 in federal loans versus $15,371 at San Francisco State University, a difference of $3,589. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at Pomona College, 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.