University of California-Santa Barbara vs San Francisco State University: which has better ROI?
University of California-Santa Barbara has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $64,436 in 2.4 years versus 2.5 years at San Francisco State University, on median earnings of $74,915 vs $68,077 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Santa Barbara | San Francisco State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,109 | $12,278 |
| Total net cost | $64,436 | $49,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,915 | $68,077 |
| Median debt | $13,993 | $15,371 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $466,664 | $345,228 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of California-Santa Barbara or San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University, at $12,278 a year after aid versus $16,109 — a gap of $3,831 a year, or $15,324 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of California-Santa Barbara or San Francisco State University graduates earn more?
University of California-Santa Barbara graduates report a median $74,915 ten years after entry, $6,838 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, University of California-Santa Barbara or San Francisco State University?
University of California-Santa Barbara: its completers carry a median $13,993 in federal loans versus $15,371 at San Francisco State University, a difference of $1,378. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at University of California-Santa Barbara, 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.