Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Los Angeles vs California State University-San Bernardino: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
California State University-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $3,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,211
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
Option B San Bernardino, CA
California State University-San Bernardino
- Net price / year
- $4,564
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,977
- Payback
- 1.6 yrs
California State University-Los Angeles has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $15,868 in 1.5 years versus 1.6 years at California State University-San Bernardino, on median earnings of $59,211 vs $59,977 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Los Angeles | California State University-San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,967 | $4,564 |
| Total net cost | $15,868 | $18,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,211 | $59,977 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $14,715 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 1.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $201,152 | $214,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California State University-Los Angeles or California State University-San Bernardino?
California State University-Los Angeles, at $3,967 a year after aid versus $4,564 — a gap of $597 a year, or $2,388 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California State University-Los Angeles or California State University-San Bernardino graduates earn more?
California State University-San Bernardino graduates report a median $59,977 ten years after entry, $766 more than the $59,211 at California State University-Los Angeles. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-Los Angeles or California State University-San Bernardino?
California State University-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $14,715 at California State University-San Bernardino, a difference of $1,715. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at California State University-San Bernardino, against 53% at California State University-Los Angeles. 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.