Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Monterey Bay vs Fresno Pacific University: which has better ROI?
Option A Seaside, CA
California State University-Monterey Bay
- Net price / year
- $13,663
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,247
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Fresno, CA
Fresno Pacific University
- Net price / year
- $13,630
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,896
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.