Computer Engineering: California State University-Fresno vs California State University-Long Beach

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
32.6x
$27,920 tuition
30.0x
$28,032 tuition
Out-of-State
12.1x
$75,440 tuition
11.1x
$75,552 tuition
$75,101/yr starting · Public
$79,809/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California State University-Fresno California State University-Long Beach
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.6x 30.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.1x 11.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $27,920 $28,032
Year 1 Earnings $75,101 $79,809
10-Year Earnings $910K $841K
Median Debt $24,000 $17,129
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.8 months 2.6 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 84/100 85/100
Acceptance Rate 96.4% 47.1%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (71% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Computer Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Computer Engineering graduates.

California State University-Fresno California State University-Long Beach
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $27,920 $28,032
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,440 $75,552
10-Year Projected Earnings $910K $841K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.6x 30.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.1x 11.1x
5-Year Salary Growth +75% +36%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Computer Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California State University-Fresno California State University-Long Beach
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,521K $910K $462K $1,158K $841K $491K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 54.5x 32.6x 16.6x 41.3x 30.0x 17.5x
DegreeWorth Score 87 84 74 88 85 75

For the full AI analysis of Computer Engineering career paths, see the California State University-Fresno or California State University-Long Beach program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Computer Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$112
California State University-Fresno saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,708/yr
California State University-Long Beach grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
32.6x / 30.0x
Out-of-state: 12.1x / 11.1x

Career Paths

Computer Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Computer hardware engineers $155,020 4,700 +7.3% 73%
Database architects $135,980 4,000 +8.7% 94%
Software developers $133,080 115,200 +15.8% 87%
Computer network architects $130,390 11,200 +11.9% 61%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers $102,610 14,000 +10.0% 88%

Explore Each Program

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Computer Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Computer Engineering: California State University-Fresno or California State University-Long Beach?
California State University-Fresno scores 84/100 while California State University-Long Beach scores 85/100. California State University-Fresno has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Computer Engineering?
California State University-Fresno has an in-state earnings multiple of 32.6x vs California State University-Long Beach's 30.0x. That means California State University-Fresno grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State University-Fresno and California State University-Long Beach compare on Computer Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $75,101 at California State University-Fresno vs $79,809 at California State University-Long Beach. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $909,736 vs $841,010 — a difference of $68,726.
How much does Computer Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $27,920 at California State University-Fresno and $28,032 at California State University-Long Beach. Median debt at graduation is $24,000 vs $17,129. Both programs lead to the same Computer Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.