Financeat California State University-Fresno
Graduates earn $41,970/yr in their first year — about 24.0% below the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $701K; scenarios range from $620K to $731K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fresno State
At $41,970 per year, Finance graduates from California State University-Fresno earn below the $55,340 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
With a 25.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Finance career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $10,900 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #197 ranking among 431 Finance programs places California State University-Fresno in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $41,970-to-$72,378 earnings arc over five years reflects a 72% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Fresno State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Finance
How Fresno State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fresno State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fresno State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at Fresno State
What does a 73/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Finance at California State University-Fresno?
At 73/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Finance at California State University-Fresno?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California State University-Fresno a good choice for Finance despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If California State University-Fresno's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.