Fresno Pacific University
#1 Best Education Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,896 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $13,630 C+
- 20% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 64% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 25.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.3 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $25.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,327,443.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 44% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.72% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $25.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Fresno Pacific University Matters
Fresno Pacific University is a private university in Fresno, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,544
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI · 43
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose Fresno Pacific University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 64% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,630 a year after grants and scholarships — 20% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,896 ten years after enrolling — 44% above the typical college, against $23,146 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.49 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Fresno Pacific University serves 1,544 students and has an acceptance rate of 64%. This makes it a viable option for many students seeking a private education in California.
The earnings data shows that graduates earn a median salary of $58,896 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility rates are not available, the school’s focus on programs like Business, Psychology, and Health Professions suggests a pathway to stable careers for its students.
The net price to attend is $13,630, with a median debt of $23,146. About 58% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a significant portion of the student body is from low-income backgrounds. Those who thrive here are likely to be motivated and engaged in hands-on learning, especially in the humanities and social sciences.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in California
- #7 Best Colleges for Education
- #7 Best Bachelor's in Education
- #7 Best Master's in Education
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #11 Best Online Colleges in California
- #12 Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions
- #15 Best Social Mobility Colleges for Education
Can I Get In?
How selective Fresno Pacific University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fresno Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Fresno Pacific University, located in Fresno, California, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,399
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
- Applicants
- 832
- Admitted
- 624
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fresno Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fresno Pacific University is $36,660, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,630. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,133 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,146 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,660
- Out-of-State
- $36,660
- Avg Net Price
- $13,630
- Median Debt
- $23,146
- Pell Grant Rate
- 58%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 66%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,133
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,929
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,799
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,353
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Fresno Pacific University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Fresno Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $58,896, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,422
- 8 Years
- $55,335
- 10 Years
- $58,896
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (109)
- 56%
- 100% (109)
- 56%
- 100% (109)
- 56%
- 100% (109)
- 56%
How Fresno Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Fresno Pacific University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fresno Pacific University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,630/year ($54,520 total). Graduates earn $58,896 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,381,963 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,327,443 (25.3× your investment). The median debt is $23,146, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $54,520
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,381,963
- Net Return
- $1,327,443
- ROI Multiple
- 25.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,630
- Median Debt
- $23,146
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Fresno Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fresno Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.72%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.72%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 36.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $96,600
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-4,079,380
Top Programs
The fields Fresno Pacific University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Education 25% $35,787 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $59,364 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $119,828 early-career
- Psychology 9% $30,854 early-career
- Social Sciences 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
- Communications 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Fresno Pacific University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fresno Pacific University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Fresno Pacific University, located in Fresno, California, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fresno Pacific University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fresno Pacific University is $36,660, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,630. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,133 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,146 in federal student loans.
Is Fresno Pacific University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $58,896, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Fresno Pacific University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fresno Pacific University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.72%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Fresno Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fresno Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Fresno Pacific University.
- Madonna UniversityLivonia, MI · Close peer59% grad $59,058 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of St FrancisJoliet, IL · Close peer66% grad $63,926 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- North Park UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer57% grad $59,572 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · Close peer69% grad $60,110 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Concordia University-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer60% grad $65,083 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookston, MN · Close peer50% grad $58,056 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Fresno Pacific University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fresno Pacific University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note