Sonoma State University
#3 Best Education Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $65,986 A
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $12,885 B-
- 25% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 34.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $34.7 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Education Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $34.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,736,677.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 62% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $34.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Sonoma State University Matters
Sonoma State University is a public university in Rohnert Park, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,166
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Sonoma State 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
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,885 a year after grants and scholarships — 25% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $65,986 ten years after enrolling — 62% above the typical college, against $16,705 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 38% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.73 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Sonoma State University has an acceptance rate of 93%. This high acceptance rate indicates that a diverse range of students can find a place here, making it an accessible option for many.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights reveals that while detailed mobility metrics are not available, the university empowers a significant portion of its students to pursue rewarding careers. Graduates earn a median salary of $65,986 ten years after enrollment, which suggests a solid return on investment for those who choose to attend.
The net price for students is $12,885, and the median debt stands at $16,705. With 36% of students receiving Pell Grants, the university supports low-income individuals. Students who thrive here are likely to be those interested in fields like Business, Psychology, and Social Sciences, where the university has strong programs.
Rankings
- #3 Best Education Colleges in California
- #4 Best Online Colleges in California
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #5 Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions
- #6 Best Psychology Colleges in California
- #7 Best MBA Programs in California
- #10 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #11 Best Communications Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Sonoma State University, located in Rohnert Park, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,780
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 10,806
- Admitted
- 10,158
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 Sonoma State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Sonoma State University is $21,224, 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 $12,885. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,310 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,705 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,624
- Out-of-State
- $21,224
- Avg Net Price
- $12,885
- Median Debt
- $16,705
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 27%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,310
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,795
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,741
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,195
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 Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Sonoma State University earn a median of $65,986, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $52,179
- 8 Years
- $61,137
- 10 Years
- $65,986
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (629)
- 35%
- 100% (629)
- 35%
- 100% (629)
- 35%
- 100% (629)
- 35%
How Sonoma 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 Sonoma State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Sonoma State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,885/year ($51,540 total). Graduates earn $65,986 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,788,217 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,736,677 (34.7× your investment). The median debt is $16,705, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,540
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,788,217
- Net Return
- $1,736,677
- ROI Multiple
- 34.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,885
- Median Debt
- $16,705
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
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 Sonoma State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Sonoma State 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 1.73%, well above the typical college. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $113,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.73%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 34.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $154,478
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-7,381,791
Top Programs
The fields Sonoma State 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.
- Business & Marketing 18% $64,543 early-career
- Psychology 16% $36,992 early-career
- Social Sciences 9% $65,959 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $47,206 early-career
- Humanities 5% $36,562 early-career
- Communications 5% $44,467 early-career
- Education 5% $36,562 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $37,831 early-career
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 Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Sonoma State University, located in Rohnert Park, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Sonoma State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Sonoma State University is $21,224, 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 $12,885. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,310 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,705 in federal student loans.
Is Sonoma State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Sonoma State University earn a median of $65,986, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Sonoma State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Sonoma State 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 1.73%, well above the typical college. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $113,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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 Sonoma State University.
- California State University-Channel IslandsCamarillo, CA · Close peer52% grad $62,152 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · Close peer58% grad $61,760 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · Close peer51% grad $68,804 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA · Close peer58% grad $60,624 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Monterey BaySeaside, CA · Close peer61% grad $59,247 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Washington-Bothell CampusBothell, WA · Close peer67% grad $78,466 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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