Economics at California State University-San Bernardino

Cal State San Bernardino's economics program starts graduates at just $37,679—landing in the bottom 5% nationally and the bottom quarter of California programs. That's roughly $14,000 below the state median and creates a challenging first year for graduates. However, the story doesn't end there: by year four, earnings jump 57% to $59,124, essentially catching up to both national and state benchmarks. The relatively modest debt of $17,500 (below California's median) means graduates aren't drowning while they wait for those earnings to materialize.

The rapid earnings growth suggests this program may serve students who need time to build professional networks or pivot into stronger career paths—common patterns at accessible institutions where 57% of students receive Pell grants. The question for parents is whether their child can weather that difficult first year when earnings are notably low. If you're comparing this to UC Berkeley ($80,446 starting) or other top California programs, understand you're looking at fundamentally different student outcomes, at least initially.

For families prioritizing affordability and access over immediate earning power, the combination of low debt and strong earnings trajectory offers a viable path. But students need realistic expectations about entry-level earnings and potentially working their way up from positions that don't fully utilize an economics degree right away.