Statistics at Sonoma State University

Based on comparable California statistics programs, Sonoma State appears positioned in the middle of the pack with estimated first-year earnings around $55,000 and debt near $17,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 suggests graduates would owe roughly four months of their first year's salary—a manageable burden that most statistics graduates can handle, especially given the field's strong job prospects in tech-heavy California.

The real question is value relative to alternatives. While Berkeley statistics graduates earn $83,000 their first year, that's an unfair comparison given its selectivity. More telling is that San Diego State ($58,000) and even some UC campuses land in similar territory to what Sonoma State graduates likely achieve. For a school with a 95% admission rate serving a substantial Pell-eligible population, producing outcomes comparable to the state median represents solid performance—students aren't sacrificing earnings potential for accessibility.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs, not Sonoma State's own graduates, because the sample size is too small for the Department of Education to report. That could mean this is a newer or smaller program still building its track record. If your student is debt-averse and wants proven outcomes, the larger California State programs with reported data offer more certainty. But if Sonoma State's location and environment are right, the estimated economics don't present obvious red flags for a quantitative degree with genuine labor market demand.