Sonoma State University

What are the graduation rates for students at Sonoma State University?

The graduation rates at Sonoma State University reflect a moderate level of student completion compared to other institutions. Overall, 61% of students eventually graduate, placing the university in the upper half but not among the top tiers nationally. When broken down by gender, women show a slightly higher graduation rate at 63%, while men graduate at a rate of 55%, both rates being considered average within national percentiles.

Looking at more specific timelines, the four-year graduation rate is notably lower at 42%, which suggests that fewer than half of students complete their degrees within the traditional time frame, positioning the university in the lower half relative to other schools. However, the six-year graduation rate improves to 61%, indicating that many students do complete their degrees with additional time, a figure that again ranks in approximately the top 45% nationally.

Retention rates provide further insight into student persistence, with Sonoma State University retaining 75% of first-year students into the next year. This retention statistic also falls into the average category, suggesting moderately steady engagement of students after their initial enrollment.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Sonoma State University?

Graduates from Sonoma State University experience a wide range of earning potentials depending on their chosen field of study. Among the highest earners are those with degrees in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, who report annual earnings of approximately $110,859. Engineering and technology-related fields also offer strong financial outcomes, with Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates earning around $76,907 and Computer Science graduates earning about $62,348.

Students who pursue degrees in Business Administration, Management and Operations can expect salaries near $48,133, reflecting moderate earning power in the business sector. Economics majors earn roughly $45,814 annually, while those with degrees in Political Science and Government earn about $36,428, showing competitive potential in the social sciences.

Fields such as Communication and Media Studies provide graduates with average earnings of $39,432, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities yield about $39,101. Graduates in Sociology and Natural Resources Conservation and Research earn in similar ranges, approximately $36,544 and $36,533 respectively.

Other social sciences including Criminal Justice and Corrections ($34,504), Anthropology ($32,634), and History ($32,106) have more modest median salaries. Education and Human Development-related majors typically see earnings close to $32,292 and $31,150 correspondingly, while those studying Health and Physical Education/Fitness report around $30,104.

Majors focused on fine arts and cultural studies such as Fine and Studio Arts and Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies generally earn between $28,600 and $29,000. Biology graduates earn roughly $28,787, a figure comparable to those studying English Language and Literature, who earn about $21,389 annually, indicating relatively lower earnings in some humanities and life sciences fields.