Sonoma State University

www.sonoma.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,742

2023 Average Net Price

$15,113

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

94.7%

10,529 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

5,990

83.9% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

60.5%

1,087 Graduates

About

Sonoma State University is a higher education institution located in Sonoma County, CA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Sonoma State University were General Business Administration & Management (323 degrees awarded), General Psychology (289 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Sciences (115 degrees).

In 2023, 2,195 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Sonoma State University. 65.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 34.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (998 degrees), 1.26 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (793 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Sonoma State University is $5,742, which is $−18,833 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Sonoma State University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 1,667 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Sonoma State University is $5,742, which is $18,833 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,113.

In 2023, 66% of undergraduate students attending Sonoma State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 27% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,742

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Sonoma State University was $5,742. The cost of tuition at Sonoma State University is $−18,833 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Sonoma State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,113

2023 Value

2.54%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Sonoma State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,113. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Sonoma State University grew by 2.54%.

This chart compares the average net price of Sonoma State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$16,355

Room and Board

$1,044

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Sonoma State University was of $16,355 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 2.98% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,044. The cost of books and supplies increased by 2.15% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Sonoma State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

66%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

27%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

66% of undergraduate students at Sonoma State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 4.76% with respect to 2022, when 63% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Sonoma State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Sonoma State University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 1667 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Sonoma State University received 10,529 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 2.56% annual growth. Out of those 10,529 applicants, 9,974 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 94.7% acceptance rate.

There were 5,990 students enrolled at Sonoma State University in 2023. 90% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Sonoma State University has an overall enrollment yield of 9.13%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

94.7%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

9,974

Accepted Out of 10,529

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Sonoma State University was 94.7% (9,974 admissions from 10,529 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 94%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 2.56%, while admissions declined by 1.81%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Sonoma State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

90%

Submission Percentage (2020)

826

Scores Submitted (2020)

90% of enrolled first-time students at Sonoma State University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Sonoma State University had a total enrollment of 5,990 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Sonoma State University is 5,024 students and the part-time enrollment is 966. This means that 83.9% of students enrolled at Sonoma State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Sonoma State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 41.6% White, 40.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.51% Two or More Races, 5.01% Asian, 2.64% Black or African American, 0.334% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.334% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Sonoma State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Hispanic or Latino Female (27.8%), followed by White Female (24%) and White Male (16.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (41.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino Female (23.7%) and White Male (12.9%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

83.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Sonoma State University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 5,990 students. The full-time enrollment at Sonoma State University is 5,024 and the part-time enrollment is 966. This means that 83.9% of students enrolled at Sonoma State University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Sonoma State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

75%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Sonoma State University was 75%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Sonoma State University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Sonoma State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,491 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,409 enrolled students
Two or More Races
330 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Sonoma State University is 41.6% White, 40.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.51% Two or More Races, 5.01% Asian, 2.64% Black or African American, 0.334% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.334% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 220 students (3.67%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 679 more women than men received degrees from Sonoma State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Sonoma State University is white (998 degrees awarded). There were 1.26 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (793 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Sonoma State University is General Business Administration & Management (323 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (289 degrees) and Liberal Arts & Sciences (115 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Sonoma State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Cultural & Gender Studies (34 degrees awarded), History (56 degrees), and English (83 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoma State University are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (536,396 people), Other managers (413,045 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (342,784 people), Postsecondary teachers (250,041 people), and Secondary school teachers (196,414 people).

The most specialized majors at Sonoma State University in 2023 are Cultural & Gender Studies (34 degrees awarded), History (56 degrees), English (83 degrees), Psychology (290 degrees), and Social Sciences (250 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Diagnostic medical sonographers

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoma State University are Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Sonoma State University are Cultural & Gender Studies (34 degrees awarded), History (56 degrees), English (83 degrees), Psychology (290 degrees), and Social Sciences (250 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Sonoma State University are Elementary & secondary schools (732,378 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (480,960 people), Legal services (389,952 people), Computer Systems Design (261,877 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (235,717 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Sonoma State University.

Most Common (2023)

General Business Administration & Management
323 degrees awarded
General Psychology
289 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
115 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Sonoma State University was General Business Administration & Management with 323 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Sonoma State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

758

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

1,437

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 758 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoma State University, which is 0.527 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,437).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Sonoma State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 222 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoma State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.14 times more than the 195 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 236 degrees were awarded to men at Sonoma State University in General Psychology, which is 4.37 times more than the 54 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

41%

100% Completion Time

60%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 41% of students graduating from Sonoma State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 60% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 62% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (69.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Sonoma State University is Female and White (69.6% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.14% of graduates (45 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
998 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
793 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
131 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Sonoma State University is white (998 degrees awarded). There were 1.26 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (793 degrees).

4.65% of degree recipients (102 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
633 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
554 degrees awarded
White Male
365 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Sonoma State University is white female (633 degrees awarded). There were 1.14 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino female (554 degrees).

Operations

Sonoma State University has an endowment valued at nearly $50.6M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 3.31M (6.54%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, Sonoma State University had a total salary expenditure of 232M. Sonoma State University employs 109 Professors, 65 Associate professors and 31 Assistant professors. Most academics at Sonoma State University are Male Professor (64), Female Professor (45), and Female Associate professor (38).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Sonoma State University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 146 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 124 employees, and Service with 78 employees.

Endowment

$50.6M

2023 Endowment

2.5%

growth from 2022

Sonoma State University has an endowment valued at about $50.6M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Sonoma State University grew 2.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $899k higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Sonoma State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$11.1M - Federal
$2.12M - State
$13.9k - Local

As of 2023, Sonoma State University received $11.1M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $2.12M from state grants and contracts, and $13.9k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$83.5M

2023 Salaries

8.5%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Sonoma State University paid a median of $83.5M in salaries, which represents 36% of their overall expenditure ($232M) and a 8.5% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.5% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 16.8% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$23.9M

Instructional Salaries

227

Number of Employees

In 2023, Sonoma State University paid a total of $23.9M to 227 employees working as instructors, which represents 28.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

109 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

146 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Sonoma State University were Professor with 109 employees, Associate professor with 65 employees, and Assistant professor with 31 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Sonoma State University were Business and Financial Operations with 146 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 124 employees, and Service with 78 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Sonoma State University was Male Professor with 64 employees, Female Professor with 45 employees, and Female Associate professor with 38 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Sonoma State University.

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