By Joel Cruz | Staff Writers |CSUSB was ranked 20th in the U.S. for highest student earnings potential, according to a report by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
However, the data comes at a cost.
The list marks CSUSB as the third highest in earnings potential, behind Cal State Stanislaus at rank 19 and Cal State Bakersfield at rank six.
James Estes, a professor of finance at CSUSB, believes there are many factors that contribute for such a high placement on the list and why this campus is different from the rest.
“I believe that the student work ethic and dedication is higher,” he stated in an email. “I think there is more family support to do well and this translates to higher graduation rates and transition to employment of choice or graduate school.”
The full list was compiled of more than 1,400 colleges and universities and sorted by three different sets of data, containing differences in earnings based on majors, student’s academic preparation, and the likelihood of graduate degree attainment.
The median earnings for students at CSUSB ten years after beginning their studies was $45,000, which was $11,900 more than the expected earnings of $33,600 for that year, according to the Georgetown University Report.
The report used data from a September 2015 web tool designed by the U.S. Department of Education, called the College Scorecard, where prospective college students can access information about the quality of colleges and universities throughout the country.
However, students who attended four-year colleges also faced large amounts of debt, according to the College Scorecard Data.
Students at private, for-profit two-year and four-year institutions have high rates of borrowing with graduates having large amounts of debt, according to the U.S. Department of Education web tool.
Loan payment rates were also accounted for in the data provided.
Of the overall three-year repayment rate for all undergraduate institutions, 37 percent of students were not meeting the repayment metric because they were either in default or were making monthly payments that were not reducing their loan balance, according to the College Scorecard Data.
Despite these numbers, students attending CSUSB should not be discouraged as professors can help to prepare for life after graduation.
“Specifically in Finance, I am able to help most students find work in the industry and my feedback from employers is one of success and a desire for more of our students both because of their success and their work ethic,” stated Estes. “We do a good job in Accounting and Finance…We are one of the few schools at which Goldman Sachs recruits and the only CSU school.”
Student Erika Flores also believes that her professors have prepared her for life after graduation.
“I feel like they have helped me attain the skills I need to succeed in both educational and professional environments,” said Flores.
“I think our professors do what they can in preparing us for the field, as well as the reality of how difficult finding a job for recent graduates,” said student Kevin Miller.
Leave a Reply