California State University-Sacramento
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families who need the lowest possible cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 28,350 students.
About This School
California State University-Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California with approximately 28,350 undergraduate students enrolled. California State University-Sacramento has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 94%. The average net price after financial aid is $9,338 per year. The graduation rate is 56%, and the typical graduate earns $54,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
California State University, Sacramento is a public university in Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is part of the California State University system.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $10,512/year average net price and only $12,500 in median debt at graduation, this is one of the more affordable paths to a degree in California, and the Sacramento location offers real access to state government internships and employers. That said, the 56% graduation rate is a genuine concern — nearly half of students who start don't finish, which is worth asking hard questions about before enrolling. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious, self-directed, and have a clear plan for staying on track.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Early vs. Regular Decision
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 11% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
California State University-Sacramento graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($129,960 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($92,519 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,005 | $67,636 | $68,257 | −$621 |
| Psychology, General | 636 | $53,237 | $50,706 | +$2,531 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 539 | $62,583 | $55,378 | +$7,205 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 416 | $67,182 | $61,296 | +$5,886 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 400 | $59,404 | $56,359 | +$3,045 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 318 | $59,142 | $54,562 | +$4,580 |
| Biology, General | 307 | $61,775 | $57,214 | +$4,561 |
| Sociology | 301 | $56,886 | $52,657 | +$4,229 |
| Computer Science | 267 | $92,519 | $107,009 | −$14,490 |
| Social Work | 186 | $58,280 | $51,790 | +$6,490 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 181 | $129,960 | $88,910 | +$41,050 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 180 | $93,878 | $92,135 | +$1,743 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (28,350 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: California State University-Sacramento Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Address
California State University-Sacramento
6000 J St
Sacramento, CA 95819-2694
Official Links
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California State University-Northridge
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See How Colleges Compare
California State University-Sacramento is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Sacramento?
California State University-Sacramento has an acceptance rate of 94%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California State University-Sacramento hard to get into?
Not especially. California State University-Sacramento has an acceptance rate of 94%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does California State University-Sacramento cost?
The average net price at California State University-Sacramento is about $9,338 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Sacramento?
California State University-Sacramento has a graduation rate of 56%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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