California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, California · Public · 94.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University-Sacramento scores 83 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 0.80 earnings premium (one of the highest in the database for a public comprehensive university), a 5.9-year payback period, and a low median debt of $15,000. Net price of $9,338 is exceptional for the outcomes it delivers. Median 6-year earnings are $41,800 - solid against a four-year total cost of $37,352. The 56.3% completion rate is the primary weakness; Sac State loses nearly half its students before graduation. Registered Nursing leads outcomes convincingly: 181 graduates, $116,001 year-one, $129,960 year-four, A-grade ROI - among the top nursing outcomes in the CSU system. Construction Engineering ($90,836 year-one, A-grade ROI) and Computer Science (267 graduates, $60,028 year-one, $92,519 year-four, B+-grade) are strong programs. Electrical Engineering (95 graduates, $74,450 year-one) and Civil Engineering (145 graduates, $71,342 year-one) round out the top tier. Business Administration (1,005 graduates, $48,492 year-one) is the largest program and carries B+ ROI at this low price point. The Sacramento location provides access to state government and healthcare employment pipelines not reflected in Scorecard data.
California State University-Sacramento scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Sacramento
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,018/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,618/yr |
| Average net price | $9,338/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,876 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 28,350 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,018/year ($20,618/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $9,338/year, or roughly $37,352 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,501/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,861/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $15,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $64,876 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.36, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,501 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,001 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,212 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,814 |
| $110,001+ | $18,861 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $6,501 net price at Sac State - one of the lowest in the CSU system. At this cost, virtually all programs produce positive ROI for graduates who complete. Nursing and engineering graduates achieve payback in 1-3 years at this price level. The completion rate risk remains, but the financial upside for low-income students who graduate is substantial.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $9,212, rising to $11,814 for the 75001-110000 bracket. These net prices maintain excellent value across most programs. Middle-income California families should treat Sac State's business, engineering, and CS programs as serious competitors to more expensive private schools for ROI.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $18,861 - a total four-year cost of roughly $75,000. Against $41,800 median 6-year earnings and a 5.9-year payback on average, the full-price case remains strong. Nursing graduates recover the full investment in less than one year. Higher-income families often overlook Sac State in favor of UC campuses, but the outcomes data warrants consideration.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Sacramento with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,636 | B+ |
| Psychology | $53,237 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $62,583 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $67,182 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,404 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $59,142 | C |
| Biology | $61,775 | B |
| Sociology | $56,886 | B |
| Computer Science | $92,519 | B+ |
| Social Work | $58,280 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing at Sac State (181 graduates) is one of the strongest-performing nursing programs in the CSU system: $116,001 year-one, $129,960 year-four, A-grade ROI, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.164, and median debt of only $19,000. Graduates at this net price recover their investment in roughly 1-2 years. The combination of high volume, exceptional earnings, and low debt makes this the flagship program at the institution by any measure.
Computer Science
Computer Science (267 graduates) earns B+-grade ROI: $60,028 year-one, $92,519 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.260 with median debt of $15,625. The Sacramento region's tech ecosystem, combined with proximity to Bay Area employers, gives Sac State CS graduates access to labor markets that outperform the school's nominal location. At $9,338 net price, this program's ROI is among the strongest for any public CS program in California.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (145 graduates) earns B+-grade ROI: $71,342 year-one, $93,973 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.268 with median debt of $19,124. California's infrastructure demand provides steady employment for civil engineers from Sac State. The four-year trajectory to $94k is strong for a public school graduate entering mid-career.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the highest-enrollment program at Sac State with 1,005 graduates. Year-one earnings of $48,492, year-four of $67,636, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.284 (ROI grade B+), and median debt of $13,750 - extremely low. At this net price, even the modest year-one earnings produce fast payback. The B+ grade with $13,750 median debt is a strong outcome for a large-volume program.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (539 graduates) earns B-grade ROI: $38,606 year-one, $62,583 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.356 with median debt of $13,745. The second-highest enrollment program at Sac State. At this net price and debt level, Criminal Justice graduates face manageable payback despite modest year-one wages. The state government and law enforcement pipeline in Sacramento provides local employment stability.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Sacramento’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 94.0% |
| Enrollment | 28,350 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 49.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,717 |
Sac State admits 94.0% of applicants and operates effectively as open-access. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. The barrier to value here is completion, not admission. Students should understand that the 56.3% graduation rate means a substantial share of enrollees will not reach graduation, which transforms an otherwise excellent ROI into a financial setback for non-completers.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Sac State's Scorecard peers include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal State Bakersfield, University of Utah, and George Mason University. At ROI 83, Sac State compares favorably with most peers. Its 0.80 earnings premium is higher than Cal Poly SLO (despite Cal Poly's stronger reputation), reflecting Sacramento's unique mix of healthcare and government employment. University of Utah (ROI 84) is the closest comparable in overall score. Sac State's nursing program outcomes are among the strongest in any peer comparison set.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Sacramento (this school) | 83 | $9,338 | $64,876 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| George Mason University | 86 | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| University of Utah | 84 | $16,200 | $67,170 |
| Iowa State University | 79 | $18,589 | $63,386 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State University-Sacramento side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Sac State admits 94.0% of applicants - near open-access. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score data. With 28,350 enrolled students, it is one of the larger CSU campuses. Pell grant rate of 49.1% is among the highest in the system, reflecting strong first-generation and lower-income enrollment. The school's value is strongest for California residents pursuing engineering, nursing, computer science, or business. The 56.3% completion rate signals that students need proactive engagement with academic support.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Sacramento pays off. You'd pay about $9,338 a year after aid ($37,352 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,876 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $15,000 owed against $64,876 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.