Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State University, Sacramento is a public regional university located in Sacramento, California. Sac State is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Sac State is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,814 10 years after enrolling, 54th in California, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Sac State bachelor students earn 5% more than the national average. Sac State is ranked 23rd in California.
California State University, Sacramento’s median net annual cost of $11,178 and average years to graduate of 4.8 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Sac State sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Psychology, Comms & Media Studies, Criminal Justice, Health & Fitness, Sociology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$11,178
Average years to graduate
4.8
Registered Nursing
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.46
Computer Science
Rank: #52
Economic score: 1.09
Civil Engineering
Rank: #16
Economic score: 1.11
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #40
Economic score: 1.19
Biology
Rank: #24
Economic score: 2.3
Economics
Rank: #116
Economic score: 2.57
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #58
Economic score: 2.68
Social Work
Rank: #19
Economic score: 2.94
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #57
Economic score: 3.96
English Language & Lit
Rank: #117
Economic score: 5.36
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Sac State - Business Administration, Education, Student Counseling, Social Work, Registered Nursing, Communication disorder sciences - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Civil Engineering
Rank: #16
Economic score: 0.26
Biology
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.34
Romance Language & Linguistics
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.51
Public Administration
Rank: #65
Economic score: 0.52
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #61
Economic score: 0.53
History
Rank: #14
Economic score: 0.68
Psychology
Rank: #106
Economic score: 0.8
Criminal Justice
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.91
English Language & Lit
Rank: #44
Economic score: 1.08
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.8 years. 71% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Sac State is 4% higher than the state average, and 14% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Sac State, Pell Grant recipients represent 50% of the measured graduating class, 15% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Sac State graduates within 4.9 years.
Sac State is in the top 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, Sacramento’s economic mobility score of 44.44 is calculated by adjusting the 1.22 economic score of lower-income students by the 50% pell grant recipients within the student body. Sac State’s EMS of 44.44 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, Sacramento pays $11,178 a year, $16,644 less than the $27,822 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $11,178
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Sac State, 80% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $11,178 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 18% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $4,818. This is 36% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,607
Pell grants
$4,783
State grants
$2,393
Institutional grants
$5,743
California State University, Sacramento offers 2 online bachelor programs, both of which are in hybrid format At the master’s level Sac State offers 2 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
4
Hybrid programs
3
Percentage of programs online
4%
California State University, Sacramento's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 94% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 22,706 applicants, of which 21,272 were admitted and 3,581 enrolled. Sac State doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
79%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
37%
59%
In-state
98%
68%
1st generation
49%
35%
White
25%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
36%
15%
Asian
20%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
13%
12%