California State University-Sacramento
California State University-Sacramento — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-Sacramento at a Glance
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.
1947
79 years old
$96M
$96.41 million (2024-25)
30,883
28,222 undergrad · 2,661 grad
1,771
305 acres
Identity
Is California State University-Sacramento Worth It?
California State University-Sacramento is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $9,338/year net price and $64,876 median earnings, graduates earn 6.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 56% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 94% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: California State University-Sacramento delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-Sacramento compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #7 of 59 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #2 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #3 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #6 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| #7 | California State University-Sacramento | 97 | $9,338 | $64,876 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-Sacramento's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 10 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-Sacramento
The highest-earning program at California State University-Sacramento is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $106,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $16,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-Sacramento earns $106,600, while a Music graduate earns $16,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $16,973 in median debt vs. $15,117 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,338/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $106,600 | $106,600 | $16,973 |
| Construction Engineering | $76,900 | $76,900 | $26,340 |
| Computer Engineering | $74,900 | $74,900 | $18,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,600 | $66,600 | $16,292 |
| Computer Science | $63,700 | $63,700 | $16,223 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,900 | $60,900 | $18,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,200 | $60,200 | $18,750 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $45,700 | $45,700 | $27,000 |
| Interior Architecture | $43,700 | $43,700 | $19,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,700 | $42,700 | $14,384 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $40,300 | $40,300 | $14,805 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $37,800 | $37,800 | $16,500 |
| Mathematics | $35,700 | $35,700 | $15,653 |
| Economics | $35,300 | $35,300 | $15,250 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $35,000 | $35,000 | $16,584 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,400 | $34,400 | $15,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,900 | $33,900 | $17,250 |
| Gerontology | $33,800 | $33,800 | $20,241 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,800 | $33,800 | $15,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,900 | $32,900 | $19,577 |
| Sociology | $31,800 | $31,800 | $14,305 |
| Social Work | $31,400 | $31,400 | $18,750 |
| Journalism | $31,000 | $31,000 | $18,749 |
| Anthropology | $30,500 | $30,500 | $14,906 |
| Biology, General | $30,400 | $30,400 | $18,500 |
| Psychology, General | $30,400 | $30,400 | $14,737 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $29,300 | $29,300 | $14,629 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $29,100 | $29,100 | $20,189 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,300 | $28,300 | $16,476 |
| Geography and Cartography | $28,100 | $28,100 | $13,912 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $27,700 | $27,700 | $19,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,200 | $27,200 | $18,032 |
| History | $26,700 | $26,700 | $16,010 |
| Philosophy | $26,200 | $26,200 | N/A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25,800 | $25,800 | $13,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $25,500 | $25,500 | $15,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,100 | $25,100 | $15,900 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $24,500 | $24,500 | $15,357 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,700 | $22,700 | $16,250 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $22,600 | $22,600 | $15,000 |
| Music | $16,000 | $16,000 | $15,117 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Sacramento, CA
- Student Body
- 28,350 students
- Admission Rate
- 94%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,338
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,876
- Median Student Debt
- $15,000