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California State University-Sacramento
Admission at California State University-Sacramento is close to open (94%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $64,876 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
California State University-Sacramento sits in Sacramento proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $129,960 four years out. 49.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 28,350 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 81.9% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
California State University-Sacramento won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, California State University-Sacramento received 25,994 applications and admitted 24,336 (93.6%), with 3,884 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. California State University-Sacramento's 94% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How California State University-Sacramento compares
| California State University-Sacramento | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 94% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,018 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $64,876 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors California State University-Sacramento: $64,876 median at year ten, versus $64,778 across California institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,018 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $20,618. For non-residents, California State University-Sacramento's $20,618 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
California State University-Sacramento is a big school: 28,350 undergraduates at last count.
56.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 44% don't — ask a California State University-Sacramento tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at California State University-Sacramento
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $129,960 |
| Construction Engineering | $114,594 |
| Computer Engineering | $104,394 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $103,512 |
| Civil Engineering | $93,973 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,878 |
| Computer Science | $92,519 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $82,062 |
| Geography and Cartography | $75,234 |
| Chemistry | $74,430 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $73,418 |
| Economics | $70,290 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $67,795 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $67,636 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $67,182 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $66,885 |
| Philosophy | $65,115 |
| Physics | $64,133 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $63,013 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $62,583 |
| Biology, General | $61,775 |
| Interior Architecture | $61,410 |
| Gerontology | $60,868 |
| Political Science and Government | $60,278 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,404 |
| Mathematics | $59,162 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,142 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $59,041 |
| Social Work | $58,280 |
| Sociology | $56,886 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $56,637 |
| Social Sciences, General | $56,363 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $56,188 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $55,830 |
| History | $55,797 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $55,146 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $53,871 |
| Psychology, General | $53,237 |
| Journalism | $53,145 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $52,028 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,680 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $49,847 |
| Anthropology | $48,367 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $47,676 |
| Music | $42,774 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $42,392 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,969 |
Median earnings for these 47 California State University-Sacramento programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $64,876 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 10 additional California State University-Sacramento programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for California State University-Sacramento?
California State University-Sacramento doesn't look at test scores; its 94% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is California State University-Sacramento's acceptance rate?
93.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 24,336 admitted from 25,994 applicants.
How much does California State University-Sacramento cost?
In-state tuition is $8,018; out-of-state students pay $20,618. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do California State University-Sacramento graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $64,876 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- California State University-Northridge — 93.5% admitted
- California State University-Los Angeles — 91.3% admitted
- California State University-East Bay — 97.4% admitted
- California State University-Fullerton — 90.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.