California State University-Sacramento
#10 Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $64,876 A-
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $9,338 B
- 46% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 94% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 47.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $47.4 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions.
Every $1 spent returns $47.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,733,090.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 59% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $47.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Sacramento Matters
California State University-Sacramento is a public university in Sacramento, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 28,350
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology
Why students choose California State University-Sacramento
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 94% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,338 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,876 ten years after enrolling — 59% above the typical college, against $15,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.45 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
California State University-Sacramento enrolls over 28,000 students, making it a significant player in California's higher education landscape. Its acceptance rate stands at 94%, indicating a welcoming approach for students seeking access to higher education. This high acceptance rate opens doors for many who may not have considered a four-year degree.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights reveals that while the graduation rate is 56%, the earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment average $64,876. This suggests that students who persist and complete their degrees can achieve favorable economic outcomes. The school plays a vital role in promoting upward mobility, especially for its diverse student population, with nearly half receiving Pell Grants.
Financially, the net price for attending CSUS is $9,338, and the median debt for graduates is $15,000. This combination points to a relatively affordable path to a degree that can lead to solid earning potential. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing degrees in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Criminal Justice, fields that align well with local job markets in Sacramento.
Rankings
- #10 Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions
- #13 Best Education Colleges in California
- #14 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #16 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #28 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #33 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #37 Best MBA Programs in California
- #40 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Sacramento is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Sacramento? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
California State University-Sacramento, located in Sacramento, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,717
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
- Applicants
- 25,276
- Admitted
- 23,559
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard California State University-Sacramento is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 15% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 15%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Sacramento? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Sacramento is $20,618, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,338. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,501 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,018
- Out-of-State
- $20,618
- Avg Net Price
- $9,338
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,501
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,001
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,212
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,861
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State University-Sacramento — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California State University-Sacramento Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Sacramento earn a median of $64,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,074
- 8 Years
- $58,491
- 10 Years
- $64,876
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (511)
- 15%
- 100% (511)
- 15%
- 100% (511)
- 15%
- 100% (511)
- 15%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is California State University-Sacramento Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Sacramento delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,338/year ($37,352 total). Graduates earn $64,876 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,770,442 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,733,090 (47.4× your investment). The median debt is $15,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $37,352
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,770,442
- Net Return
- $1,733,090
- ROI Multiple
- 47.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,338
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $282,064
- Investment Income
- $-12,773,778
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Sacramento awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 14% $128,913 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $55,119 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $50,714 early-career
- Psychology 8% $36,672 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $45,383 early-career
- Engineering 5% $95,981 early-career
- Communications 5% $42,783 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $79,894 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California State University-Sacramento's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Sacramento? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
California State University-Sacramento, located in Sacramento, California, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Sacramento? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Sacramento is $20,618, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,338. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,501 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Sacramento Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Sacramento earn a median of $64,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Sacramento? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Sacramento. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does California State University-Sacramento offer Early Decision?
No. California State University-Sacramento does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at California State University-Sacramento?
About 15% of admitted students choose to enroll at California State University-Sacramento — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California State University-Sacramento.
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · Close peer57% grad $59,115 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-FresnoFresno, CA · Close peer56% grad $61,244 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Close peer54% grad $62,908 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Close peer50% grad $68,077 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · Close peer50% grad $55,037 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX · Close peer55% grad $63,199 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Sacramento? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Sacramento. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note