CSUDH vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than CSUDH based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 15,182 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

CSUDH vs. Sacramento State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or Sacramento State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Dominguez Hills than Sacramento State ($9,175 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Dominguez Hills are 3.8% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($18,444 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $569 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $569 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at California State University Sacramento (93% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 9.3% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($13,951 vs. $12,767).

CSUDH vs. Sacramento State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH or Sacramento State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sacramento State and CSUDH.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; Sacramento State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Sacramento State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than CSUDH (93.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

CSUDH vs. Sacramento State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and Sacramento State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Sacramento's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than CSUDH graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $1,788 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($13,962 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($144 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.