California State University-Fresno vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fresno in Fresno, 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 California State University-Fresno based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 24,427 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Fresno 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 Fresno 22:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

California State University-Fresno vs. Sacramento State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Fresno 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 Fresno than Sacramento State ($7,834 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 37.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($11,960 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Fresno (about $668 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Fresno (about $668 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at California State University Sacramento (85% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 3.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($12,767 vs. $12,326).

California State University-Fresno vs. Sacramento State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Fresno 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 California State University-Fresno.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Sacramento (1030) is 30 points higher than at California State University-Fresno (1000).
• Incoming Sacramento State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 18 at California State University-Fresno).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 890/1100; California State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 16/21; California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Fresno - Test-free; Sacramento State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Sacramento State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• California State University-Fresno has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Sacramento State (94%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

California State University-Fresno vs. Sacramento State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Fresno 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 Fresno's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than California State University-Fresno graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)

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.