California State University-Northridge vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Northridge in Northridge, 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 Northridge is larger than Sacramento State based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 31,943 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Northridge 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 Northridge 25:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

California State University-Northridge vs. Sacramento State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Northridge 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 Northridge than Sacramento State ($7,536 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 28% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($13,804 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $560 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Northridge (about $560 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $20,058.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Northridge than at California State University Sacramento (83% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Northridge students is 0.5% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($12,825 vs. $12,767).

California State University-Northridge vs. Sacramento State Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Sacramento (1030) is 20 points higher than at California State University-Northridge (1010).
• Incoming Sacramento State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at California State University-Northridge).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 900/1110; California State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 16/22; California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Northridge - Test-free; Sacramento State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Sacramento State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at California State University-Northridge (3.38).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than California State University-Northridge (93.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at California State University-Northridge vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

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

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Northridge 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 Northridge's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than California State University-Northridge graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $1,554 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($14,196 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($146 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Northridge students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 59%)

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.