Sacramento State vs. CalArts

Should I go to California State University Sacramento or California Institute of the Arts? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Sacramento State or CalArts is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Sacramento vs. California Institute of the Arts comparison
California State University Sacramento California Institute of the Arts College 3 College 4
California State University Sacramento California Institute of the Arts
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Overview

Sacramento State CalArts
Location Sacramento, CA Valencia, CA
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 31,818 1,440
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #850
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csus.edu calarts.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Sacramento State CalArts
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $54,440
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $54,440
Room & Board $16,278 $12,446
Avg Net Price $11,596 $55,225
Avg Grant Aid $9,590 $20,474
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 59%

Admission

Sacramento State CalArts
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,276 2,120
Admitted 23,559 525
Acceptance Rate 93.2% 24.8%
Enrolled % 16.6% 36%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 930/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Jan 5, 2025

Academics

Sacramento State CalArts
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Sacramento State CalArts
Graduation Rate 42% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,750 $28,500
Median Loan Payment $162 $294

Diversity

Sacramento State CalArts
% Men 43% 38%
% Women 57% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 29% 42%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 29% 15%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 6% 8%

Students

Sacramento State CalArts
% In-State 98% 32%
% Out-of-State 1% 38%

Campus

Sacramento State CalArts
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Sacramento is larger than than CalArts based on total student enrollment (31,818 students vs. 1,440 students)

Sacramento State vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or CalArts?

  • California Institute of the Arts is 848.1% more expensive to attend than Sacramento State for in-state tuition ($54,440.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 208.9% higher at CalArts than California State University Sacramento ($54,440.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Sacramento than CalArts ($11,596 vs. $55,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 30.8% lower than costs at California State University Sacramento ($12,446 vs. $16,278)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Sacramento than California Institute of the Arts (78% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 113.5% larger than aid received California State University Sacramento ($20,474 vs. $9,590)

Sacramento State vs. CalArts Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or CalArts? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CalArts or Sacramento State .

  • Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than CalArts (24.8%)

Sacramento State vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Sacramento State or CalArts? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CalArts and Sacramento State.

  • The graduation rate at CalArts is higher than California State University Sacramento (65% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn on average $600 more per year than CalArts graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $50,400)
  • California State University Sacramento students graduate with a $12,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CalArts graduates. ($15,750 vs. $28,500)
  • Sacramento State graduates are paying $132 less per month on federal student loans than CalArts graduates. ($162 vs. $294)
  • More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/