Sacramento State vs. DUofC

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Dominican University of California in San Rafael, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than DUofC based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 1,900 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Dominican University of California is in San Rafael, CA (Small City setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dominican University of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Dominican University of California 8:1.

Sacramento State vs. DUofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or DUofC? 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 Sacramento than DUofC ($10,110 vs. $37,456).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dominican University of California are 15.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($16,191 vs. $19,174).
• Dominican University of California is 550.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $44,143 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 153% higher at DUofC than at California State University Sacramento (about $31,543 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University of California than at California State University Sacramento (100% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University of California students is 168.1% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($34,224 vs. $12,767).

Sacramento State vs. DUofC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or DUofC? 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 DUofC and Sacramento State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dominican University of California (1260) is 230 points higher than at Sacramento State (1030).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 930/1130; Dominican University of California 1210/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sacramento State - Test-free; DUofC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman DUofC students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than DUofC (83.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 12.7% at DUofC.

Sacramento State vs. DUofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and DUofC? 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).

• Dominican University of California's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from Dominican University of California earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Sacramento State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than DUofC graduates ($15,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DUofC graduates ($162 vs. $279).
• More DUofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 64%)

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.