Sacramento State vs. Great Basin College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Great Basin College in Elko, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than Great Basin College based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 3,320 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Great Basin College is in Elko, NV (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Great Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Great Basin College 18:1.

Sacramento State vs. Great Basin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or Great Basin College? 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 Great Basin College than Sacramento State ($8,193 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Great Basin College are 68.7% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($6,000 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 104.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Great Basin College (about $4,095 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $3,923.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.5% higher at Sacramento State than at Great Basin College (about $6,735 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $13,883.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at Great Basin College (82% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 108.3% larger than aid received by Great Basin College students ($12,767 vs. $6,129).

Sacramento State vs. Great Basin College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or Great Basin College? 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 Great Basin College and Sacramento State.

• Great Basin College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• 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; Great Basin College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.

Sacramento State vs. Great Basin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and Great Basin College? 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 Great Basin College's (8%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Great Basin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $36,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($9,500 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($98 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Great Basin College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 39%)

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.