Sacramento State vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Sacramento is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

Sacramento State vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or Pitzer? 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 Pitzer ($10,110 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Sacramento are 13.4% lower than at Pitzer College ($19,174 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 713.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $57,174 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 216.2% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Sacramento (about $44,574 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at Pitzer College (82% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 303.3% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($51,487 vs. $12,767).

Sacramento State vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

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

• 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; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pitzer students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

Sacramento State vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $145 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($15,750 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($162 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.