Sacramento State vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Sacramento is larger than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 19,125 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Sierra College 25:1.

Sacramento State vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or Sierra 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 California State University Sacramento than Sierra College ($10,110 vs. $10,285).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 28.9% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($13,631 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 454.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sierra College (about $6,572 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1,325.9% higher at Sacramento State than at Sierra College (about $19,172 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at Sierra College (82% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 155% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($12,767 vs. $5,006).

Sacramento State vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or Sierra 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 Sierra College and Sacramento State.

• Sierra 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; Sierra College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.

Sacramento State vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and Sierra 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).

• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 32%)

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.