Sacramento State vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Southern California Institute of Architecture is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Southern California Institute of Architecture 9:1.

Sacramento State vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc ($10,110 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 29.1% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($13,600 vs. $19,174).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 600.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $48,144 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172.4% higher at SCI-Arc than at California State University Sacramento (about $35,544 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (82% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 233.9% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($42,627 vs. $12,767).

Sacramento State vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and Sacramento State.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Southern California Institute of Architecture (1130) is 100 points higher than at Sacramento State (1030).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Sacramento 930/1130; Southern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sacramento State - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman SCI-Arc students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than SCI-Arc (76.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

Sacramento State vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Southern California Institute of Architecture's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $27,000 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($15,750 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $280 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($162 vs. $442).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)

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.