Sacramento State vs. University of the People

Comparable Facts

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

University of the People is larger than Sacramento State based on total student enrollment (41,961 students vs. 31,943 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); University of the People is in Pasadena, California (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the People is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; University of the People 28:1.

Sacramento State vs. University of the People Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or University of the People? 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 University of the People than Sacramento State ($1,575 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the People are 89.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($2,001 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 472.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of the People (about $6,618 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1,372.7% higher at Sacramento State than at University of the People (about $19,218 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at University of the People (82% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 1,144.3% larger than aid received by University of the People students ($12,767 vs. $1,026).

Sacramento State vs. University of the People Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or University of the People? 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 University of the People and Sacramento State.

• University of the People 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; University of the People - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.

Sacramento State vs. University of the People Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and University of the People? 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).

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.