Sacramento State vs. WNC

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Western Nevada College in Carson City, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than WNC based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 4,284 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Western Nevada College is in Carson City, NV (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Nevada College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Western Nevada College 15:1.

Sacramento State vs. WNC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or WNC? 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 WNC ($10,110 vs. $14,929).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Nevada College are 7.2% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($17,788 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 92.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WNC (about $3,850 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $4,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.7% higher at Sacramento State than at Western Nevada College (about $7,784 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $12,834.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Nevada College than at California State University Sacramento (88% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 117.3% larger than aid received by Western Nevada College students ($12,767 vs. $5,874).

Sacramento State vs. WNC Admissions comparison

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

• Western Nevada 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; WNC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.

Sacramento State vs. WNC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and WNC? 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 $17,300 more per year than WNC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Nevada College graduates have a $4,434 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($11,316 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, WNC graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($117 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WNC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 30%)

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.