California State University-Fresno vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fresno in Fresno, CA with California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than California State University-Fresno based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 24,427 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 37.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($11,960 vs. $19,174).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Fresno (about $668 more per year; $20,618 vs. $19,950).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at California State University Sacramento (85% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 3.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($12,767 vs. $12,326).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Sacramento State than at California State University-Fresno (20 vs. 18, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State University-Fresno and Sacramento State.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Sacramento State average a 3.42 high school GPA, 0.3 higher than at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.