Cal State Fullerton vs. Sacramento State

California State University Fullerton and California State University Sacramento side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State University Fullerton
California State University Sacramento

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Cal State Fullerton (90.5% admitted vs 94%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1030.
  • Cheaper after aid: Cal State Fullerton. Average net price is $7,064 vs $10,110 at Sacramento State.
  • Graduation: Cal State Fullerton 50% vs Sacramento State 42%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cal State Fullerton $49,000 vs Sacramento State $51,000 (median).
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Key differences

California State University Fullerton California State University Sacramento
Acceptance rate
Cal State Fullerton more selective
Cal State Fullerton90.5%
Sacramento State94%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cal State Fullerton higher
Cal State Fullerton1000-1180
Sacramento State930-1130
Average net price
Cal State Fullerton $3,046 less
Cal State Fullerton$7,064
Sacramento State$10,110
In-state tuition
Cal State Fullerton $548 less
Cal State Fullerton$7,470
Sacramento State$8,018
Out-of-state tuition
Cal State Fullerton $548 less
Cal State Fullerton$20,070
Sacramento State$20,618
Graduation rate
Cal State Fullerton +8 pts
Cal State Fullerton50%
Sacramento State42%
Median earnings (10 years)
Sacramento State +$2,000
Cal State Fullerton$49,000
Sacramento State$51,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cal State Fullerton 53,559
  • Sacramento State 27,702
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Fullerton 48,482
  • Sacramento State 26,036
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cal State Fullerton 90.5%
  • Sacramento State 94%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cal State Fullerton 14.2%
  • Sacramento State 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Fullerton 1090
  • Sacramento State 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Fullerton 20
  • Sacramento State 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cal State Fullerton 3.77
  • Sacramento State 3.42
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cal State Fullerton A-
  • Sacramento State B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Cal State Fullerton Very Easy
  • Sacramento State Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Sacramento State
  • SAT range
  • Cal State Fullerton 1000-1180
  • Sacramento State 930-1130
  • ACT range
  • Cal State Fullerton 18-23
  • Sacramento State 17-23
  • Submit test scores
  • Cal State Fullerton Test-free
  • Sacramento State Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026
  • Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,470
  • Sacramento State $8,018
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cal State Fullerton $20,070
  • Sacramento State $20,618
  • Room & board
  • Cal State Fullerton $19,080
  • Sacramento State $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,064
  • Sacramento State $10,110
  • Average grant aid
  • Cal State Fullerton $11,234
  • Sacramento State $12,767
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cal State Fullerton 78%
  • Sacramento State 82%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cal State Fullerton 50%
  • Sacramento State 42%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cal State Fullerton $49,000
  • Sacramento State $51,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cal State Fullerton 69%
  • Sacramento State 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cal State Fullerton $15,000
  • Sacramento State $15,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Cal State Fullerton $155
  • Sacramento State $162
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cal State Fullerton 26:1
  • Sacramento State 24:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cal State Fullerton
    • Business (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Sacramento State
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, CA
  • Sacramento State Sacramento, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State Fullerton Midsize City
  • Sacramento State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Fullerton 43,662
  • Sacramento State 31,943
  • Type
  • Cal State Fullerton Public 4 Year
  • Sacramento State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cal State Fullerton #799
  • Sacramento State #841

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton is larger than Sacramento State based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 31,943 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Fullerton 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 Fullerton 26:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 0.5% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($19,080 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Fullerton (about $548 more per year; $20,618 vs. $20,070).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at California State University Fullerton (82% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 13.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($12,767 vs. $11,234).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Cal State Fullerton students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 20) as students at Sacramento State (20).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cal State Fullerton and Sacramento State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Fullerton average a 3.77 high school GPA, 0.35 higher than at Sacramento State (3.42).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 64%).

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

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