Sacramento State vs. Vanguard University of Southern California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Vanguard University of Southern California is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanguard University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 29.9% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($13,450 vs. $19,174).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102.3% higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Sacramento (about $21,082 more per year; $41,700 vs. $20,618).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Sacramento (100% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 133.8% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($29,847 vs. $12,767).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at Sacramento State (22 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Sacramento State and Vanguard University of Southern California.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026; Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Sacramento State average a 3.42 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $9,250 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($15,750 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($162 vs. $258).
• More Vanguard University of Southern California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 64%).

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