CSU Stanislaus vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Sacramento is larger than CSU Stanislaus based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 9,724 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Sacramento State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus or Sacramento State? 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 Stanislaus than Sacramento State ($7,433 vs. $10,110).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 31.5% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($13,126 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Stanislaus is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $228 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at California State University Sacramento (about $228 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at California State University Sacramento (86% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 2.2% larger than aid received by California State University Stanislaus students ($12,767 vs. $12,492).

CSU Stanislaus vs. Sacramento State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus or Sacramento State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sacramento State and CSU Stanislaus.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; Sacramento State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Sacramento State (94%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

CSU Stanislaus vs. Sacramento State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus and Sacramento State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University Stanislaus's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than CSU Stanislaus graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
• More CSU Stanislaus 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.