Sacramento, CA · Private University
Is California State University-Sacramento Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$64,876
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,602
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$19,482
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$77,928
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.33x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2.6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
55.8%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$15,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$10,512
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California State University-Sacramento graduates earn $19,876 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California State University-Sacramento ranked by graduate earnings
364 graduates
73 graduates
54 graduates
120 graduates
319 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California State University-Sacramento
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California State University-Sacramento, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $123,869) and the lowest (Apparel and Textiles: $26,968) is $96,901/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI | $123,869 | 6.4x |
| Construction Engineering | $102,535 | 5.3x |
| Computer Engineering | $97,708 | 5.0x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $95,564 | 4.9x |
| Computer Science | $90,351 | 4.6x |
| Civil Engineering | $84,258 | 4.3x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,495 | 4.2x |
| Chemistry | $65,212 | 3.4x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $60,564 | 3.1x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,075 | 3.1x |
| Economics | $58,522 | 3.0x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $58,360 | 3.0x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $57,406 | 3.0x |
| Interior Architecture | $56,590 | 2.9x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,016 | 2.9x |
| Mathematics | $55,955 | 2.9x |
| Biology, General | $55,332 | 2.8x |
| Political Science and Government | $53,959 | 2.8x |
| Geography and Cartography | $52,747 | 2.7x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $52,683 | 2.7x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,314 | 2.7x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $52,213 | 2.7x |
| Gerontology | $51,149 | 2.6x |
| Sociology | $50,786 | 2.6x |
| Social Work | $50,432 | 2.6x |
| Social Sciences, General | $49,984 | 2.6x |
| History | $49,855 | 2.6x |
| Psychology, General | $49,078 | 2.5x |
| Journalism | $48,974 | 2.5x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $48,638 | 2.5x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,341 | 2.5x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,959 | 2.4x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $46,689 | 2.4x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $45,590 | 2.3x |
| Anthropology | $44,404 | 2.3x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $44,039 | 2.3x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $43,110 | 2.2x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $41,945 | 2.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,496 | 2.1x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $38,500 | 2.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,788 | 1.9x |
| Philosophy | $36,325 | 1.9x |
| Music | $31,496 | 1.6x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $27,848 | 1.4x |
| Apparel and TextilesLowest(1yr data) | $26,968 | 1.4x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California State University-Sacramento stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $64,876 10 years after starting, $19,876 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2.6 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.