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Compare California State University-Fresno vs California State University-Sacramento

Fresno, CA · Sacramento, CA

California State University-FresnoCalifornia State University-Sacramento
Cost
Price after aid (average)$7,000/yr$9,338/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$5,105/yr$6,501/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$14,505$15,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$5,429/yr$7,001/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$7,196/yr$9,212/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$10,291/yr$11,814/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$16,899/yr$18,861/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$154/mo$159/mo
Room & board (on campus)$11,960/yr$19,174/yr
Room & board (off campus)$16,204/yr$21,042/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,062/yr$1,160/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$4,656/yr$4,904/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$20,095/yr$22,945/yr
Tuition (in-state)$7,350/yr$8,018/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,950/yr$20,618/yr
Students with Pell Grants57%49%
Students taking federal loans19%23%
Getting in
Students who get accepted95%94%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received20,20125,994
Students accepted19,46924,336
Students who enrolled3,6613,884
Accepted students who enroll19%16%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredNot considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredNot considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate57%56%
Freshmen who come back82%82%
Typical earnings 10 years in$61,244/yr$64,876/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$38,091–$84,801$43,257–$89,789
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)71%73%
White students graduating69%56%
Black students graduating44%52%
Hispanic students graduating56%56%
Asian students graduating56%60%
Typical earnings 6 years in$44,012/yr$51,074/yr
Earn more than a HS grad74%78%
Graduate on time28%28%
Pell students who graduate53%54%
First-gen students who finish60%63%
Low-income students who finish59%63%
Students who transfer out1.8%2.3%
Typical earnings 8 years in$51,924/yr$58,491/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 13% · Psychology 12% · Social Sciences 11%Health Professions 14% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Social Sciences 8%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degreesHealth Professions — 14% of degrees
2nd most popular programPsychology — 12% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees
3rd most popular programSocial Sciences — 11% of degreesSocial Sciences — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programLiberal Arts & General Studies — 10% of degreesPsychology — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programHealth Professions — 8% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $146,559/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $116,001/yr
Degrees in STEM13%17%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment21,60528,350
Students per professor22 : 124 : 1
Graduate students2,4733,123
Average professor pay$11,540/mo$11,717/mo
Full-time professors55%49%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Median family income$27,059$27,217
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationFresno, CASacramento, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19111947
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2.2%1.6%
Men42%45%
Women58%55%
White students14%23%
Black students3%6.9%
Hispanic or Latino students63%38%
Asian students11%21%
Two or more races2.6%6.3%
Other / not reported3%3.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students53%49%
Part-time students16%19%
Students age 25+16%21%
Spent on teaching per student$9,435/yr$8,604/yr
Endowment$241.1M$86.3M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,2283,280
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$5,764/yr$8,208/yr
Meal plan charge$4,791/yr$5,696/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesYesNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1517
Student athletes456514
Athletic scholarships$8.1M$7.3M
Athletics budget$63.4M$46.3M
Athletics revenue$63.4M$46.3M
Recruiting spend$1.1M$291,961

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.