Sacramento State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- Early Action
- 26,342
- Applicants
- 24,648
- Admitted94%
- 3,742
- Enrolled
- 15%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access94% admittedRanked #208 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #262 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #38 (tie), Computer Science #257 (tie), Nursing #115 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by California State University-Sacramento (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Sacramento State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Sacramento State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Sacramento State is a public university in Sacramento, California that admits about 94% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $9,338 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 54% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Sacramento State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, Sacramento State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 94%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $9,338 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Sacramento State?
61% of enrolled students at Sacramento State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.38, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Sacramento State with the other schools on your list
Open Sacramento State in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Sacramento State weight in admissions?
Sacramento State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Considered
2- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
15- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Sacramento State typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Sacramento State does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU no longer uses SAT/ACT for admission at any campus; scores may be used for math/English placement after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Sacramento State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Sacramento State actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,018 for in-state students and $20,618 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,174 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $9,338 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 49% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,838 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $20,968 |
| Required fees | $2,818 |
| Room and board | $20,212 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $9,338 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 59% |
| Average need-based grant | $20,794 |
| Average merit award, no financial need8 first-year students received one | $1,013 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 34% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $17,459 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Sacramento State
| Regular deadline | February 28 |
| Notification date | Rolling, beginning November 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Sacramento State?
These predict outcomes at Sacramento State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Sacramento State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Sacramento State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections. Across all programs, Sacramento State confers roughly 3,889 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $68,332 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 935 | $68,332 |
| Psychology, General | 607 | $55,115 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 568 | $63,820 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 448 | $63,101 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 436 | n/a |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 301 | $61,913 |
| Computer Science | 300 | $108,027 |
| Biology, General | 294 | $67,859 |
Is Sacramento State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Sacramento State disclosed 101 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 6 violent offenses and 22 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Sacramento State?
About 11% of undergraduates at Sacramento State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 3% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
Next steps for Sacramento State
Common questions parents ask about Sacramento State
What GPA do I need for Sacramento State?
61% of enrolled students at Sacramento State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.38, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Sacramento State typically admit?
Sacramento State is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Sacramento State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Sacramento State after grants and scholarships is $9,338 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,018 and $20,618 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Sacramento State realistic for my child?
Sacramento State admits 94% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $9,338 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Sacramento State?
Sacramento State accepts about 94% of applicants out of roughly 26,342 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Sacramento State test-optional?
Sacramento State is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Sacramento State?
About 54% of students at Sacramento State graduate within six years, and 28% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Sacramento State look for in applicants?
Sacramento State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Sacramento State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Sacramento State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California.
What are the most popular majors at Sacramento State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Sacramento State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Criminal Justice and Corrections. The school awards about 3,889 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Sacramento State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Sacramento State reported 101 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Sacramento State?
At Sacramento State, 11% of undergraduates live on campus, 2% of men are in fraternities, 3% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Sacramento, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers