California State University-Sacramento — ROI, Cost & Payback
California State University-Sacramento charges a net price of $9,338/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $37,352. Graduates earn a median $64,876 ten years after entry, $16,516/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.3 years — a 20-year net return of $292,968, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
California State University-Sacramento's 2.3-year payback ranks #103 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 92% of them, and #28 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,338/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $37,352 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $64,876 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $16,516/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $15,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $292,968 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on California State University-Sacramento's own numbers. Net price $9,338 × 4 years = $37,352 total. Median earnings $64,876 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $16,516 a year of premium. $37,352 ÷ $16,516 = 2.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $292,968. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do California State University-Sacramento students graduate with?
A median $15,000 in federal loans among completers, or 23% of the $64,876 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of California State University-Sacramento students graduate?
56% finish their degree — 44% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $37,352 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $66,700 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is California State University-Sacramento expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $9,338 net price runs $10,567 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $42,268 less across the full degree.