California State University - Sacramento
About
California State University, Sacramento is a public university in Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is part of the California State University system.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 4.7-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 127 Title IV programs, 60 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 65 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing60 · 47.2%
- No Data65 · 51.2%
- Failing2 · 1.6%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 13
Action history · 14
- Jul 2025Initial AccreditationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Clinical doctoral program in Audiology
- Oct 2024Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Oct 2024Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Jan 2024Approved for Distance EducationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Jan 2024Approved for Distance EducationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 16,868 students received $95.5M in Pell grants, alongside $73.3M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 5,451 borrowers who entered repayment, 95 (1.7%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at CSUS
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus101
Includes 29 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- National origin2
- Race1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- American River Courtyard1 fireElectricalDamage $0-$99
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
CSUS vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions CSUS selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia State University-Sacramento | 56% | 94.0% | 31,943 | $9,338 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| 63% | 92.7% | 15,257 | $14,480 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 43% | 93.3% | 15,182 | $8,615 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 48% | 97.4% | 12,326 | $9,320 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 95.3% | 24,427 | $7,000 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 90.5% | 43,662 | $6,555 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $10,440 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 91.3% | 23,163 | $3,967 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 57% | 93.4% | 38,313 | $7,021 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 55% | 93.7% | 18,492 | $4,564 | R2 Research | |
| 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,278 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 84.6% | 37,661 | $13,760 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| Peer group median | 56% | 93.4% | 23,795 | $8,968 |
Institutions like CSUS
Explore the federal data for institutions in CSUS's comparison group.
- Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Chico
Grad rate63%Admit rate92.7%Enrollment15,257Net price$14,480View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Grad rate43%Admit rate93.3%Enrollment15,182Net price$8,615View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-East Bay
Grad rate48%Admit rate97.4%Enrollment12,326Net price$9,320View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate57%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment24,427Net price$7,000View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate70%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment43,662Net price$6,555View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate69%Admit rate46.3%Enrollment42,003Net price$10,440View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Los Angeles
Grad rate53%Admit rate91.3%Enrollment23,163Net price$3,967View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate57%Admit rate93.4%Enrollment38,313Net price$7,021View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-San Bernardino
Grad rate55%Admit rate93.7%Enrollment18,492Net price$4,564View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Francisco State University
Grad rate50%Admit rate96.4%Enrollment22,563Net price$12,278View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
San Jose State University
Grad rate69%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment37,661Net price$13,760View data
CSUS Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Our mission is to enhance University effectiveness with information and research to support planning and budgeting, assessment, accreditation, policy formation, and decision making.
Visit IR office page- Shiva PillaiDirector
- Nancy HardyAcademic Planning Database Coordinator
- Agata UrbanData & Visualization Analyst
- Rachel NguyenStrategic Research Analyst
Common Data Set
CSUS's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D1196 transfer applicants → 142 admitted (72.5%) → 115 enrolled
Source publications
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardcsus.edu
- Data definitionData Definitions & Glossary | Sacramento StateThis glossary provides a comprehensive set of data definitions used across Sacramento State University, offering key definitions related to academic, administrative, and student terms for better understanding and navigation within the institution’s framework.csus.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookSacramento State Fact Book2026The Sacramento State Fact Book provides an overview of California State University-Sacramento, highlighting its role as a key educational institution in California's state capital. The document lists recent rankings, showcasing the university's diversity, transformative impact, affordability, and social mobility. It emphasizes the campus's growth and community engagement, as well as the dedication of its faculty to student success.csus.edu
- Strategic planSacramento State Strategic Plan2023The Sacramento State Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 provides a comprehensive roadmap focusing on key areas such as student success, teaching, and diversity. Building on its foundation as a regional institution, the plan aims to serve current student needs and prepare for future growth. With input from various stakeholders, the plan sets priorities that include resource sustainability, community involvement, and campus wellness and safety.csus.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of CSUS (5)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Tom HanksActing
- Ryan CooglerFilmmaking
- Janice Rogers BrownLaw
- Lester HoltJournalism
- Joe Serna Jr.Politics
Frequently asked questions about California State University-Sacramento
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about CSUS.
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Sacramento?
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Sacramento?
How many students attend California State University-Sacramento?
What is the average net price at California State University-Sacramento?
What is the yield rate at California State University-Sacramento?
Where is California State University-Sacramento located?
Who runs Institutional Research at California State University-Sacramento?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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