Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Sacramento vs American River College: which has better ROI?
Option A Sacramento, CA
California State University-Sacramento
- Net price / year
- $9,338
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,876
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Option B Sacramento, CA
American River College
- Net price / year
- $7,999
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,162
- Payback
- No payback
California State University-Sacramento has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $37,352 in 2.3 years versus not at all at American River College, on median earnings of $64,876 vs $40,162 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Sacramento | American River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,338 | $7,999 |
| Total net cost | $37,352 | $15,998 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,876 | $40,162 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $9,625 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $292,968 | -$179,958 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California State University-Sacramento or American River College?
American River College, at $7,999 a year after aid versus $9,338 — a gap of $1,339 a year, or $21,354 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California State University-Sacramento or American River College graduates earn more?
California State University-Sacramento graduates report a median $64,876 ten years after entry, $24,714 more than the $40,162 at American River College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-Sacramento or American River College?
American River College: its completers carry a median $9,625 in federal loans versus $15,000 at California State University-Sacramento, a difference of $5,375. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at California State University-Sacramento, against 37% at American River College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.