Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Sacramento vs Sacramento City 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
Sacramento City College
- Net price / year
- $6,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,214
- 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 Sacramento City College, on median earnings of $64,876 vs $42,214 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,338 | $6,614 |
| Total net cost | $37,352 | $13,228 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,876 | $42,214 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $10,500 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $292,968 | -$136,148 |
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 Sacramento City College?
Sacramento City College, at $6,614 a year after aid versus $9,338 — a gap of $2,724 a year, or $24,124 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 Sacramento City College graduates earn more?
California State University-Sacramento graduates report a median $64,876 ten years after entry, $22,662 more than the $42,214 at Sacramento City 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 Sacramento City College?
Sacramento City College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at California State University-Sacramento, a difference of $4,500. 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 33% at Sacramento City 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.