Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Sacramento vs San Francisco State University: 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 San Francisco, CA
San Francisco State University
- Net price / year
- $12,278
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,077
- Payback
- 2.5 yrs
California State University-Sacramento has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $37,352 in 2.3 years versus 2.5 years at San Francisco State University, on median earnings of $64,876 vs $68,077 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Sacramento | San Francisco State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,338 | $12,278 |
| Total net cost | $37,352 | $49,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,876 | $68,077 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $15,371 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $292,968 | $345,228 |
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 San Francisco State University?
California State University-Sacramento, at $9,338 a year after aid versus $12,278 — a gap of $2,940 a year, or $11,760 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 San Francisco State University graduates earn more?
San Francisco State University graduates report a median $68,077 ten years after entry, $3,201 more than the $64,876 at California State University-Sacramento. 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 San Francisco State University?
California State University-Sacramento: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $15,371 at San Francisco State University, a difference of $371. 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 50% at San Francisco State University. 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.