Head-to-head comparison
Sacramento City College vs Cosumnes River College: which has better ROI?
Option A Sacramento, CA
Sacramento City College
- Net price / year
- $6,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,214
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Sacramento, CA
Cosumnes River College
- Net price / year
- $5,981
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,446
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cosumnes River College comes closer — median earnings $42,446 against a $11,962 total, vs $42,214 at Sacramento City College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sacramento City College | Cosumnes River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,614 | $5,981 |
| Total net cost | $13,228 | $11,962 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,214 | $42,446 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,722 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$136,148 | -$130,242 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sacramento City College or Cosumnes River College?
Cosumnes River College, at $5,981 a year after aid versus $6,614 — a gap of $633 a year, or $1,266 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 Sacramento City College or Cosumnes River College graduates earn more?
Cosumnes River College graduates report a median $42,446 ten years after entry, $232 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, Sacramento City College or Cosumnes River College?
Sacramento City College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $10,722 at Cosumnes River College, a difference of $222. 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?
40% of students finish at Cosumnes River College, 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.