College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA 28,350 Undergrads 72.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$25,925
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,186
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,938
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,186
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,938
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$69,014
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate72.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$591k
+$121k
+$105k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$551k
+$81k
+$65k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$498k
+$28k
+$12k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
39
161%
Full Cost$26k/yr
56
13%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return118%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-21%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,367
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,552
Earnings (4yr)
$66,885
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,057
Earnings (4yr)
$61,775
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,636
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,430
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,973
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,404
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$13,754
Earnings (4yr)
$63,013
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$12,800
Earnings (4yr)
$104,394
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,220
Earnings (4yr)
$92,519
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$114,594
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,583
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,987
Earnings (4yr)
$53,871
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,676
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,290
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$16,902
Earnings (4yr)
$103,512
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,680
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,188
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,830
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,478
Earnings (4yr)
$42,392
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,050
Earnings (4yr)
$41,969
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,234
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,418
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,868
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,182
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,797
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,847
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$61,410
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,478
Earnings (4yr)
$53,145
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,637
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,162
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,878
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,774
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,875
Earnings (4yr)
$67,795
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$12,943
Earnings (4yr)
$59,041
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,115
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,278
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,770
Earnings (4yr)
$53,237
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$129,960
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$547k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,028
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,363
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,280
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,007
Earnings (4yr)
$56,886
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,146
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,625
Earnings (4yr)
$59,142
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,062
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,785
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$116,033
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,193
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,632
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,444
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$29,287
Earnings (4yr)
$70,641
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$137,236
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$521k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,415
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,337
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,313
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,365
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,962
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,293
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,474
Earnings (4yr)
$84,100
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,203
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,221
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,850
Earnings (4yr)
$68,782
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,270
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,467
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.