CSU Fresno vs Sac State
California State University-Fresno and California State University-Sacramento, both esteemed institutions within the California State University system, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. While sharing similarities as comprehensive universities, they also possess distinct characteristics that set them apart. CSU-Fresno boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students, while CSU-Sacramento's slightly lower acceptance rate indicates a more selective admissions process. In terms of popular majors, CSU-Fresno excels in agriculture and related sciences, reflecting its location in the heart of California's agricultural region, while CSU-Sacramento shines in business and management, a testament to its urban setting. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional academic programs, to determine which university best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() California State University-Fresno |
![]() California State University-Sacramento |
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Overview |
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Location | Fresno, California | Sacramento, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 77.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 97.3% | 93.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 15,231 | 22,706 |
Total number of admissions given out | 14,816 | 21,272 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,451 | 3,581 |
Yield rate | 23.3% | 16.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$28,085
Out of state:
$39,965
|
In state:
$31,488
Out of state:
$43,368
|
Average net price | $6,336 | $7,778 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,433
Meal plan:
$4,560
|
Room/dormitory:
$7,744
Meal plan:
$5,030
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
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Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
82.0%
Average amount $10,314 |
80.0%
Average amount $9,769 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
12.0%
Average amount $4,620 |
18.0%
Average amount $4,607 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $8,114 |
0.0%
Average amount $12,368 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
22,187
Men 39.9% Women 60.1% |
29,451
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
Graduate students |
2,860
Men 33.8% Women 66.2% |
3,047
Men 32.9% Women 67.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 1.1% | 1.6% |
International students | 4.8% | 4.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,139 | 2,173 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Arizona Washington Colorado Hawaii | California Washington Arizona Hawaii Alaska |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 22:1 | 25:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 56.6% | 57.5% |
Dropout rate | 36.1% | 32.1% |
Transferred out | 1.6% | 3.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
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