California State University-Sacramento vs San Francisco State University

California State University-Sacramento and San Francisco State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: California State University-Sacramento is more selective with a 93.6% acceptance rate compared to San Francisco State University's 96.2%.

Cost: California State University-Sacramento offers a lower average net price at $10,512, which is $2,370 less than San Francisco State University ($12,882). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median salary of $68,077 ten years after enrollment, which is $3,201 more than California State University-Sacramento graduates ($64,876).

Graduation: California State University-Sacramento leads with a 55.1% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 81.1% vs 83.7%.

Campus Size: California State University-Sacramento is the larger campus with 27,867 total students, while San Francisco State University has 20,033.

Bottom Line: California State University-Sacramento wins on affordability while San Francisco State University leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.