Understanding Sacramento State Tuition and Fees

Sacramento State, officially California State University, Sacramento, is committed to providing an accessible and affordable education to its students. As part of the California State University (CSU) system, Sacramento State strives to keep student costs to a minimum, while also ensuring the availability of resources and programs necessary for student success. This article provides a detailed overview of tuition and fees at Sacramento State, including costs, payment options, financial aid, and potential future changes.

Tuition and Mandatory Fees

All students enrolled at Sacramento State are required to pay tuition and registration fees. The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Tuition Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU reserves the right, even after tuition or fees are initially made, to increase or modify any listed tuition or fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide tuition, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester has begun. All CSU listed tuition fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees, the chancellor, or presidents, as appropriate. Additionally, nonresident, foreign-visa, and graduate professional business students are required to pay per unit tuition and/or fees. Fees for auditing courses are the same as for those receiving credit for a course. Fees are payable based on the term registration date.

For California residents, tuition and fees total $9,014. For non-residents, that number jumps to $22,334. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.

Breakdown of Fees

A portion of your fees goes toward supporting various aspects of campus life:

Fee: To provide for non-instructional activities and programs which are designed to benefit all students and to maintain the student's well- being.
Intercollegiate Athletics/Spirit Leaders Fee: To provide support for Intercollegiate Athletics and Spirit Leaders.
Recreational Sports Fee: To provide support to Recreational Sports Programs.
Hornet Newspaper Fee: To provide support for the State Hornet Newspaper.
Instructional Related Activities Fee: These funds are to provide support for essential educational experiences and activities that aid and supplement the fundamental educational mission of the University. For example, laboratory experiences which are at least partially sponsored by an academic discipline or department and which are, in the judgment of the IRA Committee and the President, integrally related to its formal instructional offerings.
Student Health & Counseling Services Fee: To provide basic health services to students at the Health Center.
State Hornet Fee: To provide support for the State Hornet Student News Organization.

Payment Options and Deadlines

Fees are payable based on the term registration date. Sacramento State offers various payment methods to accommodate students' needs:

Read also: Affording Boise State

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards may be used for payment of student tuition and fees but will be subject to a non-refundable 2.65% credit card processing fee.
Electronic Check: Using a checking account number and routing number (eCheck).
In-Person: Cash, check, money orders, OneCard and credit card checks are accepted for payment of registration fees.

Tuition Fees Installment Plan

The tuition fees installment plan allows tuition fees and mandatory campus fees to be paid in multiple installments. The first payment is due on your original due date. Payments can start as early as June for the Fall term, and January for the Spring term. Therefore, you may have from 3-6 months of payments, depending on when you get on the payment plan. You must be registered before you elect to use the installment plan. Payments are due monthly through November for the Fall term, and through April for the Spring term. You may not use the IPP if you have a fee waiver or a third-party sponsor.

Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond tuition and fees, students should also budget for other expenses:

Books and Supplies: $1,136 per year
Personal Expenses: $2,672 per year
Transportation: $1,266 per year
Room and Board: The average room and board costs are $19,644. The room and board expenses included in the off-campus Cost of Attendance represent the typical costs students pay when enrolled at Sac State. Actual costs of room and board will vary.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Sacramento State is committed to making education accessible through financial aid. Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA. More than half of students receive financial aid, and 48% are eligible for Pell Grants, reflecting its commitment to access and opportunity.

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 70.32%
Average Aid Package: $15,909
Average Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award: $11,024. Scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back.
Need-Based Loan Amount: $4,386. Loans must be paid back.

The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at California State University--Sacramento was $21,733. Additionally, 75% of first-year students received need-based financial aid.

Types of Aid Available

Need-Based Scholarships and Grants: These are awarded based on a student's financial status.
Merit-Based Scholarships: These are awarded for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.
Federal Loans: These loans must be paid back.
Work-Study Programs: Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time.

Important Financial Aid Dates

Application Due: Mar 2. The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.

Student Loan Debt

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At California State University--Sacramento, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $15,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $159.

Additionally, 2% of graduating students at California State University--Sacramento took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $23,297 in private loan debt at graduation.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class: $17,562
Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024): 36%

Potential Fee Increases

Sacramento State will increase its mandatory student fees over a three year period after President Luke Wood approved recommendations by the university’s student fee advisory committee. All fees increases will roll out over a three year period beginning next fall, in 2025. This change would make fees more than $1,475, which is on top of the university’s $3,000 tuition. Ahead of the increases, the university held town halls and forums to gather feedback on the fees from students.

Students at Sacramento State will see fees increase by the following:

Intercollegiate Athletics: $181 to $256
Instructionally Related Activities: $8 to $310
Recreational Sports: $19 to $90
Student Health Services: $152 to $212

Sacramento State offers the Student Fee Assistance Program (SFAP) to help cover a portion of the mandatory fees, starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. To qualify, submit your application by the census date of the semester you’re requesting aid. The reimbursements will be processed for disbursement after the census date.

Read also: UW-Madison Tuition Requirements

Tuition Refund Policy

Regulations governing the refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University (CSU) are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the CSU.

In order to receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, less an administrative charge established by the university, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses prior to the first day of instruction for the term. For state-supported semesters, quarters and non-standard terms or courses of four weeks or more, a student who withdraws during the term in accordance with the university’s established procedures or drops all courses prior to the university-designated drop period will receive a refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, based on the portion of the term during which the student was enrolled.

Refunds will first be applied to any outstanding debt owed to the University. Refunds of checks, echecks, or debit payment will be subject to a waiting period of 10 business days. International payments will be subject to a waiting period of 20 business days.

Students who officially withdraw from the University prior to the first day of instruction will receive a 100% refund of Graduate Business Professional fees, tuition fees, campus fees, and non-resident tuition (minus a $10 processing fee). After this date students are eligible to receive a pro-rated refund only if withdrawing from all classes. Beginning with the first day of instruction through the 60% date of the semester, refunds will be on a pro-rata basis using the official withdrawal date. Students are not eligible to receive a refund for withdrawing after the 60% date.

Students who drop from full to half time by census date are eligible to receive a 100% refund of the difference in tuition fees, minus a $10 processing fee. Non-resident students who drop units by census date are eligible to receive a 100% refund of the difference of non-resident tuition minus a $10.00 processing fee. Resident and Non-resident students who drop from full to half-time after these dates are not eligible to receive a refund.

Resident students who drop units from full-time to half-time and non-resident students who drop units by the campus add/drop deadline will receive a refund of the difference in tuition fees and/or applicable non-resident tuition. Please note that the processing of drop-in-unit refunds will not begin until after the first two weeks of the term.

Extension course tuition refund applications must be submitted to the University's College of Continuing Education prior to the first meeting of the class for a full refund, less a $10 processing fee. A $10 processing fee is charged on all Special Session tuition refunds. Refund applications must be submitted to the University's College of Continuing Education prior to the first meeting of the class for a full refund. Refunds are still issued per your program’s refund policy. If you drop any time within the first 25% of the course, including the first day of class, you will get a 65% refund minus a $10 processing fee. If you have not paid for your course yet, you will still owe the other 35% of your tuition. If you drop after the first 25% of the class has elapsed, you will not receive a refund.

Parking fee refund applications will be honored only if the student returns the parking permit with the refund application.

Other Important Fees and Penalties

Returned Check/Credit Card Fee: In the event a check or credit card payment for registration fee is returned, the total penalty fee is $45 ($20.00 returned check or credit card fee and a $25 late registration fee if applicable).
Late Registration Fee: This fee applies to those registering during the late registration period.
Course Fees: Campus departments may add additional course fees to your account. Most of these fees are added at the time of registration or shortly thereafter.
Lost Item Replacement Fee: Once an item becomes 45 days overdue, a $90 lost item replacement fee is assessed. Course Reserves: Items one (1) day overdue are assessed a $90 lost item replacement fee. Rates vary yearly.
Bad Checks: persons having more than one check returned to the University from the bank will not have any checks accepted for their duration at Sacramento State. This includes checks written by another party on the individual’s behalf.

Sacramento State: An Affordable Option

California State Universities campuses are known to be a more affordable option for higher education in the state, with tuition rates cheaper than its University of California counterpart. Sacramento State’s tuition is $9,014 for in-state and $22,334 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,436, California State University--Sacramento is cheaper. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is cheaper than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,815.

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