California State University, Sacramento Courses and Fees 2026

California State University, Sacramento charges international undergraduate students USD 20,960 (INR 19.98 Lakhs) per year and international Master’s students USD 19,844 (INR 18.92 Lakhs) per year in 2026-27 tuition and mandatory fees. Popular graduate programs for Indian students at Sacramento State include MS Computer Science, MS Electrical and Electronic Engineering, MS Software Engineering, and the MBA.

Your realistic entry from India is the Spring 2027 (January) intake or Fall 2027 (August) intake. The Spring 2027 graduate application closes on 13 September 2026, the nearest deadline in this intake cycle, and the Fall 2027 application window opens 1 October 2026.

• Undergraduate international tuition and fees: USD 20,960 (INR 19.98 Lakhs) per year
• Master’s international tuition and fees: USD 19,844 (INR 18.92 Lakhs) per year
• International application fee: USD 70 (INR 6,673), non-refundable
• International Student Fee Waiver: reduces nonresident tuition by USD 444 (INR 42,327) per unit
• Financial affidavit for the I-20: minimum USD 43,336 (INR 41.30 Lakhs) proof of funds

Total 2-year Master’s budget at Sacramento State comes to INR 84.96 Lakhs, and the 4-year Bachelor’s runs approximately INR 1.74 Crore at the 2026-27 rate, both figures include living costs of INR 23.56 Lakhs per year in Sacramento.

Exchange rate used across this article: 1 USD = INR 95.33, sourced from xe.com on 4 August 2026 IST.

Compare application dates and required documents in the California State University, Sacramento Admissions Guide before you finalise your intake choice.

California State University, Sacramento Tuition Fees by Programme

Sacramento State charges international students a uniform tuition structure across most programmes: a base tuition set by the California State University system, a per-unit nonresident surcharge, and mandatory campus fees. For 2026-27, that structure lands at USD 20,960 (INR 19.98 Lakhs) per year for a full-time undergraduate and USD 19,844 (INR 18.92 Lakhs) per year for a full-time Master’s student on standard enrolment.

California State University, Sacramento Undergraduate Fees for 2026-27

Sac State’s undergraduate international bill for a full-time Bachelor’s student on 12 units per semester (24 units per year) is USD 20,960 (INR 19.98 Lakhs) for tuition and mandatory fees combined. The nonresident tuition is billed per unit, so lighter loads reduce it proportionally.

Source: California State University, Sacramento Bursar’s Office, Tuition, Fees & Living Costs, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

California State University, Sacramento Master’s Programmes Fees for 2026-27

Graduate international tuition and fees for standard Master’s programmes at Sacramento State come to USD 19,844 (INR 18.92 Lakhs) for a full-time student on 9 units per semester (18 units per year). The same structure applies across MS Computer Science, MS Software Engineering, MS Electrical and Electronic Engineering, MS Mechanical Engineering, MS Civil Engineering, and the MBA.

Source: California State University, Sacramento Bursar’s Office, Tuition, Fees & Living Costs, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

California State University, Sacramento Fee Trend by Year

Sacramento State’s base tuition and mandatory fees have climbed every year since 2021-22. The CSU Board of Trustees has locked in a 6% annual base tuition increase running from 2024-25 through 2028-29, and mandatory campus fees jumped sharply from 2024-25 to 2025-26 as Sac State restructured its Student Success Fee. The nonresident tuition surcharge for international students sits on top of these figures.

Source: Sacramento State Bursar’s Office fee history and CSU Multi-Year Tuition Increase Plan, fetched 4 August 2026 IST. International students add the nonresident surcharge of USD 471 (INR 44,900) per unit, worth USD 11,304 (INR 10.78 Lakhs) per year at a full 24-unit load.

Cost of Living in Sacramento for Indian Students at California State University, Sacramento

Sacramento State’s published Cost of Attendance estimate for living expenses is USD 24,718 (INR 23.56 Lakhs) per year, drawn from the university’s own figure as reported to the College Board. Sacramento is meaningfully cheaper than San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Jose, though pricier than most inland California cities.

Source: Sacramento State Cost of Attendance as published on College Board BigFuture, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

Grocery bills also come down sharply when you cook Indian food at home instead of leaning on the meal plan. A weekly grocery run at Ranch 99, India Bazaar Sacramento, or Sacramento Indian Grocers averages USD 60 to 80 (INR 5,720 to INR 7,626) for two people sharing a kitchen, roughly half the per-person cost of a full campus meal plan.

Total Cost of Studying at California State University, Sacramento

The full first-year budget at Sacramento State works out to INR 43.94 Lakhs for an international undergraduate and INR 42.88 Lakhs for an international Master’s student, both figures include tuition, mandatory campus fees, living costs, application fee, and the SEVIS I-901 fee.

One-Time Mandatory Fees include SEVIS I-901 fee USD 350 (INR 33,366) and Sac State international application fee USD 70 (INR 6,673). The F-1 visa MRV fee of USD 185 (INR 17,636) is paid to the US consulate, not to Sac State, and is listed separately in Section 7. Source: Sac State Bursar’s Office and US ICE SEVIS Fee page, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

The full 2-year Master’s total lands at USD 89,124 (INR 84.96 Lakhs) at the 2026-27 rate, before the CSU 6% tuition step for 2027-28. The 4-year Bachelor’s projects to roughly USD 182,712 (INR 1.74 Crore) if you enrol in Fall 2027, though the CSU tuition rise for 2027-28 and 2028-29 will push this higher.

If you fund the Sac State budget with an INR 40 Lakh Indian education loan at 10.5% over 10 years, the EMI is approximately INR 54,000 per month. Borrow INR 45 Lakhs and the EMI rises to about INR 60,500 per month. Both are recoverable against Sac State’s early-career salary of USD 64,876 (INR 61.85 Lakhs) per year, which works out to INR 5.15 Lakhs per month gross.

California State University, Sacramento Scholarships for Indian Students

Sac State is a public regional university with a modest institutional scholarship pool for international students. The Sac State-specific award that moves the numbers most for an Indian applicant is the International Student Fee Waiver, which discounts nonresident tuition on a per-unit basis. F-1 international students are not eligible for US federal financial aid, so the practical stack for Indian students is: Sac State Fee Waiver, plus one or two India-based external awards, plus an education loan from an Indian bank.

California State University, Sacramento Institutional Awards for International Students

Source: Sacramento State International Student Fee Waiver Program, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

External Indian Scholarships Open to California State University, Sacramento Students

These India-based awards are open to Indian citizens admitted to Master’s or PhD programmes abroad, including at Sacramento State. Most cycles close between January and April each year, so line up your Fall 2027 applications by late 2026.

Source: Foundation and trust websites of each awarding body, verified 4 August 2026 IST.

California State University, Sacramento Tuition Deposit and Payment Options

Sacramento State does not charge a separate tuition deposit at admission. What you clear before the I-20 is issued is the financial affidavit showing minimum USD 43,336 (INR 41.30 Lakhs) proof of funds. Full semester tuition and fees are then due at the registration payment deadline for each term.

Methods of Payment for California State University, Sacramento International Students

• Bank wire or telegraphic transfer from an Indian bank to Sacramento State’s designated account, typically 3 to 5 business days to clear
• Convera (formerly Western Union GlobalPay for Students) or Flywire international payment platforms, both lock the USD amount in INR and often save 2 to 3 percent over a raw wire
• International forex card in USD from ICICI, HDFC, Axis, or SBI, useful for smaller add-on charges after the main tuition transfer
• Education loan disbursement direct to Sacramento State from SBI Global Ed-Vantage, HDFC Credila, Avanse Financial Services, InCred, or Auxilo

Steps to Pay Tuition Fee at California State University, Sacramento for International Students

1. Accept your admission offer through Cal State Apply and your Sac State student portal
2. Submit the financial affidavit with proof of USD 43,336 (INR 41.30 Lakhs) in liquid funds to intldocs@csus.edu
3. Receive your I-20 by email or courier from Sacramento State International Admissions
4. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 33,366) at fmjfee.com and schedule your F-1 visa appointment at the US consulate
5. Register for classes at the start of your semester and pay full tuition plus fees by the published registration payment deadline in your student portal
6. Save every payment receipt (SEVIS, tuition transfer, visa, health insurance) for your visa file and later loan-reimbursement records

Sacramento State also offers a monthly payment plan through the Bursar’s Office that splits each semester’s tuition and fees into instalments. Enrolment is a separate opt-in through the student portal and a small service charge applies per instalment. Late instalments trigger a hold on registration for the following term.

Source: Sacramento State Bursar’s Office, Tuition, Fees & Living Costs and International Graduate Applicants, fetched 4 August 2026 IST.

Hidden Costs of Studying at California State University, Sacramento

For the Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 intake, the two hidden costs that hit early are the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 33,366), payable before your F-1 visa interview, and mandatory health insurance enrolment at Sacramento State, which averages USD 2,000 to 2,500 (INR 1.91 to 2.38 Lakhs) per year.

• SEVIS I-901 fee: USD 350 (INR 33,366), paid once at fmjfee.com before your F-1 visa interview
• F-1 visa MRV fee: currently USD 185 (INR 17,636), paid at the US consulate at the time of application
• Mandatory student health insurance: USD 2,000 to 2,500 (INR 1.91 to 2.38 Lakhs) per year, billed to your Sac State student account each semester
• English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo): INR 15,000 to 20,000 per attempt, budget for one retake if scores fall short
• One-time setup after arrival (apartment security deposit, bedding, kitchenware, winter clothing): USD 1,500 to 2,000 (INR 1.43 to 1.91 Lakhs)
• Bank remittance charges from India: 0.5 to 2 percent per transfer, plus 18 percent GST on the FX conversion margin
• Return flight during summer break (SFO or SMF to major Indian metros): INR 90,000 to 1.5 Lakhs each way

Budget approximately INR 4 to 6 Lakhs for first-year hidden costs on top of the tuition and living totals in Section 4.

Fee Saving Strategies for Indian Students at California State University, Sacramento

The single most urgent saving lever for your Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 intake is the International Student Fee Waiver, submitted through the Sac State AcademicWorks portal. A full waiver on 18 grad units saves USD 7,992 (INR 7.62 Lakhs) per year, roughly one-third of the annual tuition bill.

• Apply for the International Student Fee Waiver in the November 2026 window: up to USD 444 (INR 42,327) per unit off nonresident tuition, saving up to INR 7.62 Lakhs a year on an 18-unit Master’s load
• Optimise your course load: 9 grad units per semester (18 units per year) meets full-time F-1 requirements while minimising per-unit nonresident tuition compared with a 12-unit load, difference of USD 2,826 (INR 2.69 Lakhs) per year
• Live off-campus in a shared 2BR apartment near Sac State: saves INR 6 to 7 Lakhs per year versus on-campus double room plus meal plan
• Work up to 20 hours per week on-campus as a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant, F-1 rules permit it and Sac State GA/TA pay ranges USD 15 to 22 (INR 1,430 to INR 2,097) per hour
• Use OPT (Optional Practical Training, 12 months of post-completion work authorisation) after your degree, plus the 24-month STEM extension if your MS Computer Science, MS Engineering, or other STEM Master’s qualifies, giving up to 3 years of paid US work rights
• Claim Section 80E interest deduction on your Indian education loan for up to 8 years, which materially cuts your effective borrowing cost

Is California State University, Sacramento Worth the Cost for Indian Students

At a full 2-year Master’s cost of INR 84.96 Lakhs and an early-career median salary of USD 64,876 (INR 61.85 Lakhs) per year for Sacramento State bachelor’s graduates, the payback for a STEM Master’s plus 3-year OPT (STEM extension) typically lands in 3 to 5 years post-graduation.

Sacramento State is ranked #22 in Regional Universities West in the US News Best Colleges 2026 edition, and #9 in Top Performers on Social Mobility in the same ranking. Median salary six years after graduation is USD 51,074 (INR 48.69 Lakhs) per year, and student retention runs at 81 percent, above the national average for regional public universities.

Post-graduation, F-1 Master’s students qualify for 12 months of OPT (Optional Practical Training, work authorisation attached to your F-1 visa). If your degree is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List (which covers MS Computer Science, MS Software Engineering, MS Computer Engineering, MS Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and MS Mechanical Engineering at Sac State), you can add a 24-month STEM extension, giving 3 full years of paid US work rights before you need an H-1B sponsor.

An INR 40 Lakh education loan carries an EMI of approximately INR 54,000 per month over 10 years at 10.5 percent. Set that against a Sacramento State early-career salary of INR 5.15 Lakhs per month (USD 64,876 divided by 12, converted at INR 95.33 per USD), and the EMI takes about 10 percent of gross monthly pay, comfortably within a serviceable band even before tax benefits kick in.