Sacramento City College vs California State University-San Marcos
CERT programs compared — side-by-side on NCLEX pass rates, tuition, admissions, and format.
At a glance
Side-by-side details
Best value in each row is highlighted.
| Sacramento City College Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | California State University-San Marcos Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | |
|---|---|---|
| Program type | CERT | CERT |
| Format | in person | in person |
| Location | Sacramento, CA | San Marcos, CA |
| Length | 12 months | 12 months |
| NCLEX pass rate | 100%BEST | 95.2% |
| Acceptance rate | — | 95.7% |
| Avg accepted GPA | — | — |
| Min GPA | — | — |
| Entrance exam | — | — |
| Total tuition | $1,288 in / $12,808 outBEST | $7,739 in / $19,619 out |
| In-state tuition | $1,288BEST | $7,739 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $12,808BEST | $19,619 |
| Clinical placement | — | — |
| Accreditation | SCORECARD_BASELINE | SCORECARD_BASELINE |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has a higher NCLEX pass rate, Sacramento City College or California State University-San Marcos?
Sacramento City College's CERT program has the higher first-attempt NCLEX pass rate at 100%, compared to 95.2% for the other program. NCLEX pass rates are the single best signal of how well a program prepares students for licensure.
Which is cheaper, Sacramento City College or California State University-San Marcos?
Sacramento City College is the more affordable option at roughly $1,288, compared to $7,739. Factor in residency status, financial aid, and program length when deciding — total cost matters more than annual tuition.
Are Sacramento City College and California State University-San Marcos the same type of program?
Both are CERT programs, so they award the same credential. Compare them on NCLEX pass rate, tuition, length, and location to find the better fit.
How do I decide between Sacramento City College and California State University-San Marcos?
Start by ruling out programs you can't get into (compare your GPA against each school's admissions stats), then weight what matters most — NCLEX pass rate for quality, total tuition for cost, length for time-to-degree, and format (online, hybrid, in-person) for lifestyle. Use NurseWay's free intake to get a personalized fit score for both.
Want a personalized fit score?
Take the free 3-minute intake and we'll rank both programs against your GPA, location preferences, and budget.