San Francisco State University
Public four-year university in San Francisco, CA that costs an average of $9,803 a year after financial aid, admits 96% of applicants and graduates 50% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$9,803
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
50%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$73,299
PublicLarge city18,639 undergraduates
Cost of San Francisco State University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $25,244 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,324 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $21,644 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $23,890 |
| Books and supplies | $1,100 |
| Average net price after aid | $9,803 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $6,699 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $7,385 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $8,572 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $12,150 |
| $110,001+ | $20,813 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with San Francisco State University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 96% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 50% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $56,619 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $73,299 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 55th of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $15,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $170 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 46% |
| Students with federal loans | 22% |
Majors and programs at San Francisco State University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (78)
Certificate programs (11)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | — | — | — |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | — | — | — |
| Social Work | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | $136,839 | $12,500 |
| Legal Support Services | — | $63,556 | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | $27,125 | $12,928 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Science, Technology and Society | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (71)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 70 | $154,646 | $66,841 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 38 | $105,672 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 121 | $100,581 | $41,300 |
| Public Administration | 71 | $89,556 | $41,100 |
| Social Work | 85 | $87,992 | $34,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 75 | $84,897 | $36,436 |
| Education | 181 | $80,045 | $22,200 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 59 | $80,039 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 86 | $77,155 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | $76,221 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 106 | $74,781 | $33,065 |
| Public Health | 27 | $73,971 | — |
| Biology | 115 | $67,972 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 21 | $64,525 | — |
| Museology/Museum Studies | 20 | $61,321 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 82 | $50,409 | $41,000 |
| Psychology | 61 | $50,309 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 57 | $36,516 | $66,596 |
| Anthropology | 11 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 11 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 16 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 20 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 20 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 20 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 13 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 70 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 63 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 14 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 10 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 14 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | — | — | — |
| Economics | 26 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 1 | — | — |
| Engineering | 45 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 42 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 11 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 33 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 14 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 18 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 5 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Gerontology | 16 | — | — |
| History | 32 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 31 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 6 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 7 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 52 | — | — |
| Marine Sciences | 19 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 34 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Music | 24 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 42 | — | — |
| Physics | 31 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 20 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 11 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 12 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 2 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 29 | — | — |
| Statistics | 16 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 40 | $135,857 | $61,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $92,499 | — |
| Education | 2 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 98 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (52)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Apparel and Textiles | — | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | — | — |
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | — | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | — | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | — | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Marketing | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | — | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Science, Technology and Society | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | $18,549 | 66% | $73,362 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $2,385 | 91% | $62,555 |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | $5,418 | 95% | $62,756 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | $18,832 | 31% | $96,304 |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside | $12,672 | 76% | $72,974 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | $16,807 | 33% | $82,568 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | $3,946 | 94% | $61,951 |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | $10,939 | 95% | $67,217 |
About San Francisco State University
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Setting | Large city |
| Undergraduates | 18,639 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | sfsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is San Francisco State University's acceptance rate?
San Francisco State University admits 96% of applicants.
How much does San Francisco State University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $25,244 a year (tuition and fees: $8,324 in-state, $21,644 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $9,803 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $6,699.
How much do San Francisco State University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $73,299 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 55th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($145,008 a year after graduation).
What is San Francisco State University's graduation rate?
50% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 83% of first-year students return for a second year.