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San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · City · 18,639 students
WebsiteForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$12,278
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
50%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$68,077
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
96%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

Located near Lake Merced in southwest San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a major public institution renowned for its legacy of student activism and deep commitment to social justice. Academically, the university is anchored by standout programs including its acclaimed School of Cinema, the Lam Family College of Business, and the nation’s first and only standalone College of Ethnic Studies. Campus life is diverse, creative, and civically engaged, providing students with a collaborative urban environment and direct professional pipelines into the Bay Area’s thriving arts, non-profit, and tech sectors.

Wikipedia:San Francisco State University is a public research university in San Francisco, California, United States. It was established in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School and is part of the California State University system.

Location
San Francisco, CA, 94132 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SFO · San Francisco
9 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$7,950$20,550
Housing & food (on campus)$22,266$22,266
Books & supplies$1,100$1,100
Cost of attendance$38,238$39,088 est.
Average net price$12,278Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$20,550
In-state: $7,950
Housing & food (on campus)$22,266
Books & supplies$1,100
Cost of attendance$39,088 est.
In-state: $38,238
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $12,278
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: financialaid.sfsu.edu
How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27
San Francisco State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$6,838
Fees$1,986
Housing$18,270
Food$5,620
Books & supplies$1,100
Personal expenses$2,796
Transportation$1,566
Total published by the school$38,238
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$9,341
$30–48k
$9,867
$48–75k
$11,825
$75–110k
$14,556
$110k+
$22,523
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
50%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
28%
Back for yr 2
83%
Transferred
6%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
57% graduated · 29% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 13% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$52,650
10 yrs after entry$68,077
Debt
Median at graduation$15,371
Monthly payment$163
Middle 50% owe$6k–$23.5k
90th percentile$31,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
96%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If San Francisco State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 46%Women 54%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
19 : 1
Pell grant
42%
First-gen
48%
Family income
$27,895
Independent
27%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
18%
Race & ethnicity
White
15%
Hispanic
40%
Black
7%
Asian
23%
Two or more
6%
Non-resident
4%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
4%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$52,650
After 10 yrs
$68,077
Business Administration, Management and Operations1023
Psychology, General479
Biology, General369
Computer Science307
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods241
Communication and Media Studies229
Criminal Justice and Corrections204
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing196
Film/Video and Photographic Arts195
Design and Applied Arts178
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness173
Sociology157
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication129
English Language and Literature, General117
Fine and Studio Arts102
Political Science and Government99
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$176M
Full-time faculty
53%
Faculty salary
$13,199/mo
Teaching spend
$10,604
per student
Federal loans
23%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R2 — high research
$42M research spending · 22 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

Wondering if San Francisco State University is the right fit for you?

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