San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Large city

96%Acceptance rate
$12,278Average net price / year
50%Graduation rate
$68,077Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$15,371Median debt at graduation
18,639Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$7,950
Out-of-state tuition
$20,550
Total cost of attendance
$26,488
Room & board
$22,266
Books & supplies
$1,100
Average net price
$12,278

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$9,341
$30–48k
$9,867
$48–75k
$11,825
$75–110k
$14,556
$110k+
$22,523

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
96.4%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
50%
First-year retention
83%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$52,650
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$68,077
Median debt (graduates)
$15,371
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
42%
Students with federal loans
23%

Programs: what graduates earn

88 of 220 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Legal Support Services—$92,546—

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing196$117,532$15,233
Mechanical Engineering70$72,647$21,250
Civil Engineering53$68,256$17,500
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering32$67,345$16,125
Finance and Financial Management Services—$62,778$15,128
Accounting and Related Services—$60,607$12,971
International Business—$58,560$20,897
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology—$56,071$24,186
Computer Engineering30$53,180$13,750
Computer and Information Sciences, General—$52,288$18,750
Marketing—$52,072$12,408
Computer Science307$50,553$17,353
Urban Studies/Affairs9$50,008$18,625
Social Work24$48,750—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods—$48,546$20,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations1,023$48,184$15,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General74$47,367$18,250
Economics43$46,310$13,625
Human Resources Management and Services5$46,041—
Mathematics25$44,257$16,750
Chemistry20$44,140—
Criminal Justice and Corrections204$42,211$14,992
Zoology/Animal Biology—$41,565$11,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$40,794$19,000
Communication and Media Studies229$40,790$13,703
Sociology157$40,763$15,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods241$38,237$12,500
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences—$36,707$16,750
Political Science and Government99$36,502$16,200
Biology, General369$36,259$15,000
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General4$35,977$16,702
Design and Applied Arts178$34,845$15,000
Psychology, General479$34,803$15,000
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology—$34,764—
Hospitality Administration/Management25$34,153$14,125
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies16$32,431$16,689
English Language and Literature, General117$32,339$16,743
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities51$32,112$15,250
Journalism32$31,788$15,000
Music27$31,621$15,500
International Relations and National Security Studies49$31,254$16,625
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies83$31,001$17,303
Nutrition Sciences81$30,620$16,461
Apparel and Textiles62$30,082$17,625
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication129$28,753$17,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research49$28,749$14,087
History64$28,718$15,000
Philosophy34$28,539$15,750
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies18$28,427$16,500
Anthropology23$28,314$16,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services29$27,296$16,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness173$26,176$17,250
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14$25,242$14,387
Geography and Cartography17$24,875$16,359
Fine and Studio Arts102$24,606$17,610
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft38$23,004$17,940
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics28$19,861$15,750
Film/Video and Photographic Arts195$18,654$17,375
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas0$65,728—
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services0$48,863—
Dance9$44,627—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology40$51,709$14,986
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services10$48,959—

Post-baccalaureate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Legal Support Services—$57,920$12,500
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs—$29,317$12,500

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Educational Administration and Supervision25$114,984$61,250
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions0$85,961—

Students

Undergraduates
18,639
Graduate students
3,574
Part-time
18%
Women / men
54% / 46%
White
15%
Hispanic
40%
Black
7%
Asian
23%
International
4%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
19:1
Avg faculty salary
$118,791 / year
Full-time faculty
53%
Accreditor
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Website
www.sfsu.edu
Also known as
NA

Most popular fields

  • Communication & Journalism – 6% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 7% of degrees
  • Education – 4% of degrees
  • Engineering – 3% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 8% of degrees
  • Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 4% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at San Francisco State University?

96.4% of applicants were admitted.

How much does San Francisco State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $12,278 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $7,950 and the full cost of attendance is $26,488.

How much do San Francisco State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $68,077 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

50% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in San Francisco

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Public · 17,348 students
$6,906—40%$45,805
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 5,287 students
$41,43162%70%$89,812
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 3,587 students
$40,613—34%$39,008
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 990 students
$53,90991%61%$49,414
Minerva University
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 637 students
—3%——
Golden Gate University
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 259 students
———$87,434
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 226 students
$42,60755%74%—
Bay Area Medical Academy
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 209 students
$27,042—52%—
EDvance College
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 201 students
—100%——
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 167 students
$18,333—87%$32,926

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.