At a glance
Average net price
$12,278
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
50.4%
Admission rate
96%
Undergrad size
18,639
In-state tuition
$7,950
Out-of-state tuition
$20,550
Cost of attendance
$26,488
Median earnings (10y)
$68,077
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 82.7%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
24 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by humanities & arts (23%), social sciences (23%), stem (21%).
- STEM21%
- Health7%
- Business19%
- Humanities & arts23%
- Social sciences23%
- Trades & services6%
- Business19.0%~3,543 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~1,924 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Psychology8.7%~1,629 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~1,390 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~1,353 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Computer science7.2%~1,346 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences7.0%~1,297 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Communication6.8%~1,267 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education4.1%~766 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Engineering4.0%~742 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~619 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~561 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- English2.5%~472 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~222 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~211 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~211 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~207 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics1.0%~188 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.9%~173 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- History0.9%~162 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~114 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~106 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~78 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~60 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 2,337 | $46,360 | $15,000 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 877 | $29,678 | $15,000 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 731 | $38,903 | $15,000 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 600 | $55,088 | $16,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 499 | $38,565 | $12,692 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 493 | $42,620 | $15,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 470 | $37,329 | $13,518 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor's | 421 | $24,940 | $17,850 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 372 | $37,384 | $18,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 359 | $28,883 | $17,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 358 | $99,655 | $16,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 286 | $34,408 | $17,683 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 279 | $37,633 | $15,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 260 | $31,355 | $17,243 |
| Education, General. | Master's | 254 | $54,704 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Graduate certificate | 240 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 216 | $37,487 | $17,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 206 | $27,781 | $18,511 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 200 | $35,417 | $17,875 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | Bachelor's | 191 | $24,267 | $17,137 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 166 | $41,041 | $18,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 148 | $34,650 | $15,467 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 145 | $65,759 | $22,047 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 125 | $33,036 | $15,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master's | 124 | $60,016 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 120 | $77,510 | — |
| Apparel and Textiles. | Bachelor's | 119 | $35,641 | $20,000 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor's | 118 | $65,046 | $18,873 |
| Biology, General. | Master's | 111 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor's | 107 | $33,835 | $16,750 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 101 | $43,709 | $13,750 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 98 | $34,794 | $16,150 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Master's | 96 | $45,263 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 91 | $113,349 | — |
| Psychology, General. | Master's | 84 | — | — |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 83 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 81 | $36,024 | $15,675 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Bachelor's | 80 | $31,065 | $19,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master's | 78 | $70,258 | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Bachelor's | 78 | $45,806 | $14,400 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a very large institution located in San Francisco, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 18,639 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Visual & performing arts, Psychology.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at San Francisco State University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $12,278 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $7,950 for in-state students and $20,550 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $26,488 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 50.4%, a above-average completion outcome. 82.7% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $68,077 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
San Francisco State University confers degrees and certificates across 24 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Visual & performing arts, Psychology. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by humanities & arts (23% of credentials), social sciences (23% of credentials), stem (21% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission.
Location & campus
Set in San Francisco, California (city), San Francisco State University draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about San Francisco State University
Q.How much does San Francisco State University cost?
The average net price at San Francisco State University is $12,278 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $26,488.
Q.What is the graduation rate at San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University has a 6-year graduation rate of 50.4% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University admits 96% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do San Francisco State University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median San Francisco State University graduate earns $68,077 per year.
Q.What is tuition at San Francisco State University?
Published tuition is $7,950 in-state and $20,550 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is San Francisco State University located?
San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California (ZIP 94132).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with San Francisco State University at their official website.