Colleges in San Francisco, California
18 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 18 colleges and universities in San Francisco, California (7 Private for-profit, 7 Private nonprofit, 4 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 18 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $32,354 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 61.5%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 76% of applicants.
The median net price in San Francisco runs about $11,643 higher than the California statewide median of $20,711.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in San Francisco, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$32,354
After aid
Median grad rate
61.5%
6-year
Median admission rate
76%
Median enrollment
226
Undergrad
All colleges in San Francisco
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | $12,278 | 50.4% | 96% | 18,639 | Complete | |
| City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | CA | Public, 2-year | $6,906 | 40.1% | Not available | 17,348 | Partial | |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $41,431 | 70.1% | 62% | 5,287 | Complete | |
| Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $40,613 | 34.3% | Not available | 3,587 | Complete | |
| California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $53,909 | 61.2% | 91% | 990 | Complete | |
| Minerva University San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 3% | 637 | Partial | |
| Golden Gate University San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 259 | Partial | |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $42,607 | 73.7% | 55% | 226 | Complete | |
| Bay Area Medical Academy San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $27,042 | 52.2% | Not available | 209 | Partial | |
| EDvance College San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 100% | 201 | Partial | |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $18,333 | 86.7% | Not available | 167 | Partial | |
| San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $33,402 | Not available | Not available | 139 | Partial | |
| San Francisco Film School San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $32,354 | 66.7% | Not available | 127 | Partial | |
| Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $18,204 | 61.7% | Not available | 117 | Partial | |
| California Institute of Integral Studies San Francisco, CA | CA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 38 | Partial | |
| University of California College of the Law-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| University of California-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Miami Ad School-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private for-profit (7)
Private for-profit colleges in San Francisco operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Academy of Art UniversityNet price: $40,613Grad: 34.3%
- Bay Area Medical AcademyNet price: $27,042Grad: 52.2%
- San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology IncNet price: $18,333Grad: 86.7%
- San Francisco School of Massage & BodyworkNet price: $33,402Grad: Not available
- San Francisco Film SchoolNet price: $32,354Grad: 66.7%
- Cinta Aveda InstituteNet price: $18,204Grad: 61.7%
- Miami Ad School-San FranciscoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private nonprofit (7)
Private nonprofit colleges in San Francisco are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- University of San FranciscoNet price: $41,431Grad: 70.1%
- California College of the ArtsNet price: $53,909Grad: 61.2%
- Minerva UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Golden Gate UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- San Francisco Conservatory of MusicNet price: $42,607Grad: 73.7%
- EDvance CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- California Institute of Integral StudiesNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (4)
Public colleges in San Francisco are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- San Francisco State UniversityNet price: $12,278Grad: 50.4%
- City College of San FranciscoNet price: $6,906Grad: 40.1%
- University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- University of California-San FranciscoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in San Francisco
Most-completed programs across San Francisco colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business12.6% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts10.4% of degrees
- Health professions9.8% of degrees
- Family & consumer sci8.4% of degrees
- Computer science7.9% of degrees
- Liberal arts6.5% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.4% of degrees
- Psychology5.2% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in San Francisco
Q.How many colleges are in San Francisco, California?
There are 18 colleges and universities in San Francisco, California that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 7 Private for-profit, 7 Private nonprofit, 4 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in San Francisco?
By undergraduate enrollment, San Francisco State University is the largest institution in San Francisco with roughly 18,639 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in San Francisco?
Based on average net price after aid, City College of San Francisco is the most affordable institution in San Francisco at $6,906 per year.
Q.Which San Francisco college has the highest graduation rate?
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among San Francisco institutions at 86.7%.
Q.What is the average tuition in San Francisco?
The median net price across all 18 colleges in San Francisco is $32,354 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in San Francisco?
Across San Francisco colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Visual & performing arts, Health professions.
Q.Are there community colleges in San Francisco?
Yes — San Francisco includes 4 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in California
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in San Francisco that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.