What San Francisco State costs
San Francisco State University charges $7,950 a year in published tuition and fees for California residents, about $3,975 a semester, and $20,550 a year for students from other states, about $10,275 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $26,488 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $12,912 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
San Francisco State University takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into San Francisco State
For fall 2024, San Francisco State University received 28,221 applications and admitted 27,215 students, and 2,340 enrolled as first-years.
What San Francisco State students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at San Francisco State University (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 941 |
| Psychology | 442 |
| Computer Science | 365 |
| Biology / Biological Sciences | 336 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 207 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 204 |
| Film / Cinema / Media Studies | 184 |
| Registered Nursing / Registered Nurse | 181 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges near San Francisco State
Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California: about 4 miles away
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California: about 16 miles away
- Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, California: about 22 miles away
- California State University, East Bay, Hayward, California: about 24 miles away
- Menlo College, Atherton, California: about 24 miles away
- Stanford University, Stanford, California: about 27 miles away
Colleges like San Francisco State
Large public universities with the same campus setting (big city), closest in size and nearest in region:
- California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California: 19,562 undergraduates
- California State University, Fresno, Fresno, California: 21,605 undergraduates
- University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California: 22,593 undergraduates
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii: 15,029 undergraduates
- San Jose State University, San Jose, California: 27,601 undergraduates
See more colleges like San Francisco State in the College Filter →
Lists that include San Francisco State
- Colleges in California: 61 Compared
- Large Public Universities: 124 Compared
- Large Public Universities on the West Coast: 25 Compared
- Division II Colleges: 151 Compared
- Division II Colleges on the West Coast: 21 Compared
- Big-City Colleges: 219 Compared
- Big-City Colleges on the West Coast: 32 Compared
FAQ
What is San Francisco State University's acceptance rate? 96.4% for fall 2024: 27,215 of 28,221 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at San Francisco State University? $7,950 a year for in-state students and $20,550 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is San Francisco State University part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with San Francisco State University about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to San Francisco State University? About 18,600 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is the campus setting at San Francisco State University? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as a big city.
Sources
- College Navigator: San Francisco State University (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: San Francisco State University
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
