Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California. 18,639 undergraduates. Admits 96% of applicants.

50%Graduation rate4 pts below the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$9,803Average net price per year51% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$73,299Median earnings 10 years after starting24% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$15,000Median debt at graduation31% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($15,000) equals 20% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($73,299). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$6,699
$30,000–$48,000$7,385
$48,001–$75,000$8,572
$75,001–$110,000$12,150
Over $110,000$20,813

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $8,324 in-state, $21,644 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate50%54%
Return for second year83%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$56,619$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$73,299$58,912
Median debt at graduation$15,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

134 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing182$145,008$159,614$16,485
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering33$85,968$120,418$18,839
Computer Engineering37$74,592$117,801$21,000
Computer Science369$70,632$110,881$18,376
Mechanical Engineering72$74,869$110,346$18,500
Civil Engineering61$82,059$94,613$23,583
Computer and Information Sciences, General—$69,099$90,467—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology42$62,350$87,502$17,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$52,038$84,362—
Social Work21$44,889$81,926$22,725
Marketing——$81,867—
Biology, General339$44,755$80,153$15,125
Business Administration, Management and Operations980$53,836$79,589$16,209
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services29$35,631$79,443$19,750
Mathematics35—$79,168$14,770
Economics56$51,760$77,035$19,000
Nutrition Sciences57$36,231$76,679$20,000
Urban Studies/Affairs12$62,498$71,682—
Criminal Justice and Corrections176$42,419$71,641$14,741
History48$33,600$71,419$18,019
Design and Applied Arts193$43,685$71,079$17,000
Hospitality Administration/Management15$52,160$71,060—
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General31$48,894$70,607$18,625
Geography and Cartography27$43,637$70,244—
Political Science and Government114$45,925$70,031$13,810
Sociology118$47,995$69,087$15,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research57$44,855$68,660$14,125
Communication and Media Studies211$48,274$68,651$15,000
Apparel and Textiles59$35,725$65,190$19,125
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness144$42,540$64,922$13,084
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies10$40,746$64,204—
Journalism36$40,270$63,536$15,316
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication107$40,506$62,966$20,000
Human Resources Management and Services6—$62,926—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas1—$62,894—
Psychology, General452$40,742$62,525$13,562
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies65$43,013$61,047$18,996
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities49$43,229$60,724$17,875
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General3—$59,555—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods210$45,013$59,411$12,500
Chemistry13$58,948——
English Language and Literature, General95$37,226$58,899$15,457
International Relations and National Security Studies30$41,658$57,409$13,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft36$29,663$56,238$15,979
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies36$40,228$55,308$18,750
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16$38,298$55,061—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts185$32,668$50,172$16,619
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics15$54,778$49,141—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services5—$48,569—
Fine and Studio Arts87$31,796$46,519$18,806
Dance5—$42,096—
Anthropology20$42,054—$19,193
Philosophy16$41,164—$16,152
Music25$36,891$34,292$18,812
Area Studies2———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Applied Mathematics10———
Statistics8———
Religion/Religious Studies3———
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other2———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences5———
Physics15———
Public Health130——$16,000

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

96%Admission rate
19:1Students per faculty member
46%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does San Francisco State University cost per year?
The average net price at San Francisco State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $9,803 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do San Francisco State University graduates earn?
Former San Francisco State University students earn a median of $73,299 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at San Francisco State University?
50% of San Francisco State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do San Francisco State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from San Francisco State University is $15,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.