Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
San Francisco State University is a public national university located in San Francisco, California. San Francisco State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at San Francisco State University is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $60,126 10 years after enrolling, 41st in California, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, San Francisco State University bachelor students earn 12% more than the national average. San Francisco State University is ranked 25th in California.
San Francisco State University’s median net annual cost of $14,459 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at San Francisco State University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Psychology, Biology, Comms & Media Studies, Education, Computer Science - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$14,459
Average years to graduate
4.7
Registered Nursing
Rank: #16
Economic score: 0.53
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #20
Economic score: 2.14
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #29
Economic score: 2.15
Criminal Justice
Rank: #31
Economic score: 2.47
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #25
Economic score: 2.69
Health & Fitness
Rank: #33
Economic score: 2.9
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #10
Economic score: 2.95
Sociology
Rank: #36
Economic score: 2.96
English Language & Lit
Rank: #158
Economic score: 6.13
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #45
Economic score: 10.65
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at San Francisco State University - Education, Business Administration, Special Education, Registered Nursing, English Language & Lit, Student Counseling - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Public Administration
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.23
Accounting
Rank: #151
Economic score: 0.32
Social Work
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.33
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.43
History
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.46
Ethnic/Gender studies
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.61
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #15
Economic score: 0.65
Public Health
Rank: #87
Economic score: 0.79
Rhetoric & Composition
Rank: #38
Economic score: 1.15
Philosophy
Rank: #2
Economic score: 3.01
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 69% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at San Francisco State University is 1% higher than the state average, and 1% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At San Francisco State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the measured graduating class, 8% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at San Francisco State University graduates within 4.7 years.
San Francisco State University is in the top 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
San Francisco State University’s economic mobility score of 37.82 is calculated by adjusting the 1.26 economic score of lower-income students by the 43% pell grant recipients within the student body. San Francisco State University’s EMS of 37.82 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at San Francisco State University pays $14,459 a year, $12,686 less than the $27,145 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $14,459
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At San Francisco State University, 72% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $14,459 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 20% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,109. This is 34% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,829
Pell grants
$5,079
State grants
$2,537
Institutional grants
$5,953
San Francisco State University offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
1
Hybrid programs
1
Percentage of programs online
1%
San Francisco State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 93% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 27,777 applicants, of which 25,809 were admitted and 3,149 enrolled. San Francisco State University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
89%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
44%
59%
In-state
97%
68%
1st generation
48%
35%
White
16%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
36%
15%
Asian
26%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
16%
12%