Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $26,488. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for California residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $7,950 | $20,550 |
| Housing & meals | $17,955 | $17,955 |
| Books & supplies | $1,099 | $1,099 |
| Personal & travel | $3,978 | $3,978 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,494 | −$4,494 |
| Total cost of attendance | $26,488 | $39,088 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
College Scorecard
San Francisco State University net price compared with other California colleges
San Francisco State University has the 32nd-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Feather River Community College District | $10,800 | 35% | $38,142 |
| 29 | Bethesda University | $11,097 | 11% | — |
| 30 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $11,531 | 68% | $71,902 |
| 31 | University of California-Merced | $11,983 | 69% | $64,368 |
| 32 | San Francisco State University | $12,278 | 50% | $68,077 |
| 33 | University of California-San Diego | $12,470 | 86% | $84,943 |
| 34 | University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | 93% | $82,511 |
| 35 | Sonoma State University | $12,885 | 58% | $65,986 |
| 36 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | $13,171 | 49% | $47,626 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →
Why San Francisco State University costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University | 96% | $12,278 | 50% | $68,077 | This school |
| California State University-Los Angeles | 91% | $3,967 | 53% | $59,211 | |
| California State University-San Marcos | 95% | $10,229 | 55% | $62,908 | |
| California State University-Fresno | 95% | $7,000 | 57% | $61,244 | |
| California State University-San Bernardino | 94% | $4,564 | 55% | $59,977 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
San Francisco State University would cost you $8,311 more per year than California State University-Los Angeles, on average.
- Higher sticker price at San Francisco State University, mostly from more California State University-Los Angeles students living at home, which lowers its average (+$10,790).
- California State University-Los Angeles gives aided families $226 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | San Francisco State University | California State University-Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $7,950 | $7,160 | +$790 |
| Books & supplies | $1,099 | $1,011 | +$88 |
| Housing & meals | $17,955 | $18,658 | −$703 |
| Personal & travel | $3,978 | $6,858 | −$2,880 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,494 | −$15,284 | +$10,790 |
| Sticker price | $26,488 | $18,403 | +$8,085 |
| Average grants | −$14,210 | −$14,436 | +$226 |
| You pay | $12,278 | $3,967 | +$8,311 |
“+” means San Francisco State University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
San Francisco State University cost questions
How much is tuition at San Francisco State University?
Tuition and fees are $7,950 a year for California residents and $20,550 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending San Francisco State University?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $26,488 a year for California residents living on campus and about $39,088 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at San Francisco State University?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $12,278 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $9,341; $48–75k pay $11,825; $110k+ pay $22,523. These figures are for California residents.
How much debt do San Francisco State University graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $12,923, and 4.3% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to San Francisco State University overview