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San Francisco State University
Admission at San Francisco State University is close to open (96.4%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $68,077 median earnings below before the application.
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San Francisco State University sits in San Francisco proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $150,102 four years out. 42.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 18,639 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 82.7% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
San Francisco State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, San Francisco State University received 29,878 applications and admitted 28,727 (96.1%), with 2,985 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. San Francisco State University's 96.4% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How San Francisco State University compares
| San Francisco State University | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 96.4% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,950 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $68,077 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors San Francisco State University: $68,077 median at year ten, versus $64,778 across California institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $7,950 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $20,550. For non-residents, San Francisco State University's $20,550 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
San Francisco State University is a big school: 18,639 undergraduates at last count.
50.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 50% don't — ask a San Francisco State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at San Francisco State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $150,102 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $112,454 |
| Computer Science | $105,166 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $102,104 |
| Computer Engineering | $94,129 |
| Civil Engineering | $90,894 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $86,425 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $85,037 |
| Economics | $82,697 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $81,587 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $78,310 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $76,134 |
| International Business | $75,824 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $75,207 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $74,482 |
| Biology, General | $74,204 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,775 |
| Marketing | $71,691 |
| Mathematics | $71,323 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $70,532 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $70,207 |
| Social Work | $68,524 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $68,440 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $65,775 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $65,510 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $65,252 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,764 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $63,731 |
| Geography and Cartography | $63,590 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $62,623 |
| Sociology | $62,385 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $62,116 |
| Political Science and Government | $61,915 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $61,895 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $61,603 |
| Anthropology | $61,300 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $59,993 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $59,990 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $59,678 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,056 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $59,032 |
| History | $58,717 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,617 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $58,550 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $58,530 |
| Journalism | $57,260 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $56,297 |
| Psychology, General | $55,902 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $55,212 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $53,575 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $48,959 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $47,149 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $45,722 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,848 |
| Dance | $44,627 |
| Philosophy | $42,993 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $42,868 |
| Music | $38,639 |
Median earnings for these 58 San Francisco State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $68,077 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 26 additional San Francisco State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University doesn't look at test scores; its 96.4% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is San Francisco State University's acceptance rate?
96.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 28,727 admitted from 29,878 applicants.
How much does San Francisco State University cost?
In-state tuition is $7,950; out-of-state students pay $20,550. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do San Francisco State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $68,077 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- William Jessup University — 93.3% admitted
- Shasta Bible College and Graduate School — 100% admitted
- Simpson University — 86% admitted
- Saint Mary's College of California — 86.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.