San Francisco, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for San Francisco, California shows: median public in-state tuition $27,183 (+393.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $68,077 (+25.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,875 (+55.4% vs U.S.) 47,971 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 18 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 47,971 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $27,183 (+393.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $68,077 (+25.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.7% (-3.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $32,354 (+224.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,875 (+55.4% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 61.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 85.2%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in San Francisco, California—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
San Francisco vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $27,183 | $32,354 | $20,875 | 61.2% | 47,971 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: San Francisco, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $68,077 | 84.7% | 85.2% | 4.5% | — | 67.9% | 0.34 |
| California (state median) | $65,986 | 90.1% | 84.0% | 3.9% | — | 74.5% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $27,183 | $32,354 | $20,875 | 61.2% | 47,971 | $68,077 | 84.7% |
| Los Angeles | $19,040 | $21,911 | $17,436 | 71.4% | 121,181 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $12,442 | $24,300 | $15,000 | 61.9% | 115,966 | $64,909 | 87.8% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,600 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,674 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,884 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in San Francisco, California
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 6 | $87,434 | 84.7% | 89.7% | 3.5% | — | 67.9% |
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 70.1%, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 61.2%, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 50.4%, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 34.3%, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 89.6%, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 79.8%, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 76.2%, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 most selective colleges in San Francisco, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 3.0%, Minerva University
Minerva University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 61.7%, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 91.1%, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 96.4%, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $117,532, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $101,801, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $101,731, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $48,978, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $150,341, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $150,102, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $149,149, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $73,398, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $69,951, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $52,650, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,308, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $30,452, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $81,618, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,831, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,164, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,980, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $89,812, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,077, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,414, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,008, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $238,342, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $205,406, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $9,071, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $-22,740, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $-78,612, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Top 10 most affordable colleges in San Francisco, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $12,278, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $40,613, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $41,431, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 4, Net Price, $53,909, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
Top 10 colleges in San Francisco, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 98.0%, Minerva University
Minerva University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 86.7%, California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 83.7%, University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 82.7%, San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 75.4%, Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University
In-state tuition: San Francisco, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
San Francisco, California median in-state tuition is $27,183, +393.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: San Francisco, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in San Francisco, California is $20,875 (+55.4% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): San Francisco, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in San Francisco, California center around $68,077 (+25.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: San Francisco, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.7% at the median San Francisco, California campus (-3.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
San Francisco, California median public in-state tuition is $27,183, about +393.2% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +727.7%.
Median graduate debt is $20,875 (+55.4% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in San Francisco, California are $68,077, about +25.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 84.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-3.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 85.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 67.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include San Francisco State University (90.2%), University of San Francisco (89.6%), California College of the Arts (79.8%), Academy of Art University (76.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within San Francisco, California, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $87,434 (6 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in San Francisco, California is 61.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in San Francisco?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 18 campuses in San Francisco, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in San Francisco?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in San Francisco is $27,183 and median net price is $32,354. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in San Francisco?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in San Francisco is $68,077 vs $65,986 for California and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for San Francisco colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in San Francisco is $20,875 vs $11,400 for California and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in San Francisco?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of San Francisco (graduation) and University of San Francisco (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in San Francisco?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 18 campuses in San Francisco, California, 6 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include City College of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON