San Francisco, CA · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| Tuition | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University (in-state) | $7,950 | — |
| CA average | $16,639 | -52% |
| National average | $18,082 | -56% |
| Per year | Four years | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $7,950 | $31,800 |
| Out-of-state | $20,550 | $82,200 |
Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.
San Francisco State University ranks 141 by in-state tuition among the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper. Out-of-state students pay 158% more than in-state students.
| Colleges with a similar price to San Francisco State University | In-state tuition |
|---|---|
| California State University-Sacramento | $8,018 |
| California State University-San Marcos | $8,082 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | $8,090 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | $8,093 |
In-state tuition at San Francisco State University is $7,950 per year; out-of-state students pay $20,550.
San Francisco State University in-state tuition is 52% below the CA average of $16,639.
National average in-state tuition is $18,082; San Francisco State University is 56% below that.
$7,950 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.
Four years of tuition at San Francisco State University comes to about $31,800 for an in-state student and $82,200 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.
By in-state tuition, San Francisco State University ranks 141 out of the 288 CA colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.