San Francisco State University

In 2022, San Francisco State University's tuition was $5,742 a year for in-state students and $17,622 a year for out-of-state students.

On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If these numbers seem daunting, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you're done with college.

International students can expect to pay 17,622 per year for tuition at San Francisco State University.

San Francisco State University: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

San Francisco State University is a public, state institution, which means it offers a reduced tuition rate of $5,742 for in-state students who attend full-time.Non-California residents can expect to pay 17,622 per year for tuition.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Attending a school where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the overall cost of college. Don't forget to confirm your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other California colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to San Francisco State University?

SF State has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students at San Francisco State University usually pay around $17,622 per year, before any scholarships, grants or other financial aid.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities..

---

San Francisco State University Room, Board, Fees, and More

---

In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at SF State.

House and Food Costs at SF State

Room and board at SF State is $17,955 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the SF State's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at SF State

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city may be expensive, but there may be more buses, trains and affordable flights to actually get to school. San Francisco State Universityis in a urban setting in California.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

---

The Full Cost of Attending San Francisco State University

---

Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending SF State.

How Much Does SF State Cost?

What will the cost of attending SF State be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$5,742
Out-of-State Tuition	$17,622
Room and Board	$17,955
Other expenses	$2,736

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

---

San Francisco State University Financial Aid

---

The majority of San Francisco State University undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 12,951 of the 24,025 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. SF State meets 61.7% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $15,025 a year. Around 27% of SF State undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. SF State graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $6,167 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$5,711
SF State-Specific Loans	$2,000
Private Loans	$12,334

Most Common Loans for SF State Students
Federal Loans	26%
Private loans	1%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on SF State financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at San Francisco State University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, SF State awarded 12,235 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $125.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $10 thousand in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

San Francisco State University Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for SF State students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at SF State was $15,025 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of SF State seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$161
Net In-state, Off-campus	$-5,505
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$27,066

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending SF State really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the SF State's net cost calculator on their website.

San Francisco State University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does SF State Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

---

Learn More About San Francisco State University

---

Choose one of the options below to find out more about about SF State:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about SF State