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Is San Francisco State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for San Francisco State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
San Francisco State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $15,371 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $68,077, but the margin is not huge. For context, San Francisco State's net price is about 2% above the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$13,353
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $199 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $1,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$12,278
Median earnings 10 years out
$68,077
Median debt at graduation
$15,371
Graduation rate
50%
At San Francisco State, a typical graduate carries about $15,371 in student debt and earns roughly $68,077 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $175 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
San Francisco State is a public four year school in San Francisco, CA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
Worth-It Score: 90/100
Median net price: $12,470
Public 4-year
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Worth-It Score: 91/100
Median net price: $12,548
Public 4-year
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA
Worth-It Score: 77/100
Median net price: $11,983
Public 4-year
Sonoma State
Rohnert Park, CA
Worth-It Score: 72/100
Median net price: $12,885
Public 4-year
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
Worth-It Score: 78/100
Median net price: $11,531
Common questions about San Francisco State
The median net price at San Francisco State is $12,278 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in California? See the most affordable public universities in California →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →