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Colleges in and near San Francisco

San Francisco is home to 12 colleges, with about 55,000 students on campus

San Francisco State University (21,943 students on campus) and City College of San Francisco (13,762) are inside the city. About 7% of San Francisco’s residents are enrolled in college, below California (8%).

University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity of San FranciscoCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity of California-San FranciscoCity College of San FranciscoSan Francisco State University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of San Francisco. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
28
129,548 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Residents in college
7%
Below CA (8%)
Nearest community college
3.6 mi
City College of San Francisco · $1,696 tuition
Nearest public university
0.7 mi
University of California College of the Law-San Francisco
Median household income
$141K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in San Francisco

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Six colleges within 4.6 milesUniversity of San Francisco admits 62% of applicants; California College of the Arts admits 91%; San Francisco State University admits 96%. Together they have 49,942 students on campus.A community college 3.6 miles awayCity College of San Francisco in San Francisco: tuition and fees $1,696 a year for California residents.Students are 7% of residentsBelow California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of San Francisco

16 private colleges within 13.3 miles, four public colleges within 11.3 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleySan Francisco StateSan Francisco
University or collegeCommunity college
San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · In San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateCalifornia Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · In San Francisco · mostly online$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · In San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · In San Francisco3%admittedUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · In San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsCalifornia College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · In San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · In San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · In San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · In San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateUniversity of California-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 3,113 on campus · In San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.City College of San FranciscoCommunity college · Public · 13,762 on campus · In San Francisco$7knet price40%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,696 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 21,943 on campus · In San Francisco96%admitted$12knet price50%graduate$68kearningsCollege of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 8 mi · Alameda · mostly online$8knet price33%graduate$43kearnings72% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 8.7 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsAcademy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 8.8 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Laney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 9 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 9.2 mi · Oakland$143kearningsSkyline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,706 on campus · 10.2 mi · San Bruno$2knet price44%graduate$56kearningsTuition and fees: $1,272 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · 10.6 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · 10.8 mi · Berkeley · mostly online$9knet price36%graduate$41kearnings55% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · 11.3 mi · Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsPacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · 11.3 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · 11.4 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Graduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · 11.4 mi · BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Northeastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 13.3 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.College of MarinCommunity college · Public · 4,093 on campus · 14 mi · Kentfield$12knet price39%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,558 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Merritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 14.1 mi · Oakland · mostly online$14knet price26%graduate$44kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 14.3 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where San Francisco’s median household income ($140,970) falls.

Skyline College10.2 mi · San Bruno · sticker $11,880 · tuition $1,272$5,974a year
Contra Costa College14.3 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$9,567a year
City College of San FranciscoIn San Francisco · sticker $16,870 · tuition $1,696$13,974a year
College of Marin14 mi · Kentfield · sticker $21,015 · tuition $1,558$17,686a year
Merritt College14.1 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$20,036a year
San Francisco State UniversityIn San Francisco · sticker $26,488$22,523a year
University of California-Berkeley11.3 mi · Berkeley · sticker $45,619$34,529a year
Northeastern University Oakland13.3 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$38,398a year
Academy of Art UniversityIn San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$44,082a year
San Francisco Conservatory of MusicIn San Francisco · sticker $78,781$45,245a year
University of San FranciscoIn San Francisco · sticker $80,141$52,497a year
California College of the ArtsIn San Francisco · sticker $79,776$56,394a year
San Francisco Film SchoolIn San Francisco · sticker $37,597—a year
College of Alameda8 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258—a year
Laney College9 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258—a year
Berkeley City College10.8 mi · Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of San Francisco: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of San FranciscoCity College of San FranciscoSan Francisco StateLaney CollegeSkyline CollegeUniversity of California-Berkeley
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
City College of San Francisco40% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
Skyline College44% graduate$56k earnings
College of Marin39% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Academy of Art University34% graduate$39k earnings$31k typical debt
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
College of Alameda33% graduate$43k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in San Francisco

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across San Francisco’s 7 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 13%Health professions 10%Family sciences 8%Liberal arts 6%Visual & performing arts 6%Psychology 5%Everything else 50%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsSan Francisco State University · 1,023 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralSan Francisco State University · 479 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralSan Francisco State University · 369 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceSan Francisco State University · 307 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsSan Francisco State University · 241 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesSan Francisco State University · 229 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of San Francisco · 227 graduates a year
$143k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsSan Francisco State University · 204 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: California Institute of Integral Studies, Academy of Art University, Golden Gate University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in San Francisco

Is San Francisco a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 San Francisco residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below California (8). The largest campus in the city, San Francisco State University, has 21,943 students on campus.

What colleges are in San Francisco?

San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, the University of San Francisco, the University of California-San Francisco and 8 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to San Francisco, and what does it cost?

City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, 3.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,696 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $6,906, counts housing and food at full cost.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of San Francisco. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →