CMA vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Francisco State University is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

CMA vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or San Francisco State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Francisco State University than CMA ($13,168 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 34.7% lower than at San Francisco State University ($14,536 vs. $22,266).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 25.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $1,994 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at CMA than at San Francisco State University (about $1,994 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at California State University Maritime Academy (77% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco State University students is 17.7% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($12,996 vs. $11,038).

CMA vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or San Francisco State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Francisco State and CMA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CMA students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than CMA (95%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

CMA vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and San Francisco State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $37,900 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $8,276 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($17,250 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($178 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.