CSUDH vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, 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 CSUDH based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 15,182 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills 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 Dominguez Hills 21:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

CSUDH vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH 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 California State University Dominguez Hills than San Francisco State ($9,175 vs. $13,168).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Dominguez Hills are 17.2% lower than at San Francisco State University ($18,444 vs. $22,266).
• San Francisco State University is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $501 more per year; $7,950.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at San Francisco State than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $501 more per year; $20,550.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at San Francisco State University (93% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 7.3% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($13,951 vs. $12,996).

CSUDH vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH 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 CSUDH.

• 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: CSUDH - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Francisco State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than CSUDH (93.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

CSUDH vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH 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).

• San Francisco State University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than CSUDH graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $3,288 lower median loan debt than San Francisco State graduates ($13,962 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Francisco State graduates ($144 vs. $178).
• More San Francisco State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 52%)

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.