CSU Stanislaus vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, 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 CSU Stanislaus based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 9,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than San Francisco State ($7,433 vs. $13,168).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 41% lower than at San Francisco State University ($13,126 vs. $22,266).
• California State University Stanislaus is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $296 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at San Francisco State University (about $296 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at San Francisco State University (86% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco State University students is 4% larger than aid received by California State University Stanislaus students ($12,996 vs. $12,492).

CSU Stanislaus vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 CSU Stanislaus.

• 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: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than San Francisco State (96.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

CSU Stanislaus vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than CSU Stanislaus graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than San Francisco State graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Francisco State graduates ($155 vs. $178).
• More CSU Stanislaus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.