Cogswell College vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Silicon Valley in San Jose, 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 Cogswell College based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Silicon Valley is located in San Jose, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• University of Silicon Valley is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Silicon Valley 13:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Cogswell College vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cogswell College 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 Cogswell College ($13,168 vs. $31,594).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Silicon Valley are 10.5% lower than at San Francisco State University ($19,926 vs. $22,266).
• University of Silicon Valley is 182.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $14,530 more per year; $22,480.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Cogswell College than at San Francisco State University (about $1,930 more per year; $22,480.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Silicon Valley than at San Francisco State University (85% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco State University students is 106.5% larger than aid received by University of Silicon Valley students ($12,996 vs. $6,293).

Cogswell College vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cogswell College 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 Cogswell College.

• 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: Cogswell College - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Francisco State students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Cogswell College (2.77).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Cogswell College (51.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42% at Cogswell College vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

Cogswell College vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cogswell College 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 University of Silicon Valley's (43%).
• Graduates from University of Silicon Valley earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,800 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $13,913 lower median loan debt than Cogswell College graduates ($17,250 vs. $31,163).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $144 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cogswell College graduates ($178 vs. $322).
• More San Francisco State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cogswell College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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.