Menlo vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Menlo vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($13,168 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 18.1% lower than at San Francisco State University ($18,236 vs. $22,266).
• Menlo College is 574.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $45,680 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 161% higher at Menlo than at San Francisco State University (about $33,080 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at San Francisco State University (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 201.4% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($39,174 vs. $12,996).

Menlo vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• 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: Menlo - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman San Francisco State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

Menlo vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $3,812 lower median loan debt than Menlo graduates ($17,250 vs. $21,062).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Menlo graduates ($178 vs. $217).
• More San Francisco State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 55%)

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.