San Francisco State vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Francisco State University is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Francisco State University 19:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

San Francisco State vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Francisco State or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($13,168 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 21% lower than at San Francisco State University ($17,600 vs. $22,266).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 627.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $49,853 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 181.3% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at San Francisco State University (about $37,253 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at San Francisco State University (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 226.3% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($42,407 vs. $12,996).

San Francisco State vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Francisco State or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and San Francisco State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 130 points higher than at San Francisco State (1030).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at San Francisco State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Francisco State University 930/1130; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Francisco State University 16/23; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: San Francisco State - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at San Francisco State vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

San Francisco State vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Francisco State and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($17,250 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($178 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.