USF vs. Sonoma State University

Should I go to University of San Francisco or Sonoma State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USF or Sonoma State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of San Francisco vs. Sonoma State University comparison
University of San Francisco Sonoma State University College 3 College 4
University of San Francisco Sonoma State University
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Overview

USF Sonoma State University
Location San Francisco, CA Rohnert Park, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,212 5,990
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #116 #625
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usfca.edu sonoma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USF Sonoma State University
Tuition (In State) $57,670 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $57,670 $17,622
Room & Board $17,300 $15,770
Avg Net Price $44,104 $15,113
Avg Grant Aid $32,492 $8,546
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 83%

Admission

USF Sonoma State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,709 10,529
Admitted 13,052 9,974
Acceptance Rate 50.8% 94.7%
Enrolled % 8.6% 9.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 17/23
SAT Range 1210/1390 950/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

USF Sonoma State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

Outcomes

USF Sonoma State University
Graduation Rate 70% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,400 $49,300
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $180

Diversity

USF Sonoma State University
% Men 13% 3%
% Women 24% 7%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 48%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 29%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 19% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

USF Sonoma State University
% In-State 58% 98%
% Out-of-State 32% 2%

Campus

USF Sonoma State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of San Francisco is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (9,212 students vs. 5,990 students)

USF vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USF or Sonoma State University?

  • University of San Francisco is 904.4% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($57,670.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 227.3% higher at USF than Sonoma State University ($57,670.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sonoma State University than USF ($15,113 vs. $44,104)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 9.7% lower than costs at University of San Francisco ($15,770 vs. $17,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of San Francisco than Sonoma State University (97% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Francisco students is 280.2% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($32,492 vs. $8,546)

USF vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USF or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or USF .

  • The average SAT score at University of San Francisco (1172) is 176 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
  • Incoming USF students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman USF students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than USF (50.8%)

USF vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USF or Sonoma State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sonoma State University and USF.

  • The graduation rate at USF is higher than Sonoma State University (70% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of San Francisco earn on average $21,100 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($70,400 vs. $49,300)
  • Sonoma State University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than USF graduates. ($17,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Sonoma State University graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than USF graduates. ($180 vs. $258)
  • More USF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sonoma State University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/