San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a state university located in San Francisco, California, within an active urban environment. It is a mid-sized university with approximately 19,300 undergraduate students. The admissions are less competitive with an acceptance rate of around 96.1%. Most popular majors are Business, Psychology, Communications, Social Sciences, and Biology. The six-year graduation rate is around 48.8%, and the median salary earned by SFSU graduates is around US$68,000 ten years after joining.
San José State University (SJSU) is a public university in San José, California, located in the Silicon Valley. It is a large school with roughly 26,760 undergraduates. Admissions is fairly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 80%. Majors that are most popular are Business, Engineering, Psychology, Communications, and Computer Science. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 68-70%, and SJSU graduates have a median income of roughly US$79,000 ten years after entering.
| San Francisco State University | San Jose State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.7 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1401 QS World University 2026 # 1201 QS World University 2025 # 1388 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1513 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 1624 US News 2024 # 1418 US News 2023 |
| Programs | UG Programs -72 PG Programs -35 | UG Programs -127 PG Programs -78 |
| Acceptance Rate | 90.0 % | 80.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-7 SAT-950 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 SAT-1000 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 9256 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 10700 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 31970 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 19732 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 16753 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 12039 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Masters of Arts: $160,000 Bachelor of Science: $68,000 MBA: $60,000 | Some of the program and average salary are:
|
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit personal statement Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit English language requirements Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.6/10 Read 3 reviews | 7.6/10 Read 12 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 301 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021 | # 1001 for Business by Times Higher Education 2022 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 59/90TOEFL - 88/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 80/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -23124 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Nov 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) | Apr 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 20, 2026 (Document Submission Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Oct 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Spring 2027 Intake) Oct 20, 2026 (Document Submission Deadline For Spring 2027 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | San Francisco State University | San Jose State University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1899 | 1857 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 23:1 | 26:1 |
| Male:Female | 44% Male, 56% Female | 52% Male, 48% Female |
| Location Facts | The main campus of the university is located in San Francisco, California. In addition to the main campus, the school also has three satellite campuses. The Downtown Campus is part of the Lam Family College of Business and the College of Extended Learning and is located in the office area of Westfield San Francisco Centre. The Sierra Nevada Field Campus is located in Sierra County near Yuba Pass and the Sierra Valley and offers accredited courses to the general public. The Romberg Tiburon Campus is a 53-acre research campus located in Marin County. It is home to the Estuary and Ocean Science Center, a marine research lab. | SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) system. Located in downtown San Jose, the SJSU main campus is situated on 154 acres , or roughly 19 square blocks. |
| Library | The mission of the J. Paul Leonard Library is to empower its University constituency with lifelong learning skills to identify, find, evaluate, use and communicate information in promotion of excellence in scholarship, knowledge and understanding. |
|
| Campus Life | SF State has over 200 student organizations to get involved in. They include Academic, Arts, Cultural, Greek, Honor Societies, Media/Publication, Philosophical, Political, Pre-Professional, Religious, Service, Social, Social Justice, University Housing and Wellness organizations. Associated Students (AS) offers hundreds of community-oriented resources, events, services, scholarships, internships & student jobs, and is dedicated to the empowerment of SF State's diverse student body. Through a commitment to social justice & shared governance, the AS Board of Directors - SFSU's Student Body Government - acts as the official voice of students.Student Activities & Events partners with students to support organizations and clubs, facilitate programs and events that create community, develop the whole person, and foster a deep sense of connection to each other and our campus. The Campus Recreation Department is a student-driven department guiding development through transformative activities, creating a sense of belonging within our community, and being a key partner in integrating health and wellness across the University. | The San Jose State University's campus is separated into two sections:
|
| Hostel | #On campus - $14502 #Off campus (not with family) - $14502 #Off campus (with family) - $2966 | #Semester Room - $6186 |
| Famous Alumni | Alvin Ailey – dance choreographer and activist Solomon Darwin – Professor of Business at Haas School of Business and known for his development of "smart village" frameworks for Indian villages | San Jose State University has over 270,000 alumni from various countries. Some of the San Jose State University's notable alumni are:
|
| City Life | A beautiful region filled with iconic landmarks independently owned businesses and trendsetting residents, San Francisco has long followed the beat of its own drum. Morphed and molded by its communities, the California metro area has been the heart of the bohemian lifestyle, the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement and the launching point of the technology era. Today, San Francisco is a complete universe in and of itself. But a housing crunch has made it difficult for the San Francisco metro area to accommodate its population, driving housing prices and rental rates sky-high and significantly increasing the cost of living. The reasons why tourists love visiting San Francisco are the same reasons why residents love living here. The area is home to dozens of award-winning restaurants, world-class museums and family-friendly activities that San Franciscans routinely take advantage of. The lack of affordable housing options has caused the region's homeless population to grow. Necessary expenses like food and transportation aren't cheap, either. Basic groceries and gas generally cost noticeably more than the national average. | San Jose is the third most populous city in California and is considered one of the best places to live in California. San Jose is most notable for its affluent lifestyle, flourishing job market, cultural diversity, and beautiful natural landscape. Providing residents with a mixture of urban and suburban living is always something to do, and the public school system is highly rated. Considered the leader of the technology revolution, the city is booming with the high-tech industry at the front and center. The heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose, has become the desired location for innovators and world leaders of many software and computer companies. San Jose is home to over 6,600 technology companies and start-ups. Attracting only the best in the industry to the area, the demographic continues to change as young professionals move in with hopes of landing a job at one of the top company names in the nation. Some of the most well-known companies headquartered in San Jose include Adobe, PayPal, Cisco, eBay, Calyx Software, Verifone, Sage Intacct, and Western Digital. Other industry leaders such as Apple, Google, and Netflix are located close by in the neighboring cities of Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park. |
| Weather |
San Francisco State University vs San José State University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both SFSU and SJSU are well-regarded California State University campuses. SJSU performs better on most national outcome measures (particularly earnings long term and graduation rates). SJSU has a lot to gain from its Silicon Valley location, with programs of strength in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and connections with tech industry. SFSU's areas of strength are more in Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Ethnic Studies, Communications, and community outreach, with its robust liberal arts tradition in a big city setting.
General Information
SJSU, with approximately 26,760 total undergraduates, is larger than SFSU's ~19,300 undergrads. SJSU's campus in downtown San José provides access to leading tech centers, accommodating a wide range of undergraduate & graduate programs. SFSU's urban San Francisco campus is also well-positioned for cultural, media, nonprofit, and public sector opportunities, but its smaller campus is more devoted to teaching and service as well as research.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
SFSU admissions are relatively open, with roughly 96.1% acceptance. SJSU's acceptance rate is nearer to 80%. SAT/ACT ranges are generally higher for admitted students at SJSU, particularly for more competitive or impacted programs. SFSU will have lower SAT/ACT averages among applicants, and lower cut-offs, in keeping with its access mission. Both campuses have been more test-optional or test-reduced in recent years for most applicants.
Research Impact & Facilities
SJSU has more intense research-industry linkages because of Silicon Valley and has been enhancing in research productivity, particularly in engineering, tech, business analytics, and computer science. SFSU is more concentrated on applied social sciences, arts, education, and public policy, with intensive community involvement, ethnic studies, media laboratories, and cultural research institutes. Research productivity (funding, magnitude) at SJSU tends to outpace SFSU, particularly for tech-disciplines.
Cost & Financial Aid
In-state tuition at SFSU is affordable (typical CSU in-state), and out-of-state tuition is much higher. Net price after aid for SFSU is approximately US$13,353. Grant aid is received by many students at SFSU; for instance in 2023 roughly 63% of undergraduates had grants. SJSU's average net price after aid is comparable or a bit higher depending on residency status and major, and many students likewise receive aid. Life in the Bay Area is expensive for both, particularly housing, but access to high-technology employment opportunities can neutralize some of the cost-of-living expense at SJSU.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
SJSU graduates have higher long-term incomes, median salaries ten years after entering college closer to US$79,000, and improved six-year graduation rates (~ 68-70%) and retention. SFSU alumni make less in similar long-term ratings (approximately US$68,000), and the six-year graduation rate is also lower (~ 48.8%). SJSU alumni networks are deeply rooted in Silicon Valley technology companies, engineering, and business communities; SFSU alumni are prominent in media, arts, public service, social sciences, communications, and education. SJSU performance (earnings, graduation, debt repayment etc.) is generally stronger compared to SFSU.
