San Francisco State University (SFSU): Courses and Fees 2026

San Francisco State University fees for Indian students use United States dollar (USD) billing and Indian rupee (INR) conversions. California State University (CSU) tuition adds a nonresident unit charge to every international bill. Postgraduate (PG) tuition runs from $17,547 (INR 16.76 Lakhs) yearly to $64,000 (INR 61.13 Lakhs) for the flexible Master of Business Administration (MBA). Undergraduate (UG) tuition is about $22,950 (INR 21.92 Lakhs) for a 30-unit academic-year load. The Master of Science (MS) in Business Analytics costs $41,000 (INR 39.16 Lakhs) as an approximate full-programme nonresident cost.

San Francisco State University (SFSU) estimates graduate living expenses at $29,400 (INR 28.08 Lakhs) on campus for two semesters. Off-campus living is $31,106 (INR 29.71 Lakhs), mainly because food, transport, and personal costs rise. On-campus housing means university residence, with utilities, Wi-Fi, maintenance, and support bundled into one bill. Village at Centennial Square is the clearest campus option for transfer and international students.

• The nonresident unit charge is $471 (INR 44,985), so credit load changes the fee structure quickly.
• The SFSU application fee is $70 (INR 6,686), and it sits outside tuition.
• The housing application starts with $200 (INR 19,102), including a $150 (INR 14,327) credit.

For the MBA Fast-Track route, the first-year budget is $80,805-$83,079.67 (INR 77.18-79.35 Lakhs). A INR 50 Lakhs education loan costs about INR 65,000-70,000 per month over 10 years at 10.5%. Fall 2027 prices are not published, so totals should be rerun when SFSU releases the next fee year. Exchange rate used: $1 = INR 95.51, provided for 11 September 2026.

Next step: Review the SFSU admission deadlines before pricing a Spring 2027 budget.

San Francisco State University Tuition Fees by Programme

A $471 (INR 44,985) nonresident charge sits above CSU tuition for every international unit. Nonresident means not classified as a California resident for tuition. SFSU therefore rewards clean credit planning more than a flat-fee university does.

San Francisco State University Postgraduate Fees: Spring 2027 and Fall 2027

A standard 30-unit master’s route costs about $17,547 (INR 16.76 Lakhs) per year at a two-year pace. Business routes use separate Lam Family College of Business estimates. The table compares ten PG choices by the route that controls billing.

Standard PG tuition is shown at 15 units per academic year. Business rows use SFSU’s published full-programme nonresident estimates.

Full-course comparisons use current 2026/27 tuition at unchanged current rates. They are not forecasts for later fee years.

• Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, Kinesiology, and Physics all list 30-unit degree structures.
• Business Analytics and Accounting use business estimates, so the $41,000 (INR 39.16 Lakhs) figure is not a simple unit multiplication.
• The MBA flexible route can reach $64,000 (INR 61.13 Lakhs), before living expenses and visa charges.
• Spring 2027 PG availability depends on the department deadline, not one central graduate date.

Source: SFSU Bursar fee schedule and official SFSU Bulletin degree pages.

San Francisco State University Undergraduate Fees: Fall 2027

A four-year UG pace costs about $22,950 (INR 21.92 Lakhs) per year at 30 units. The nonresident charge makes engineering slightly costlier when total units exceed 120. The table keeps standard bachelor routes separate from high-unit engineering.

UG tuition is shown at 30 units per academic year. The full-course column uses the published degree-unit requirement where it changes the bill.

Full-course comparisons use current 2026/27 tuition at unchanged current rates. They include base tuition, mandatory fees, and nonresident tuition.

• The 120-unit bachelor total uses four years of CSU tuition and mandatory SFSU campus fees.
• Computer Engineering adds three nonresident units beyond the 120-unit baseline.
• Spring 2027 UG entry closes on September 30, 2026, but Fall 2027 is the safer broad UG intake.
• The $70 (INR 6,686) Cal State Apply fee is separate from tuition.

Source: SFSU Bursar fee schedule and official SFSU Bulletin undergraduate degree pages.

Compare routes: Use the MS in USA university list when SFSU’s unit-based cost is your benchmark.

San Francisco State University Fee Trend by Year

UG tuition and mandatory fees rose 6.83% between 2025/26 and 2026/27. This trend excludes nonresident unit tuition, housing, food, visa charges, books, and transport. Use it to judge annual fee pressure, not total cost of studying.

Source: SFSU Cost of Attendance archives.

• The 2026/27 UG increase adds $564 (INR 53,868) before the nonresident unit charge.
• Spring 2027 uses the 2026/27 fee year for posted SFSU tuition and campus fees.
• Fall 2027 tuition should be recalculated after the next SFSU fee schedule appears.

Cost of Living in San Francisco for Indian Students

SFSU lists graduate on-campus living at $29,400 (INR 28.08 Lakhs) for two semesters. The official off-campus total is $31,106 (INR 29.71 Lakhs). Living expenses in San Francisco therefore shape the first-year budget almost as much as tuition.

Monthly figures below divide SFSU’s two-semester graduate budget across nine study months.

Source: SFSU Cost of Attendance.

Private Housing Near San Francisco for Indian Students

Off-campus housing means private accommodation outside SFSU residence communities. On-campus housing means SFSU-managed residence space with bundled utilities and Wi-Fi. SFSU’s official comparison shows a higher total off-campus budget, despite lower housing and food.

Source: SFSU Cost of Attendance and University Housing fee pages.

• University housing bundles utilities, Wi-Fi, maintenance, safety support, and community programming.
• Off-campus living is $1,706 (INR 1.63 Lakhs) higher in the official graduate estimate.
• The housing application becomes complete after the $200 (INR 19,102) initial payment.
• Room selection does not guarantee a space, so earlier completion improves practical choice.

For Spring 2027, the housing initial payment is small but time-sensitive because room selection follows a completed application.

Budget check: Compare SFSU housing with the USA cost of living guide before signing a lease.

Total Cost of Studying at San Francisco State University

The MBA Fast-Track first-year budget is $80,805-$83,079.67 (INR 77.18-79.35 Lakhs). This worked example uses the 12-month route because the programme can finish in as few as 12 months. It includes full programme tuition, living, the application fee, the F-1 student visa fee, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee.

Source: SFSU business admissions, SFSU Cost of Attendance, Travel.State.Gov, and ICE SEVIS fee pages.

• The F-1 student visa is the standard United States academic visa for full-time international study.
• The $605 (INR 57,784) mandatory fee line includes $70 (INR 6,686), $185 (INR 17,669), and $350 (INR 33,429).
• The $200 (INR 19,102) housing initial payment is separate from tuition.
• Airfare, test retakes, winter-break housing, and private lease deposits are not included.

The standard 30-unit MS first-year budget is $57,352-$59,626.67 (INR 54.78-56.95 Lakhs). A INR 40 Lakhs loan costs about INR 54,000 per month over 10 years at 10.5%.

Visa budget: Read the F-1 student visa guide before finalising the proof-of-funds file.

San Francisco State University Scholarships for Indian Students

SFSU has limited scholarships built specifically for international students. The university directs current and prospective students to AcademicWorks, where citizenship marked Any can include international applicants. Scholarship money should not reduce the budget until an award letter states the amount.

SFSU University Scholarships: Spring 2027 and Fall 2027

Campus awards are searchable through AcademicWorks, but individual eligibility controls the value. The table separates the portal route from degree-specific external funding. This avoids treating a past award as money for a new intake.

Source: SFSU Financial Aid scholarship pages and SFSU AcademicWorks.

External Indian Scholarships for San Francisco State University

Education Future is the only rolling Indian award found for both UG and PG USA starts in 2026 or 2027. Aga Khan and Narotam Sekhsaria are stronger fits for Fall 2027 PG planning. Their next degree-funding deadlines were not published on the official pages.

Source: SFSU scholarships, Education Future, Aga Khan Foundation, and Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation.

San Francisco State University Tuition Deposit and Payment Options

SFSU publishes a $100 (INR 9,551) UG confirmation deposit, but no single graduate deposit. Graduate admits should read the offer and billing account together. The Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, follows admission and verified finances.

Source: SFSU deadlines, SFSU University Housing, and SFSU international student payment pages.

Methods of Payment

• Flywire is SFSU’s named international payment processor for cross-border payments.
• Bank transfer through Flywire can use local currency and payment tracking.
• Electronic check has no service fee, but it needs a United States bank account.
• Credit or debit card payments add a 2.65% non-refundable service fee.
• Education-loan disbursement should reach SFSU before the fee payment deadline.

Steps to Pay the Tuition Fee for International Students

1. Accept the offer and confirm the admitted-student deadline.
2. Pay the deposit if the route requires one.
3. Submit proof of finances for the Form I-20.
4. Pay tuition through Flywire, eCheck, card, or approved loan release.
5. Keep receipts for the F-1 student visa file.

SFSU states that the installment payment plan is not offered for the current fee deadline. Individual payments are allowed, but the balance must be paid by the stated deadline.

Payment planning: Recheck the SFSU offer acceptance timeline before arranging loan disbursement.

Hidden Costs of Studying at San Francisco State University

$805 (INR 76,886) is the verified minimum before arrival for an MBA Fast-Track student, excluding tuition balance. The amount includes application, visa, SEVIS, and housing initial payment. It does not include airfare, test retakes, lease deposits, laptops, or winter-break housing.

• Spring 2027 UG applicants must submit the $100 (INR 9,551) deposit by December 1, 2026.
• The F-1 student visa application fee is $185 (INR 17,669).
• The SEVIS fee is $350 (INR 33,429), and it is paid before the visa interview.
• The Cal State Apply application fee is $70 (INR 6,686).
• The housing initial payment is $200 (INR 19,102), including a $50 (INR 4,776) non-refundable fee.
• A card payment on $10,000 (INR 9.55 Lakhs) adds $265 (INR 25,310) in service fee.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) retakes and airfare remain variable.

Cash Needed Before Arrival

Source: SFSU application, SFSU housing, Travel.State.Gov, and ICE SEVIS fee pages.

Budget approximately INR 0.77-1.02 Lakhs for first-year hidden costs before arrival. The upper end includes one $265 (INR 25,310) card-service example.

Fee Saving Strategies for Indian Students

Spring 2027 savings depend on payment method and housing choice more than late scholarship hunting. Education Future can still help eligible 2026 or 2027 USA starts. Fall 2027 has a stronger scholarship runway once postgraduate cycles reopen.

• Choose on-campus housing when it fits, because SFSU’s off-campus budget is $1,706 (INR 1.63 Lakhs) higher.
• Use Flywire or eCheck to avoid a 2.65% card fee on large tuition payments.
• Compare a 30-unit MS at $35,094 (INR 33.52 Lakhs) with the $64,000 (INR 61.13 Lakhs) flexible MBA route.
• Use Section 80E of India’s Income Tax Act for education-loan interest deductions after repayment starts.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives 12 months of post-study work authorization after eligible United States study.
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) routes can reach 36 months total OPT with the extension.

Is San Francisco State University Worth the Cost for Indian Students

A SFSU MBA Fast-Track budget of INR 77.18-79.35 Lakhs is justified only when San Francisco access supports the career plan. U.S. News 2026 places SFSU at No. 208 nationally, No. 115 among public schools, and No. 30 for social mobility. The public-university price is lower than many private San Francisco options, but living costs remain heavy.

The value case is stronger for standard 30-unit MS routes costing $35,094 (INR 33.52 Lakhs) in tuition. A INR 50 Lakhs loan costs about INR 65,000-70,000 per month over 10 years at 10.5%. STEM routes such as Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, and Physics can use up to 36 months of OPT work authorization.

• The MBA route suits applicants needing a San Francisco business network and a shorter timeline.
• The standard MS route suits applicants prioritising lower tuition and STEM work authorization.
• UG applicants face a larger four-year tuition total, before four years of living expenses.
• Fall 2027 is financially cleaner if scholarships reopen before SFSU’s next fee year arrives.

Source: SFSU business admissions, SFSU Bursar, SFSU Cost of Attendance, U.S. News 2026 rankings, and United States OPT guidance.