One of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, San Francisco is also home to many students. According to the previous World Liveability Rankings, it was the highest-rated liveable city in the U.S. The cool summers, foggy days, steep hills, cable cars, and landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, attract millions of people from around the globe.
The internet boom in the 1990s made San Francisco one of the most important hubs for the best startups in the world. This event is a significant reason why companies such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft chose the city as one of their top preferences. Today, San Francisco is the headquarters of Levi Strauss & Co., Gap, Reddit, Dolby, AirBnB, Uber, Yelp, Mozilla, Pinterest, etc.
Although located in one of the most expensive states in the U.S., San Francisco has cheap universities for aspiring students. The colleges in the country usually have different fee structures for state residents, out-of-state residents, and international students. Note that the total fees may vary slightly due to additional fees specified by each university.
Note: All figures mentioned in bullets are yearly.
Affordable Schools in San Francisco for International Students
1. San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University, founded in 1899, is one of the city’s most renowned institutions. Its 141-acre campus serves as a school with seven colleges and almost 30,000 students enrolling annually. SFSU offers 77 bachelor’s and 63 master’s degrees in liberal and creative arts, business, education, ethnic studies, health and social sciences, and science and engineering.
Some of the courses at this cheap university in San Francisco have also been formed in affiliation with the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Non-state U.S. residents and international students must pay an additional $420 (or a fraction) per unit on top of their tuition based on their degree level. Hence, the total fee is determined by the number of units the student selects.
2. Academy of Arts University
Academy of Arts University is a private institution with over 11,000 aspiring art students. It houses people from over 100 countries and provides more than 120 art degree courses. Its different schools include photography, graphic design, acting, fashion, game development, animation and visual effects, and motion pictures and television.
The university’s tuition fee increases slightly for international students compared to in-state and out-of-state residents. The undergraduate and postgraduate level per-unit cost differs somewhat, as shown above.
3. City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco is the only community college in the city. Established in 1935, this higher education institution has over 60,000 students and offers over 300 academic degrees and certificates. This cheap school in San Francisco also provides a wide range of credit courses that help students get an associate degree.
The basic tuition fees for California residents, out-of-state residents, and international students vary for every unit. In-state students must pay a per-unit fee of $46, except San Francisco residents, who pay no tuition. Meanwhile, out-of-state and international students pay a unit fee of $406, which is comparably higher than the in-state fees.
4. California Institute of Integral Studies
California Institute of Integral Studies is a private, non-profit university that has existed for over 50 years. Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri and Bina Chaudhuri established this school in the 1960s. Since then, it has offered programs in fields as diverse as psychology, art, counseling, religion, health studies, and more.
Around 10% of the students are from different countries, making CIIS a globally diverse educational institution. This affordable school in San Francisco offers more than 30 degree programs through its three schools: the School of Professional Psychology and Health, the School of Consciousness and Transformation, and the School of Undergraduate Studies.
5. Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University, named after one of San Francisco’s most renowned tourist spots, the Golden Gate Bridge, was founded in 1901. This school trains students professionally through its five primary schools: law, taxation, accounting, business, and undergraduate studies. It offers over 60 bachelor’s and master’s degrees to almost 3,000 students.
Twelve percent of the students at GGU represent 50 different countries, and about 60 percent of the total study body is undergraduate. It’s essential to remember that the total tuition fee you pay is also based on whether you are enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or law student at this institution, excluding the other expenses.
As one of the most visited places in the United States, it’s no surprise that this state ranks high in cost of living. Nonetheless, there are still affordable options for local and international students who wish to attend a university in San Francisco. You can choose from the schools listed above for cheaper tuition fees and lower educational costs.
We hope this article on the cheapest universities in San Francisco was helpful. Make sure also to check out the Study in the USA page and Available USA Programs for International Students and learn more schooling opportunities in the country!
