Cost of Attendance

Know Your Costs

Current Year COA
COA Calculation
Past Year COAs

2025-2026 Cost Of Attendance (Fall 2025 & Spring 2026)

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Out-of-State and International students must pay $444.00 PER UNIT in addition to the tuition fees appropriate to their academic level. 
Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,256 $8,256 $8,256
Housing $18,270 $15,030 0
Food $5,620 $7,560 $11,826
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,980 $1,764
Personal Expenses $2,592 $4,014 $4,140
Loan Fee $62 $62 $62
TOTAL $37,412 $38,002 $27,148
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On-Campus Off-Campus
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $9,870 $9,870
Housing $18,270 $15,030
Food $5,620 $7,560
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,980
Personal Expenses $2,592 $4,014
Loan Fee $146 $146
TOTAL $39,110 $39,700
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On-Campus Off-Campus
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $9,294 $9,294
Housing $18,270 $15,030
Food $5,620 $7,560
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,980
Personal Expenses $2,592 $4,014
Loan Fee $62 $62
TOTAL $38,450 $39,040

How is Cost of Attendance related to financial aid?

SF State provides estimated COA figures for on-campus, off-campus, and with-parent living arrangements. These figures are based on typical student expenses and include tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, books, and personal costs.  Our estimates are derived from a combination of sources, including local market data for housing, the Consumer Price Index for living expenses, and institutional data on student spending.

It's important to note that these figures represent averages. Your actual costs may vary depending on your lifestyle, spending habits, and individual circumstances.  For example, students who choose to live in shared housing or utilize public transportation (Covered by campus fees) may incur lower costs. We strongly encourage you to review these estimates carefully, compare them with other sources, and consider your personal circumstances to develop a realistic budget for your educational expenses. 

Veterans should also explore how their benefits may affect their individual costs. For more information regarding Veteran benefits, please reach out to the Veterans Office directly.

A standardized set of budgets is used as the basis for determining the cost of attendance at SF State. The figures used for all categories (Except Tuition & Fees and On Campus Room & Board) represent the average expenses reported by SF State students in the 2021 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS), conducted by the California Student Aid Commission. 300 students from SF State responded to the survey.

Amounts are updated annually based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index for non-surveyed years.

NOTE: No distinction is made with respect to the mode of instruction in determining costs . Students enrolled in online courses or a fully online program have the same elements included in their cost of attendance budget.

  • Tuition & Mandatory Fees: Cost paid to SF State for courses, includes mandatory campus fees.  This figure is based off anticipated enrollment in 7 or more units. 
  • Living Expenses (Food and Housing): The average cost per academic year to live in the SF Bay area while attending SF State. Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location and circumstances (On-campus, off-campus, living at home)  
    • Living at Home Housing reflects the lower costs of living at home. 
    • On-Campus Food and Housing is an average of actual costs for all on-campus housing options and a meal plan option providing 19 meals per week. 
    • Off-Campus Food and Housing is based on the average amount reported by SF State students on the 2021 SEARS survey. 
  • Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: The average amount students spend on books and educational supplies.
  • Transportation:   The average transportation cost between campus, residences, and place of work (Includes bus fare, gasoline, tolls, parking, etc.).  Amount does not include car payments, insurance, repairs or license fees.
  • Personal Expenses:   The average amount for personal expenses which includes clothing, personal care, cell phone plan, and health care costs not covered by insurance.
  • Federal Direct Loan Fees:   For students who borrow a Direct Loan, the average cost of the loan origination fee; for parents who borrow a Direct PLUS loan on behalf of their dependent student, the actual cost of the PLUS loan origination fee.

Your personal cost of attendance will vary based on individual preferences and spending habits. We encourage students and their families to consider ways to lower their cost of attendance, such as shared housing, or using public transportation which is covered by campus fees.

For informational purposes only:  In accordance with California Assembly Bill 990, SF State provides the typical market cost for the following housing options in the SF Bay Area (Per www.apartments.com on October 22, 2024): 

  • One-bedroom apartment in the SF Bay Area:  $1,896 per month
  • One-bedroom in private house in the SF Bay Area:  $2,314 per month
  • Two-bedroom apartment in the SF Bay Area:  $3,014 per month

Past Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,950 $7,950 $7,950
Housing $17,010 $14,724 0
Food $5,256 $7,506 $11,520
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,962 $1,764
Personal Expenses $3,222 $3,924 $4,050
Loan Fee $62 $62 $62
TOTAL $36,112 $37,228 $26,446
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On-Campus Off-Campus
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $9,474 $9,474
Housing $17,010 $14,724
Food $5,256 $7,506
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,962
Personal Expenses $3,222 $3,924
Loan Fee $146 $146
TOTAL $37,720 $38,836
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On-Campus Off-Campus
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,928 $8,928
Housing $17,010 $14,724
Food $5,256 $7,506
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,512 $1,962
Personal Expenses $3,222 $3,924
Loan Fee $62 $62
TOTAL $37,090 $38,206
Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,522 $7,522 $7,522
Housing $13,956 $12,960 0
Food $5,220 $6,472 10,126
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,108 $1,764 $1,710
Personal Expenses $2,872 $4,428 $3,610
Loan Origination Fee $74 $74 $74
TOTAL $31,852 $34,320 $24,142
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Program Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,956 $8,956 $8,956
Housing $13,956 $12,960 0
Food $5,220 $6,472 $10,126
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,108 $1,764 $1,710
Personal Expenses $2,872 $4,428 $3,610
Loan Origination Fee $170 $170 $170
TOTAL $33,382 $35,850 $25,672
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,440 $8,440 $8,440
Housing $13,956 $12,960 0
Food $5,220 $6,472 10,126
Books and Supplies $1,100 $1,100 $1,100
Transportation $1,108 $1,764 $1,710
Personal Expenses $2,872 $4,428 $3,610
Loan Origination Fee $74 $74 $74
TOTAL $32,770 $35,238 $25,060
Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,522 $7,522 $7,522
Books and Supplies $1,098 $1,098 $1,098
Food and Housing $18,998 $18,998 $9,098
Personal Expenses $2,196 $2,736 $2,250
Transportation $350 $1,466 $1,710
TOTAL $30,164 $31,820 $21,678
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Program Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,956 $8,956 $8,956
Books and Supplies $1,098 $1,098 $1,098
Food and Housing $17,954 $18,998 $9,098
Personal Expenses $2,196 $2,736 $2,250
Transportation $350 $1,466 $1,710
TOTAL $30,554 $33,254 $23,112
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,440 $8,440 $8,440
Books and Supplies $1,098 $1,098 $1,098
Food and Housing $17,954 $18,998 $9,098
Personal Expenses $2,196 $2,736 $2,250
Transportation $350 $1,467 $1,710
TOTAL $30,038 $32,739 $22,596
Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,484 $7,484 $7,484
Books and Supplies $1,076 $1,076 $1,076
Food and Housing $15,680 $18,270 $8,826
Personal Expenses $2,156 $2,632 $2,164
Transportation $1,028 $1,394 $1,622
TOTAL $27,424 $30,856 $21,172
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Program Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,918 $8,918 $8,918
Books and Supplies $1,076 $1,076 $1,076
Food and Housing $15,680 $18,270 $8,826
Personal Expenses $2,156 $2,632 $2,164
Transportation $1,028 $1,394 $1,622
TOTAL $28,858 $32,290 $22,606
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,924 $7,924 $7,924
Books and Supplies $1,038 $1,038 $1,038
Food and Housing $15,949 $17,922 $8,747
Personal Expenses $2,058 $2,770 $2,120
Transportation $1,094 $1,482 $1,733
TOTAL $28,063 $31,136 $21,562
Undergraduate Students (Full Time Attendance For Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $7,440 $7,440 $7,440
Books and Supplies $1,038 $1,038 $1,038
Food and Housing $15,950 $17,922 $8,748
Personal Expenses $2,058 $2,770 $2,120
Transportation $1,094 $1,482 $1,732
TOTAL $27,580 $30,652 $21,080
Graduate, Post-Baccalaureate, 2nd Degree, & Master's Program Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,874 $8,874 $8,874
Books and Supplies $1,038 $1,038 $1,038
Food and Housing $15,949 $17,922 $8,747
Personal Expenses $2,058 $2,770 $2,120
Transportation $1,094 $1,482 $1,733
TOTAL $29,013 $32,086 $22,512
Credential Students (Full Time Attendance for Two Semesters)
Cost Type On Campus Off Campus Living At Home
Tuition Fees (7 units or greater) $8,358 $8,358 $8,358
Books and Supplies $1,038 $1,038 $1,038
Food and Housing $15,949 $17,922 $8,747
Personal Expenses $2,058 $2,770 $2,120
Transportation $1,094 $1,482 $1,733
TOTAL $28,497 $31,570 $21,996