College tuition fees rose 8.6% in San Francisco County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $9,971 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $790 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions providing full disclosure in the county, California College of the Arts stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $54,706. Academy of Art University followed with an average of $26,728 per year. City College of San Francisco students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $1,696.
At the time, at least $13.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the San Francisco County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $3 million.
Currently there are eight higher education institutions in San Francisco County, including California College of the Arts, Bay Area Medical Academy, and Cinta Aveda Institute.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Of the eight institutions in San Francisco County, two did not provide detailed data on tuition fees, including Golden Gate University and California Institute of Integral Studies.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate University | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Minerva University | 89 | $1,637,100 | $18,394 | 98 | $583,110 | $5,950 |
| City College of San Francisco | 642 | $3,889,484 | $6,058 | 8 | $35,429 | $4,429 |
| Academy of Art University | 127 | $1,324,254 | $10,427 | 108 | $694,011 | $6,426 |
| California College of the Arts | 178 | $5,193,141 | $29,175 | 108 | $993,328 | $9,197 |
| Bay Area Medical Academy | 94 | $969,795 | $10,317 | 48 | $349,809 | $7,288 |
| Cinta Aveda Institute | 37 | $159,783 | $4,318 | 48 | $315,389 | $6,571 |
