Best colleges in San Francisco
The Golden Gate to Your Education
People have flocked here for more than gold
The gold rush brought people to San Francisco searching for an opportunity, and there are still treasures for those looking now. There are over 25 colleges and universities that’ll prepare you for careers from accounting or counseling to fashion and game design.* San Francisco has the second leading percentage of residents with a degree, so you’ll fit right in after graduation. With headquarters for over 30 financial institutions, 6 Fortune 500 Companies, and growing biotechnology/research fields,* you’re sure to find a job within your degree.
Each part of the city has a unique character: from the counterculture of Haight-Ashbury to fresh seafood at the Wharf to business in the Financial District. San Francisco houses over 220 parks, including Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, providing space for activities like tennis, skateboarding, windsurfing, and sailing. Two professional teams call the Bay home: The 2010 and 2012 World Series Champions, the Giants, and NFL’s 49ers. Classical performing arts companies and music venues provide diverse entertainment, including The Fillmore, where Led Zepplin first performed.* With these opportunities and so many more, San Francisco is still the Golden Gate-so rush out here and find your treasure.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*National Center for Education Statistics *Wikipedia, “San Francisco”Best Four Year Universities in San Francisco
The University of California Berkeley or UC Berkeley is a public institution that was founded in 1868. Located in Berkeley, California, this school was the first campus that was built in the University of California System and offers over 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary research groups with the business school, computer engineering, and biological sciences programs ranking in the top nationally. UC Berkeley has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 32,000 students that take classes according to a semester-based academic calendar. Prospective students should note that California residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state.
UC Berkeley has a history of student-based political action and discussion and was the center of the Free Speech Movement, which began in 1964 and fueled opposition to segregation and the Vietnam War. The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is an impressive 91.9%, thanks in part to the student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1.
UC Berkeley is known for its campus architecture, but the University Botanical Garden also draws international attention with over 10,000 types of plant species. Beyond academics, UC Berkeley athletic teams, represented by their campus mascot Oski the Bear, compete in the PAC-12 with an annual football rivalry with Stanford. Notable alumni include U.S. women’s soccer star Alex Morgan, actor Gregory Peck, and the legendary queen of Americana cuisine, Alice Waters.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music offers 38 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 134 students graduated with students earning 56 Master's degrees, 46 Bachelor's degrees, and 32 Certificates.
University of San Francisco offers 113 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 3,252 students graduated with students earning 1,575 Bachelor's degrees, 1,443 Master's degrees, 228 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Certificates.
Dominican University of California offers 44 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 635 students graduated with students earning 393 Bachelor's degrees, and 242 Master's degrees.
Saint Mary's College of California offers 114 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,054 students graduated with students earning 627 Bachelor's degrees, 409 Master's degrees, 12 Certificates, and 6 Doctoral degrees.
California College of the Arts offers 33 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 474 students graduated with students earning 333 Bachelor's degrees, and 141 Master's degrees.
Lincoln University offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 98 students graduated with students earning 77 Master's degrees, and 21 Bachelor's degrees.
San Francisco State University offers 229 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 7,509 students graduated with students earning 5,872 Bachelor's degrees, 937 Master's degrees, 628 Certificates, and 72 Doctoral degrees.
Menlo College offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 179 students graduated with students earning 179 Bachelor's degrees.
Unitek College offers 8 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,453 students graduated with students earning 936 Certificates, 333 Associate's degrees, and 184 Bachelor's degrees.
Best Community Colleges in San Francisco
College of San Mateo offers 138 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 776 students graduated with students earning 700 Associate's degrees, and 76 Certificates.
Ohlone College offers 107 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 735 students graduated with students earning 715 Associate's degrees, and 20 Certificates.
Las Positas College offers 118 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 860 students graduated with students earning 860 Associate's degrees.
Diablo Valley College offers 165 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,538 students graduated with students earning 1,892 Associate's degrees, and 646 Certificates.
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 192 students graduated with students earning 173 Certificates, and 19 Associate's degrees.
City College of San Francisco offers 227 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 2,099 students graduated with students earning 1,523 Associate's degrees, and 576 Certificates.
Los Medanos College offers 88 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,457 students graduated with students earning 1,056 Associate's degrees, and 401 Certificates.
College of Marin offers 86 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 383 students graduated with students earning 343 Associate's degrees, and 40 Certificates.
Berkeley City College offers 69 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 618 students graduated with students earning 326 Associate's degrees, and 292 Certificates.
College of Alameda offers 52 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 491 students graduated with students earning 255 Associate's degrees, and 236 Certificates.
Top schools offering specific degrees in San Francisco
List of all colleges in San Francisco
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 24 : 1 | 45,307 | |
|
San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA | 16 : 1 | 437 | |
|
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | 22 : 1 | 9,688 | |
|
Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA | 18 : 1 | 1,877 | |
|
Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA | 13 : 1 | 2,765 | |