City College of San Francisco is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Francisco, California. It enrolls 17,348 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes45
Value81
Affordability40
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, City College of San Francisco generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending City College of San Francisco isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,906 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,906
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,696
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,656
Room & Board (off-campus)
$26,907
Books & Supplies
$1,294
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,052
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,870
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,121
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,756
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,139
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,508
Over $110,000
$13,974
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$8,218Medianpercentile
$10,75075%percentile
$19,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,197
—
No Pell $5,500
↓ $2,718
Dependent students $4,750
↓ $3,468
Independent students $9,500
↑ $1,282
Female students $6,688
↓ $1,530
Male students $8,973
↑ $755
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,458, close to what completers borrow ($8,218) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
9% of full-time students who enrolled at City College of San Francisco graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
9%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered City College of San Francisco earn a median of $45,805 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,805
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,000, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
25.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
City College of San Francisco is home to 17,348 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students, 70% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
17,348
Part-Time
70%
First-Generation
55%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Asian 29.6%5,126
Hispanic 26.7%4,630
White 23.9%4,150
Black 7.2%1,254
Other 6.1%1,056
International 1.8%311
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at City College of San Francisco. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Francisco, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
59%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
City College of San Francisco offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
75 distinct programs across
33 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at City College of San Francisco is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,019
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,131
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
423 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
423
100%
$101,131
Pros & Cons of City College of San Francisco
A quick at-a-glance summary of how City College of San Francisco tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, City College of San Francisco is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about City College of San Francisco
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about City College of San Francisco.
Is City College of San Francisco hard to get into?
City College of San Francisco has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at City College of San Francisco?
City College of San Francisco has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does City College of San Francisco cost?
The average net price after aid at City College of San Francisco is $6,906 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is City College of San Francisco worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,805 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,906 per year. That's roughly 6.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is City College of San Francisco known for?
City College of San Francisco is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do City College of San Francisco graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering City College of San Francisco are $45,805, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is City College of San Francisco accredited?
Yes. City College of San Francisco is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend City College of San Francisco?
City College of San Francisco enrolls 17,348 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at City College of San Francisco?
City College of San Francisco graduates 9% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is City College of San Francisco a public or private college?
City College of San Francisco is a Public institution.
Where is City College of San Francisco located?
City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California.
What programs does City College of San Francisco offer?
City College of San Francisco offers 75 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at City College of San Francisco?
The student-to-faculty ratio at City College of San Francisco is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
Related Guides
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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