California Baptist University vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare California Baptist University in Riverside, CA with San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Francisco State University is larger than California Baptist University based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 11,902 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Baptist University is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Baptist University 21:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Baptist University are 45.5% lower than at San Francisco State University ($12,140 vs. $22,266).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100.6% higher at California Baptist University than at San Francisco State University (about $20,678 more per year; $41,228 vs. $20,550).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Baptist University than at San Francisco State University (99% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Baptist University students is 105.8% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($26,743 vs. $12,996).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at California Baptist University than at San Francisco State (21 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California Baptist University and San Francisco State.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at California Baptist University average a 3.58 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at San Francisco State (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at California Baptist University vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $9,750 lower median loan debt than California Baptist University graduates ($17,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California Baptist University graduates ($178 vs. $279).
• More San Francisco State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Baptist University students, three years after graduation (63% vs. 58%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.