CMA vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, 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 CMA based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 837 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 34.7% lower than at San Francisco State University ($14,536 vs. $22,266).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at CMA than at San Francisco State University (about $1,994 more per year; $22,544 vs. $20,550).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at California State University Maritime Academy (77% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco State University students is 17.7% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($12,996 vs. $11,038).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CMA and San Francisco State.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at CMA average a 3.43 high school GPA, 0.12 higher than at San Francisco State (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $8,276 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($17,250 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($178 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 63%).

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