San Francisco State vs. Los Angeles College of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA with Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Francisco State University is larger than Los Angeles College of Music based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 261 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Los Angeles College of Music is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Los Angeles College of Music is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Francisco State University 19:1; Los Angeles College of Music 3:1.

San Francisco State vs. Los Angeles College of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Francisco State or Los Angeles College of Music? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Francisco State University than Los Angeles College of Music ($13,168 vs. $44,586).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles College of Music are 0.8% lower than at San Francisco State University ($22,086 vs. $22,266).
• Los Angeles College of Music is 284.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $22,590 more per year; $30,540.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.6% higher at Los Angeles College of Music than at San Francisco State University (about $9,990 more per year; $30,540.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at Los Angeles College of Music (77% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco State University students is 134.9% larger than aid received by Los Angeles College of Music students ($12,996 vs. $5,532).

San Francisco State vs. Los Angeles College of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Francisco State or Los Angeles College of Music? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Los Angeles College of Music and San Francisco State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: San Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: San Francisco State - Test-free; Los Angeles College of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Los Angeles College of Music (87.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at San Francisco State vs. 18.1% at Los Angeles College of Music.

San Francisco State vs. Los Angeles College of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Francisco State and Los Angeles College of Music? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• More San Francisco State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles College of Music students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.