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 30 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 142 students graduated with students earning 81 Master's degrees, 33 Bachelor's degrees, and 28 Certificates.
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 2020, 1,245 students graduated with students earning 683 Bachelor's degrees, 381 Master's degrees, 172 Certificates, and 9 Doctoral degrees.
University of San Francisco offers 117 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 3,370 students graduated with students earning 1,702 Bachelor's degrees, 1,455 Master's degrees, 211 Doctoral degrees, and 2 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 2020, 468 students graduated with students earning 327 Bachelor's degrees, and 141 Master's degrees.
San Francisco State University offers 177 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 7,336 students graduated with students earning 6,283 Bachelor's degrees, 912 Master's degrees, 86 Certificates, and 55 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 2020, 525 students graduated with students earning 353 Bachelor's degrees, and 172 Master's degrees.
Mills College offers 79 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 387 students graduated with students earning 186 Bachelor's degrees, 148 Master's degrees, 51 Certificates, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Unitek College offers 9 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 1,688 students graduated with students earning 1,315 Certificates, 361 Associate's degrees, and 12 Bachelor's degrees.
California State University-East Bay offers 94 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 4,463 students graduated with students earning 3,439 Bachelor's degrees, 1,004 Master's degrees, and 20 Doctoral degrees.
Best Community Colleges in San Francisco
Ohlone College offers 94 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 661 students graduated with students earning 658 Associate's degrees, and 3 Certificates.
Las Positas College offers 94 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2020, 1,002 students graduated with students earning 751 Associate's degrees, and 251 Certificates.
College of San Mateo offers 97 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2020, 728 students graduated with students earning 657 Associate's degrees, and 71 Certificates.
Diablo Valley College offers 165 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 2,433 students graduated with students earning 1,828 Associate's degrees, and 605 Certificates.
City College of San Francisco offers 204 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large city. In 2020, 1,986 students graduated with students earning 1,302 Associate's degrees, and 684 Certificates.
Los Medanos College offers 85 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 1,614 students graduated with students earning 1,032 Associate's degrees, and 582 Certificates.
Berkeley City College offers 63 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2020, 701 students graduated with students earning 355 Certificates, and 346 Associate's degrees.
College of Marin offers 81 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 383 students graduated with students earning 343 Associate's degrees, and 40 Certificates.
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 126 students graduated with students earning 108 Certificates, and 18 Associate's degrees.
Contra Costa College offers 81 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 885 students graduated with students earning 599 Associate's degrees, and 286 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 | 23 : 1 | 42,327 | |
|
San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA | 14 : 1 | 410 | |
|
Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA | 17 : 1 | 3,439 | |
|
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | 22 : 1 | 10,068 | |
|
Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA | 19 : 1 | 1,837 | |