San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private nonprofit smaller four-year college in San Francisco, CA, focused on bachelor’s-level study with an urban campus setting, with about 226 undergraduates, an acceptance rate of about 54.9%, listed tuition around $56,150 and typical net price of $42,607 after grants, first-year retention of 92.7%, about 73.7% of students graduating within six years, and median earnings of $23,988 six years after enrollment.

Grade for San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Letter grades from Best Universities methodology. Overall grade blends the categories below for schools in that ranking cohort.

Overall grade

D-

Best Universities compares this school with national benchmarks for similar institutions.

How are grades calculated?

Affordability
F

$42,607Average net price

Outcomes
B

73.7%Graduation rate

Career
F

$23,988Median earnings, 6 years after entry

Economic Access
D

16.7%Pell Grant recipient share

Key facts for San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Tuition (in-state)
$56,150
Tuition (out-of-state)
$56,150
Total cost of attendance
$78,781
Average net price
$42,607
Acceptance rate
54.9%
Total enrollment
226
Graduation rate
73.7%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$23,988

Key rankings for San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Where San Francisco Conservatory of Music ranks among four-year colleges nationwide on selected cost and outcome measures. Rank 1 is best on that measure (lowest cost or debt; highest earnings, retention, or graduation). These are single-measure standings, not Best Universities list placement.

#1,763 of 1,811

Net Price

#1,757 of 1,816

Earnings

#185 of 1,808

Retention

#314 of 1,850

Graduation

#1,471 of 1,767

Debt

What stands out at San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco Conservatory of Music in San Francisco, CA is a four-year college where bachelor’s-level study is the main focus.

  • Large city
  • 226 undergraduates
Average net price$42,607
Acceptance rate54.9%
Pell Grant recipient share16.7%
Graduation rate73.7%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$23,988
First-year retention92.7%

Average net price after aid sits above the national median for similar schools while six-year earnings fall short of it. That combination deserves a closer look at aid packages and likely majors.

First-year retention and graduation both track at or above national benchmarks for similar schools, suggesting relatively steady progress for students who start here.

Admission is more selective than the national middle for similar schools and Pell Grant use runs lower—typical of campuses where access is shaped more by selectivity than by very high financial need in the enrolled class.

Best Universities methodology explains how grades and ranked-list placements are calculated.

Student measures: Cost, completion, earnings, retention, and debt.

Institution context: Enrollment, demographics, faculty, setting, and admissions.

At a glance

Cost, outcomes & access at San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Two related measures side by side for a quick scan.

Net Price and Earnings

Average net price (after aid)
$42,607
Median earnings 6 years after entry
$23,988

Retention and Graduation

First-year retention
92.7%
Graduation rate (within 6 years)
73.7%

Acceptance and Pell Grant Share

Acceptance rate
54.9%
Undergraduate Pell recipient share
16.7%
Total cost and tuition

Annual figures on one dollar scale, so bar lengths are comparable within this chart. Total cost of attendance covers tuition, fees, and living costs. Listed tuition is the price before aid; average net price is what students paid after grants and scholarships.

Total cost of attendance$78,781
Listed tuition (in-state)$56,150
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$56,150
Room and board (on campus)$22,930
Average net price (after aid)$42,607

In-state tuition is above the national median of $19,284 for similar four-year colleges, while out-of-state tuition is above the national median of $26,816.

How San Francisco Conservatory of Music compares

Figures are for four-year colleges. State, region, and national columns use the middle value (median) for similar schools; retention uses averages for region and nation. Region shown: Far West (region 8).

This school vs state, regional, and national benchmarks

Net price

This school$42,607
State (CA)$25,305
Region$22,778
National$19,923

Earnings, 6 years

This school$23,988
State (CA)$51,784
Region$49,182
National$45,225

Retention

This school92.7%
State (CA)82.5%
Region78.1%
National74.9%

Graduation

This school73.7%
State (CA)61.5%
Region59.7%
National54.4%

Median debt

This school$27,000
State (CA)$22,000
Region$21,370
National$23,250

Swipe sideways to compare state, region, and national figures.

Measure This school State (CA) Region Nation
Net price$42,607Above national median$25,305$22,778$19,923
Earnings, 6 years$23,988Below national median$51,784$49,182$45,225
Retention92.7%Above national median82.5%78.1%74.9%
Graduation73.7%Above national median61.5%59.7%54.4%
Acceptance rate54.9%Below national median75.2%79.6%77.0%
Pell share16.7%Below national median35.1%32.7%33.9%
Median debt$27,000Above national median$22,000$21,370$23,250
3-year cohort default rate0.0%About the same0.0%0.0%0.0%

Recent 3-year cohort default rates are near zero because of the federal student loan payment pause and are not useful for school-to-school comparison.

Campus & institution details for San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Campus settingLarge city
Official websitehttps://sfcm.edu/
Student–faculty ratio5:1
Full-time faculty100.0%
Avg monthly faculty salary$15,211

Share of undergraduates in each group. Gender and race or ethnicity are reported separately, so each set totals about 100%.

Women41.6%
Men58.4%
Black or African American1.8%
Hispanic / Latino8.8%
White21.7%
Asian8.4%
Two or more races8.0%
International students29.6%

Confirm program details and current staffing on the college website.

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Common questions about San Francisco Conservatory of Music, answered with Best Universities cost and outcome figures. For how we rank schools, use the methodology link in the header; for deadlines and aid, rely on the college’s official site.

Where is San Francisco Conservatory of Music located?

San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located in San Francisco, CA. If the college has more than one campus, confirm addresses and program locations on the school's official site or with the admissions office.

What kind of school is San Francisco Conservatory of Music?

San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private nonprofit four-year college. Best Universities compares it with similar four-year institutions for ranking and benchmark purposes.

How much does it cost to attend San Francisco Conservatory of Music (tuition and net price)?

Listed sticker tuition is $56,150 for in-state students and $56,150 for out-of-state students. Average net price (typical annual cost after grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduates) is about $42,607. Your actual net price depends on income, residency, and aid.

What is San Francisco Conservatory of Music's acceptance rate?

The overall undergraduate acceptance rate is about 54.9% for the year shown. Selectivity can vary by program or campus; check admissions for the path you care about.

How large is San Francisco Conservatory of Music's undergraduate student body?

Undergraduate enrollment is about 226. Enrollment changes over time and may span multiple campuses depending on how the school reports.

What are completion and earnings outcomes for San Francisco Conservatory of Music?

Median earnings six years after entry at San Francisco Conservatory of Music are roughly $23,988. Outcomes vary widely by major, occupation, and region. About 73.7% of students graduate on time or soon after. Individual trajectories differ from these population-level measures.

How does Best Universities rank San Francisco Conservatory of Music?

Among similar schools nationwide, San Francisco Conservatory of Music stands as follows on selected measures: Average net price (#1,763 of 1,811); Median earnings, 6 years after entry (#1,757 of 1,816); First-year retention (#185 of 1,808); Graduation rate (#314 of 1,850); Median loan debt (#1,471 of 1,767). Those are single-measure ranks, not a single overall list place. See the methodology page for how Best Universities builds ranked lists.

Where should I go for admissions and official information about San Francisco Conservatory of Music?

For application deadlines, requirements, campus visits, and program lists, use San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s official website. Best Universities publishes cost and outcome figures for comparison; it does not replace the institution’s admissions or financial aid office.

All figures for San Francisco Conservatory of Music Expand to view

A fuller table of the figures Best Universities uses for this school. Useful if you are double-checking a number.

All figures for San Francisco Conservatory of Music
FieldValue
InstitutionSan Francisco Conservatory of Music
Official websitehttps://sfcm.edu/
City, stateSan Francisco, CA
School typeFour-year college
Undergraduate enrollment226
Listed tuition (in-state)$56,150
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$56,150
Listed tuition (generic)$56,150
Total cost of attendance$78,781
Room and board (on campus)$22,930
Average net price$42,607
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$23,988
Median earnings, 8 years after entry$27,899
Median earnings, 10 years after entryNot reported
Median loan debt$27,000
3-year cohort default rate0.0%
First-year retention92.7%
Graduation rate (4-year programs)73.7%
Graduation rate (shorter programs)Not reported
Acceptance rate54.9%
SAT averageNot reported
ACT averageNot reported
Pell Grant share16.7%
Share with federal loans39.4%
Part-time enrollment share2.2%
Campus settingLarge city
Student–faculty ratio5
Avg monthly faculty salary$15,211
Full-time faculty share100.0%
Online onlyNo
HBCUNo
SAT midpoint, MathNot reported
SAT midpoint, Reading & WritingNot reported
Share of undergraduates, women41.6%
Share of undergraduates, men58.4%
Share of undergraduates, Black1.8%
Share of undergraduates, Hispanic8.8%
Share of undergraduates, White21.7%
Share of undergraduates, Asian8.4%
Share of undergraduates, two or more races8.0%
Share of undergraduates, international29.6%
Net price, family income $0–30kNot reported
Net price, family income $30–48kNot reported
Net price, family income $48–75kNot reported
Net price, family income $75–110kNot reported
Net price, family income $110k+Not reported

Sources for San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Figures from the same school data Best Universities uses for rankings. Shortlist with them, then verify on the college’s official site.