San Francisco State University (SFSU) vs Samuel Merritt University

San Francisco State University (SFSU) and Samuel Merritt University (SMU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning located in the vibrant city of San Francisco. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. SFSU, a public university, boasts a larger student body and a wider selection of undergraduate and graduate programs, including popular majors like Business, Psychology, and Computer Science. SMU, a private university with a focus on health sciences, excels in programs such as Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Acceptance rates, student demographics, and graduation rates also vary between the two universities, making it essential for prospective students to carefully consider their individual needs and preferences when making their choice. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to gain a deeper understanding of the distinctions between SFSU and SMU, and determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and career goals.

	Samuel Merritt University	San Francisco State University
Overview
Location	Oakland, California	San Francisco, California
Campus setting	City: Large	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Trimester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate		85.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	N/A	92.9%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $90	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70
SAT range	N/A	N/A
ACT range	N/A	N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants		27,777
Total number of admissions given out		25,809
Admitted students who chose to enroll		3,149
Yield rate		12.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)		N/A
High school GPA	N/A	Required
Recommendation letters	N/A	Not required
High school transcript	N/A	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	N/A	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price		In state: $30,675 Out of state: $42,555
Average net price		$13,641
Tuition		In state: $5,742 Out of state: $17,622
Room & board		Room/dormitory: $10,134 Meal plan: $4,392
Available payment plans		Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)		72.0% Average amount $9,586
Students receiving federal student loan		19.0% Average amount $4,829
Students taking out private loans		1.0% Average amount $13,379

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	728 Men 20.6% Women 79.4%	23,424 Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
Graduate students	1,320 Men 26.1% Women 73.9%	3,475 Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	1.6%
International students	N/A	7.0%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	N/A	4,332
First year students are required to live on campus?	N/A	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	California Washington Oregon Texas Colorado

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions	Health Professions Education Visual & Performing Arts Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Business
Students to faculty ratio	7:1	20:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	N/A	53.7%
Dropout rate	N/A	35.5%
Transferred out	N/A	7.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $123,663 Year 2: $139,136 Year 3: $143,948 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $101,572 Year 2: $110,846 Year 3: $121,792 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $124,643 Year 2: $116,083 Year 3: $121,450 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $80,463 Year 2: $73,635 Year 3: $73,513 Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $55,601 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $72,593 Medicine (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $56,189 Year 3: N/A Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $95,289 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $113,349 Year 2: $112,270 Year 3: $136,160 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Post-Baccalaureate Certificates) Year 1: $111,466 Year 2: $119,061 Year 3: $134,876 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $99,655 Year 2: $111,769 Year 3: $118,952 Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $88,331 Year 2: $84,653 Year 3: $92,910 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $55,088 Year 2: $68,499 Year 3: $89,726 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $77,510 Year 2: $80,124 Year 3: $88,723 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,988 Year 2: $72,605 Year 3: $85,412 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,876 Year 2: $68,219 Year 3: $82,073 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $59,604 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $80,061 Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $70,296 Year 3: $78,899

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San Francisco State University (SFSU) vs Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University

San Francisco State University

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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