- Universities in San Francisco
- Ranked in at least one ranking
- Different Rankings list
- Universities in San Francisco
- (20 institution and 7 subject rankings)
- Global Rankings rank
- Universities in San Francisco
- Among TOP 200
For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in San Francisco, USA
- 31 Jul, 2023: Latest Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities from Webometrics. 12 universities from San Francisco appear in this ranking.
- 27 Jun, 2023: Publication of QS World University Rankings. University of San Francisco with highest ranking among universities in San Francisco ranked #1001.
- 15 Jun, 2023: Nature Index - Top Academic Institutions by Subject (Biological Sciences) updated with University of California, San Francisco ranked highest among 2 listed universities in San Francisco.
- 15 Jun, 2023: Publication of Nature Index - Academic. University of California, San Francisco ranked #32.
San Francisco is a city which offers its residents endless options when it comes to enjoying art and music, and it’s also a great place to be a foodie thanks to San Francisco’s signature dishes like clam chowder or the Italian-American Cioppino, and a big emphasis on places to have brunch.
The city has a rich character, offering many different kinds of lifestyles that should appeal to just about anyone. For those who are still in higher education, San Francisco also offers a total of 12 different higher education institutions to enroll in.
Rankings of universities in San Francisco, USA 2023
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Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021] |
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QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023] |
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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023] |
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San Francisco State University
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Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021] |
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QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023] |
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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023] |
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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023] |
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US News: Best Global Universities
[Published 24 October, 2022] |
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CWTS Leiden Ranking
[Published 22 June, 2022] |
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Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021] |
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
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California Institute of Integral Studies
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
|
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
|
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Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021] |
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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023] |
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US News Best National Universities
[Published 11 September, 2022] |
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
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University of California, Hastings College of the Law
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |

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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |

San Francisco Conservatory of Music
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023] |
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Highest subject rankings of universities in San Francisco
Student Opinions About Studying in San Francisco
“Something you quickly notice when you live here is how many tech companies there are in the city. This stereotype about San Francisco is completely accurate, nearly every advert you see is for some kind of trendy new business promoting an on-demand service. All this is reflected in the job opportunities here, as most opportunities are coming from these start-ups.”
“San Francisco is very into exercising, whether it be walking everywhere, taking their bike, or Yoga sessions in the city’s innumerable parks. The cost of living may be high, but it’s clear that residents have a good quality of life in the city.”
“There’s always some kind of event or concert going on in the city, from Fleet Week to SantaCon, and they have a way of enticing you to check them out. You should keep an eye on bulletin boards in case there’s something going on that interests you.”
San Francisco Key Facts for International Students
Population: 865000
Elevation: 16 m. above sea level
Time: GMT -8
District/province: California, San Francisco County
* 100 = prices in London
- Living costs without accommodation 116* (16% more expensive than London)
- All costs including accommodation 130* (30% more expensive than London)
- Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 119* (19% more expensive than London)
- Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
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- Residential voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
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- Residential voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Map with location of universities in San Francisco



FAQ
Ranking publishers
4icu
- Universities:
- 400
- Published:
- 11 August, 2022
- Universities:
- 400
- Published:
- 11 August, 2022
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 12584
- Published:
- 27 June, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 6000
- Published:
- 25 April, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 3718
- Published:
- 22 June, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
Forbes
- Universities:
- 1098
- Published:
- 30 August, 2022
Kiplinger
- Universities:
- 500
- Published:
- 31 July, 2019
- Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:
Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%
MONEY
- Universities:
- 50
- Published:
- 25 August, 2020
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges You Can Actually Get Into:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
- Universities:
- 1362
- Published:
- 16 May, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
- Universities:
- 50
- Published:
- 25 August, 2020
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Colleges That Add the Most Value:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 2059
- Published:
- 02 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
- Universities:
- 354
- Published:
- 20 October, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU North America:
Research productivity 25% Research impact 35% Research Excellence 40%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 9700
- Published:
- 15 June, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
Payscale
- Universities:
- 2688
- Published:
- 11 November, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):
Ranking is based on ROI
- Universities:
- 3158
- Published:
- 11 November, 2021
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 16920
- Published:
- 06 March, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 12016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 556
- Published:
- 06 September, 2021
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 735
- Published:
- 23 November, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:
Employability (survey) 100%
- Universities:
- 627
- Published:
- 16 November, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:
Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%
- Universities:
- 348
- Published:
- 10 May, 2022
Urap
- Universities:
- 9002
- Published:
- 28 November, 2022
Us News
- Universities:
- 2820
- Published:
- 11 September, 2022
- Universities:
- 5248
- Published:
- 24 October, 2022
Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 1593
- Published:
- 14 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:
Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)
Washington Monthly
- Universities:
- 1222
- Published:
- 28 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:
Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 60012
- Published:
- 31 July, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%
Ranking publishers
4icu
- Universities:
- 400
- Published:
- 11 August, 2022
- Universities:
- 400
- Published:
- 11 August, 2022
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 12584
- Published:
- 27 June, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 6000
- Published:
- 25 April, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 3718
- Published:
- 22 June, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
Forbes
- Universities:
- 1098
- Published:
- 30 August, 2022
Kiplinger
- Universities:
- 500
- Published:
- 31 July, 2019
- Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:
Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%
MONEY
- Universities:
- 50
- Published:
- 25 August, 2020
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges You Can Actually Get Into:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
- Universities:
- 1362
- Published:
- 16 May, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
- Universities:
- 50
- Published:
- 25 August, 2020
- Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Colleges That Add the Most Value:
Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 2059
- Published:
- 02 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
- Universities:
- 354
- Published:
- 20 October, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU North America:
Research productivity 25% Research impact 35% Research Excellence 40%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 9700
- Published:
- 15 June, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
Payscale
- Universities:
- 2688
- Published:
- 11 November, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):
Ranking is based on ROI
- Universities:
- 3158
- Published:
- 11 November, 2021
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 16920
- Published:
- 06 March, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 12016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 556
- Published:
- 06 September, 2021
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 735
- Published:
- 23 November, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:
Employability (survey) 100%
- Universities:
- 627
- Published:
- 16 November, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:
Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%
- Universities:
- 348
- Published:
- 10 May, 2022
Urap
- Universities:
- 9002
- Published:
- 28 November, 2022
Us News
- Universities:
- 2820
- Published:
- 11 September, 2022
- Universities:
- 5248
- Published:
- 24 October, 2022
Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 1593
- Published:
- 14 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:
Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)
Washington Monthly
- Universities:
- 1222
- Published:
- 28 August, 2022
- Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:
Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 60012
- Published:
- 31 July, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%