Universities in San Francisco, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

13 out of 13
  • Universities in San Francisco
  • Ranked in at least one ranking
27
  • Different Rankings list
  • Universities in San Francisco
  • (20 institution and 7 subject rankings)
18
  • Global Rankings rank
  • Universities in San Francisco
  • Among TOP 200

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in San Francisco, USA

Latest ranking updates related to universities in San Francisco
  • 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

#1
USA

University of San Francisco

Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0 (323 reviews)
  • #155 
  • #154 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #304 
  • #1001 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
  • #279 
  • #1904 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023]


#2
USA

San Francisco State University

Student satisfaction: 3.7 / 5.0 (1306 reviews)
  • #454 
  • #401 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #378 
  • #1201 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
  • #293 
  • #2135 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023]


Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (143 reviews)
Card image

  • #16 
  • #35 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023]
  • #13 
  • #16 
US News: Best Global Universities
[Published 24 October, 2022]
  • #26 
  • #74 
CWTS Leiden Ranking
[Published 22 June, 2022]



Student satisfaction: 4.8 / 5.0 (126 reviews)
  • #373 
  • #376 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #212 
  • #216 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #312 
  • #321 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]


Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (83 reviews)
Card image

  • #163 
  • #165 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #189 
  • #190 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1018 
  • #6706 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]


#6
USA

California Institute of Integral Studies

Student satisfaction: 4.7 / 5.0 (116 reviews)
  • #188 
  • #192 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #299 
  • #305 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #856 
  • #5842 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#7
USA

San Francisco Art Institute

Student satisfaction: 4.5 / 5.0 (683 reviews)
  • #372 
  • #383 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #480 
  • #497 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]


Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0 (39 reviews)
  • #505 
  • #4456 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2023]
  • #399 
  • #331 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 11 September, 2022]
  • #572 
  • #3067 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]


#9
USA

University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (71 reviews)
  • #663 
  • #3774 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]


Student satisfaction: 4.1 / 5.0 (1006 reviews)
  • #973 
  • #6430 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#11
USA

Saybrook University

Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0 (37 reviews)
Card image

  • #1315 
  • #8152 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#12
USA

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Student satisfaction: 5.0 / 5.0 (238 reviews)
  • #1387 
  • #8499 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#13
USA

Presidio Graduate School

  • #1622 
  • #10962 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

Highest subject rankings of universities in San Francisco

Clinical Medicine GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#2 
University of California, San Francisco
Biological Sciences Nature Index - Top Academic Institutions by Subject
#4 
University of California, San Francisco
Art Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#16 
California College of the Arts
Social Sciences NTU by Subject
#17 
University of California, San Francisco
Artificial Intelligence Nature Index - Top 100 Institutions in Artificial Intelligence
#21 
University of California, San Francisco
Biotechnology GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#37 
University of California, San Francisco
Law US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#51 
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Education GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#76 
University of California, San Francisco
Agricultural Sciences NTU by Subject
#250 
University of California, 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

Living costs for students in San Francisco:

* 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$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in San Francisco

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FAQ

University of San Francisco ranks #1 in San Francisco in our meta ranking composed of 118 university rankings.

Among all universities in San Francisco University of San Francisco is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 21 rankings where University of San Francisco is listed.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Medicine & Health (Clinical Medicine). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Natural Sciences (Biological Sciences). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

California College of the Arts is ranked best in San Francisco for Arts Visual & Performing (Art). See all rankings for the California College of the Arts.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Social Studies & Humanities (Social Sciences). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Engineering (Biotechnology). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

University of California, Hastings College of the Law is ranked best in San Francisco for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

University of California, San Francisco is ranked best in San Francisco for Agriculture (Agricultural Sciences). See all rankings for the University of California, San Francisco.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

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%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

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%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges You Can Actually Get Into:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Colleges That Add the Most Value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

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%

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Criteria used in ranking -NTU North America:

Research productivity 25% Research impact 35% Research Excellence 40%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

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%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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