Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 61/100

Golden Gate University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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San Francisco, California

About Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Francisco, California. It enrolls 259 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
51.2%
Net Price
Median Earnings (10yr)
$87,434
Enrollment
259
Student : Faculty
10:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic Calendar Trimester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes
Value
Affordability 44
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Golden Gate University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Golden Gate University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Net-price data is not yet reported for this school.

Average Net Price
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,500
10% percentile
$8,625
25% percentile
$29,875
Median percentile
$35,500
75% percentile
$47,824
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,000 ↓ $6,875
No Pell $17,125 ↓ $12,750
Female students $19,422 ↓ $10,453
Male students $18,750 ↓ $11,125
Pell recipients: 29.4% (8,776 students)No Pell: 21.9% (6,534 students)Female students: 24.8% (7,411 students)Male students: 23.9% (7,154 students)Overall Median$29,875
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $15,368, less than completers ($29,875), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

51% of full-time students who enrolled at Golden Gate University graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Golden Gate University earn a median of $87,434 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$87,434
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$81,000$83,000$85,000$86,000$88,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$72,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$94,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $21,700, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 25.4 pts across 6 years
57.1%1yr65.4%3yr82.5%5yr
What this signals: Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Golden Gate University is home to 259 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 53% are first-generation college students, 47% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
259
Part-Time
47%
First-Generation
53%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Asian 27.4% 71
White 25.5% 66
Hispanic 16.2% 42
Black 15.1% 39
Other 5.8% 15
International 3.1% 8
Asian: 27.4% (71 students)White: 25.5% (66 students)Hispanic: 16.2% (42 students)Black: 15.1% (39 students)Other: 5.8% (15 students)International: 3.1% (8 students)Total259

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Golden Gate University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City San Francisco, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
78% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Golden Gate University offers a varied set of programs: 24 distinct programs across 8 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

12 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Golden Gate University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$87M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$89,930
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

47 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 23 49% $105,024
Associate Professors 13 28% $86,276
Assistant Professors 2 4% $61,812
Lecturers 9 19% $62,883

Pros & Cons of Golden Gate University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Golden Gate University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Above-average post-graduation earnings
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for: Based on the data, Golden Gate University is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Golden Gate University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Golden Gate University.

What is Golden Gate University known for?
Golden Gate University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Golden Gate University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Golden Gate University are $87,434, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Golden Gate University accredited?
Yes. Golden Gate University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Golden Gate University?
Golden Gate University enrolls 259 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Golden Gate University?
Golden Gate University graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Golden Gate University a public or private college?
Golden Gate University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Golden Gate University located?
Golden Gate University is located in San Francisco, California.
What programs does Golden Gate University offer?
Golden Gate University offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Law.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Golden Gate University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Golden Gate University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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