San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Francisco, California. It enrolls 226 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value—
Affordability7
Selectivity80
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 54.9%, San Francisco Conservatory of Music is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
54.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether San Francisco Conservatory of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending San Francisco Conservatory of Music isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $42,607 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$42,607
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$56,150
Room & Board (on-campus)
$22,930
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,235
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,764
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,032
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,781
Application fee: $110 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$55,704
$30,001 – $48,000
$33,386
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,504
$75,001 – $110,000
$36,802
Over $110,000
$45,245
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.
$15,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,50075%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 $27,000
—
No Pell $16,500
↓ $10,500
Female students $16,875
↓ $10,125
Male students $26,750
↓ $250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Post-graduation earnings data is not yet reported for San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
—
Earning > $25K
—
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Who Studies Here
San Francisco Conservatory of Music is home to 226 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
226
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 29.7%67
White 21.7%49
Hispanic 8.9%20
Asian 8.4%19
Other 8.0%18
Black 1.8%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Francisco, California
Housing
Strongly residential227 beds for 226 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
San Francisco Conservatory of Music offers
a focused set of programs:
3 distinct programs across
1 major.
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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Francisco Conservatory of Music is 3:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
3:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$300M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$135,310
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
29 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
29
100%
$135,310
Pros & Cons of San Francisco Conservatory of Music
A quick at-a-glance summary of how San Francisco Conservatory of Music 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
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Is San Francisco Conservatory of Music hard to get into?
Admissions at San Francisco Conservatory of Music are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 54.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at San Francisco Conservatory of Music?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music has an acceptance rate of 54.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does San Francisco Conservatory of Music cost?
The average net price after aid at San Francisco Conservatory of Music is $42,607 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is San Francisco Conservatory of Music known for?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music is best known for its programs in Music, Music, Music. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is San Francisco Conservatory of Music accredited?
Yes. San Francisco Conservatory of Music is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend San Francisco Conservatory of Music?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music enrolls 226 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is San Francisco Conservatory of Music a public or private college?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is San Francisco Conservatory of Music located?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located in San Francisco, California.
What programs does San Francisco Conservatory of Music offer?
San Francisco Conservatory of Music offers 3 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Music, Music.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at San Francisco Conservatory of Music?
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Francisco Conservatory of Music is 3:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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