New International Students

F-1 International students are expected to have adequate funds to support your studies at SF State.  Do not rely on earning extra money after you arrive the United States.  U.S. Financial Aid is not available for F-1 International students.

Estimated Registration & Fee Schedule

Tuition is paid one semester at a time.  We recommend new international students to pay tuition while they are still in their home countries to avoid delay of class registration and/or late fee.  The amount of the tuition should cover full-time enrollment (regardless which class you are going to enroll).  For example, if you are a F-1 International undergraduate student, you should pay at least $8,381 to cover 12 units.  Graduate students should pay for at least 8 units.

Below is a current tuition chart for Undergraduate, Graduate, and MBA/MSA students per semester.  Students are advised to visit Bursar’s website for the most current information on tuition, registration fee, and important deadlines. Bursar’s website also provide a list of payment methods.  If you wish to pay tuition by installment plan. Please be aware that there is a non-refundable service charge of 15% on each installment.

SF State has partnered with flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our international students.  SF State collects international payments via Flywire with local accounts around the world.  Flywire processes payments securely, typically in your home local currency.  You can make payments from any country, any bank, save on bank fees and exchange rates, and track your payments from start to when it reaches your school’s account. 

Visit Bursar's International payments information for more details.  

Undergraduate Students (Per Semester)

Graduate Students (Per Semester)

MBA/MSA Students (Per Semester)

** Please note that tuition cost include local registration fees and non-resident tuition and are subject to change.

In addition to the full-time tuition, please budget at least USD $1800 to purchase the SF State sponsored insurance before class registration.  All international students in F-1 status are required to have the SF State sponsored insurance during their period of enrollment at SF State.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after fees are initially charged or initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).

Expenses Upon Arrival

Some of the initial expenses you will encounter include your books, university fees and tuition, living cost, temporary housing costs, and local travel expenses. Do not bring a lot of cash - we recommend that you use travelers’ checks in U.S. dollars as they can be easily replaced if lost or stolen. If you have a bank account with a debit card or credit account at home, you should be able to withdraw money from an ATM in the U.S.

Expenses often overlooked by new international students

1. Overnight lodging: Hotel charges in big cities are very high-anywhere from $90-$200/night
2. Tips: Tips on taxi fares and restaurant meals: It is customary to add 15% to the bill
3. Taxes: State and local sales taxes added to the price of many items or services. Consumer taxes vary from state to state. The sales tax in San Francisco is 8.5%. This means if the price tag says US$10, you will need to pay US$10.85
4. Housing deposit: You may have to pay up to three months’ rent before moving into an off-campus apartment
5. Personal and household items: In furnished and unfurnished apartments, you will have to purchase linens, towels, kitchen utensils, etc.

Money Matters

You may bring a bank draft or a check for deposit in an account you will be opening at a local bank. However, it may take as long as 4-6 weeks to access your funds at the local banks. While you are waiting for your bank draft to clear, your money will not be available for you to use. If you did not pay tuition while you are in your country, make sure you have access to adequate amount of money SOON after your arrival so you can pay the tuition and all initial expenses.