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San Francisco Conservatory of Music

SFCM

San Francisco, California 94102-6011

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateClose Faculty Access

Close-knit campus

San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private urban institution in San Francisco, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 215 undergraduates with a 3:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

52% of students graduate within four years. Net price after aid averages $42,448.

Established
1917
Type
Private music conservatory

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

52%Acceptance
SAT Avg
215Students
3:1Student:Faculty
52%Grad Rate
Earnings 10yr
$42,448Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

San Francisco Conservatory of Music Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate51.9%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

51.9%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$54,550
Room & Board$20,200
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$78,209
Average Net Price$42,448
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$30,283
$30–48K$38,209
$48–75K$43,138
$75–110K$40,423
$110K+$45,384

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

52.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$22,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

0

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

0

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

0

Drug Arrests

0

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (5)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

74%

Negative
  • 74% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
215
Gender Split
37% / 63%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
16%

Race & Ethnicity

White 30%
Black 4%
Hispanic 13%
Asian 7%
Two+ 10%
Int'l 30%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate52.5%
Freshman Retention73.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$23,988

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History The Oak Street building in 2017 (fisheye perspective) The San Francisco Conservatory of Music was founded in 1917 by Ada Clement and Lillian Hodghead as the Ada Clement Piano School.
  • In 1923, the school was incorporated as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, becoming the first music conservatory on the west coast.
  • In 1956 the Conservatory moved from Sacramento Street to 1201 Ortega Street, the home of a former infant shelter.
  • It resided there for fifty years, before moving to its current location at 50 Oak Street in 2006.
  • " As of 2021, the Bowes Center was envisaged to fully open to the public in February 2022.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SFO San Francisco11 mi
SJC San Jose39 mi
SMF Sacramento78 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2693 mi · ~77h 48m drive
New York, NY2566 mi · ~74h 8m drive
Hartford, CT2619 mi · ~75h 40m drive
Providence, RI2682 mi · ~77h 29m drive
Albany, NY2554 mi · ~73h 47m drive
Syracuse, NY2430 mi · ~70h 12m drive
Rochester, NY2356 mi · ~68h 4m drive
Buffalo, NY2294 mi · ~66h 16m drive
Philadelphia, PA2517 mi · ~72h 43m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2260 mi · ~65h 17m drive
Harrisburg, PA2423 mi · ~70h drive
Newark, NJ2557 mi · ~73h 52m drive
Washington, DC2435 mi · ~70h 21m drive
Baltimore, MD2451 mi · ~70h 48m drive
Atlanta, GA2136 mi · ~61h 42m drive
Charlotte, NC2297 mi · ~66h 21m drive
Raleigh, NC2405 mi · ~69h 29m drive
Miami, FL2591 mi · ~74h 51m drive
Orlando, FL2437 mi · ~70h 24m drive
Tampa, FL2397 mi · ~69h 15m drive
Nashville, TN1959 mi · ~56h 36m drive
New Orleans, LA1922 mi · ~55h 31m drive
Richmond, VA2436 mi · ~70h 22m drive
Chicago, IL1855 mi · ~53h 35m drive
Detroit, MI2087 mi · ~60h 17m drive
Minneapolis, MN1581 mi · ~45h 40m drive
St. Louis, MO1741 mi · ~50h 18m drive
Kansas City, MO1504 mi · ~43h 27m drive
Indianapolis, IN1945 mi · ~56h 11m drive
Columbus, OH2109 mi · ~60h 56m drive
Cleveland, OH2162 mi · ~62h 27m drive
Milwaukee, WI1838 mi · ~53h 6m drive
Dallas, TX1481 mi · ~42h 47m drive
Houston, TX1642 mi · ~47h 26m drive
Austin, TX1500 mi · ~43h 20m drive
San Antonio, TX1488 mi · ~42h 59m drive
Los Angeles, CA347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
San Francisco, CA0 mi · ~0 min drive
San Diego, CA458 mi · ~13h 14m drive
Seattle, WA679 mi · ~19h 37m drive
Portland, OR535 mi · ~15h 27m drive
Denver, CO947 mi · ~27h 21m drive
Phoenix, AZ653 mi · ~18h 52m drive
Salt Lake City, UT599 mi · ~17h 18m drive
Honolulu, HI2395 mi · ~69h 11m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

San Francisco (SFO)11 miles
Rental car
17 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
22 min$13-22
San Jose (SJC)39 miles
Rental car
59 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
78 min$47-78

Deadline Calendar

San Francisco Conservatory of Music Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

San Francisco Conservatory of Music — v2 Preview — TourStack