Tuition and Costs of Attending SFBU: We Break it Down for You

Choosing to attend college or university is no small task. It takes a lot of time, effort, and resources. And, of course, you have to be able to pay for it. Now that you are ready to begin your university journey, it’s time to get ready to pay the bills! Because whether it's you or your parents footing the bill, going to college or attending university requires a certain level of financial responsibility.

At the same time, we don’t want you to worry. Sure, it will be important to budget properly. Maybe you’ll have to forgo that awesome new pair of kicks to ensure your new university bills get paid. Or maybe not! If you create a sound budget and act with fiscal responsibility, there is no reason why you can’t pay for a high-quality education and occasionally splurge on yourself. Whether it be a new pair of shoes or dinner at a nice restaurant, self-care is important. But how will you make it all work?

Fortunately, we’re here to break it all down for you. We’re going to share some tips and tricks, discuss specific tuition costs, associated costs, and even cover scholarships. We’ll also discuss ways to help you better manage your money. We want to help you get through your university experience in a sound financial position.

In the end, don’t let the idea of university costs dissuade you from the incredible opportunities a college education provides. Not only do we offer affordable tuition, but getting a college degree vastly improves your post-college earning potential. A higher education is always worth the cost.

What Are the Base Undergraduate and Graduate Costs to Attend SFBU?

Obviously, you will be looking at different costs depending on the SFBU program you choose. The total cost for the completion of a bachelor’s degree program at SFBU is $53,940. Here is the breakdown of what goes into those costs:

• Tuition: $39,600
• Fees: $4,000
• Graduation Petition: $300
• Textbooks: $5,700
• Health Insurance: $4,340

The total cost to complete a graduate or master’s program at SFBU comes in at $21,636. Here is the breakdown of what goes into those costs:

• Tuition: $16,020
• Fees: $1,600
• Graduation Petition: $300
• Textbooks: $1,800
• Health Insurance: $1,736

These costs are estimates. You will, for instance, purchase your textbooks from a vendor of your choosing. You will generally pay $150 per book, per course, depending on the program you choose. Fortunately, Student Services may be able to help you take advantage of textbook and healthcare discounts and considerations. Program fees and your graduation petition are all fixed costs. Students who reside in university housing pay $750 per month or $3,000 per semester.

For more information on tuition and costs, including a chart providing more cost breakdowns with tuition assistance included, click or tap here and head to our tuition and costs page.

Tuition Assistance and Scholarships for Students

SFBU is proud to offer classes at a lower price point than universities with similar programs. We’re also proud to offer tuition grants for up to 75% of your tuition costs. Our tuition grants offer big savings for students who need assistance paying for school. For example, for a master’s degree without tuition assistance, you would pay an estimated $21,636. With a 75% tuition grant, you can expect to pay around $9,486.

Not only does SFBU offer tuition assistance to those who qualify, we offer scholarships as well. In general, scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need.

While scholarship and tuition grant recipients are not required to repay scholarships or grants, the awards may require that the recipient continue to meet certain requirements while they are in class, such as maintaining a minimum grade point average or engaging in a certain activity. Scholarships may provide a monetary award, an in-kind award, or a combination. Let’s have a closer look at the scholarships SFBU offers. At the end of the section we will provide a link you can use to look at scholarship requirements in greater detail.

Students can apply for a few different types of President’s Scholarships at SFBU. First, students based in California can apply for a President’s Scholarship for California Community College transfer students. The most important aspect of this scholarship is that to take advantage of it, you must have earned an associates degree or obtained a minimum of 60 transferable credits at a California community college. Transferable credits must be counted towards a bachelor’s degree requirement. SFBU offers President’s Scholarships for those seeking a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree. These scholarships cover 100% of your tuition provided you meet certain requirements.

SFBU also offers scholarships that cover both tuition and housing. These are popular for students who want to both live in campus-provided housing and receive tuition assistance. Housing is limited, so the housing scholarship is contingent on housing availability, but if awarded the student receives housing assistance for a period of two consecutive semesters and 100% tuition assistance as well.

There are a limited number of scholarships available, so early applications are highly recommended. You remember the old saying, “The early bird gets the worm!” Consider this an accurate axiom when applying for a scholarship. You don’t want to miss out on it simply because you did not apply in time.

Did you know we currently have 62 students benefiting from one of our scholarships? This could certainly be you if you qualify. Right now we have 15 students utilizing the Housing Scholarship, 13 using the President’s Scholarship, and 34 getting 75% of their tuition paid through one of our Tuition Grants. These students are seeing real-world savings. And when you see them walking around campus with that new pair of kicks, you will understand why.

For more information, including the specific requirements associated with each type of scholarship, simply click or tap here.

Other Costs Associated with Attending a California University

Attending a college or university in Northern California comes with costs outside of what you pay to the university. Sure, you’ve got to cover tuition and housing (if you don’t get a scholarship), but there are other costs that you might not have considered. Many are associated with simply living! From computers to clothes - this is stuff you need regardless.

Consider technology and electronics. Electronics are one of the most expensive and commonly purchased items for college or university students. You don’t want a nice laptop just for that latest video game. You want to quickly and easily get around files and complete assignments. Students can expect to spend $262 on average on electronics.

We’ve been talking about those shoes, so why not expand on that. Clothes are not cheap and you will need them as you work towards your degree. What’s the breakdown on clothes and shoes? Around $148.37 per month. Obviously, we know San Franciscans are stylish and the city isn’t cheap, so you could probably add another twenty bucks to that.

Transportation will have to be another cost you consider. Especially since there are so may awesome activities in the Bay area! Whether you are a local with a vehicle or come from another country, getting around is important, and the costs associated are necessary expenses. Transportation costs can run up to $1,200 per year, depending on the modes or method of transportation you use.

Here are some other associated costs or expenses you can expect as a college student:

• Food
• Utilities
• Cell phone and service

As you can see, there are plenty of costs associated with attending a university. At SFBU, our goal is to ensure our students have the resources they need to succeed. There is certainly some measure of financial learning that comes from getting a degree. We are here to help you along your educational and financial journey, however, you need us. Contact us today to learn how your education awaits at San Francisco Bay University!