Best colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area area
Colleges within 45 miles of San Francisco Bay Area, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area area14 schools
14 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Campus within 45 miles of the center of San Francisco Bay Area (straight-line distance from the school’s coordinates).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $13,807 a year
- 92% graduate
- 2
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $13,481 a year
- 93% graduate
- 3
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $50,062 a year
- 88% graduate
- 4
Unitek College
Fremont, CA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- Net price $25,179 a year
- 73% graduate
- 5
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Net price $35,333 a year
- 78% graduate
- 6
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Net price $41,431 a year
- 70% graduate
- 7
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Net price $42,607 a year
- 74% graduate
- 8
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- Net price $13,760 a year
- 69% graduate
- 9
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- Net price $30,378 a year
- 70% graduate
- 10
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Jose, CA · Private for-profitTop 18% for earnings
- Net price $32,427 a year
- 64% graduate
- 11
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · PublicTop 18% for earnings
- Net price $12,885 a year
- 58% graduate
- 12
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA · PublicTop 3% for earnings
- Net price $20,555 a year
- 60% graduate
- 13Tie
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $53,909 a year
- 61% graduate
- 13Tie
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Net price $12,278 a year
- 50% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | $13,807 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| University of California-Berkeley | $13,481 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| Santa Clara University | $50,062 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| Unitek College | $25,179 | $10,700 | $79,550 | 73% |
| Dominican University of California | $35,333 | $27,000 | $84,713 | 78% |
| University of San Francisco | $41,431 | $23,000 | $89,812 | 70% |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | $42,607 | $27,000 | — | 74% |
| San Jose State University | $13,760 | $15,000 | $78,988 | 69% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | $30,378 | $23,691 | $78,812 | 70% |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | $32,427 | $17,317 | $66,844 | 64% |
| Sonoma State University | $12,885 | $16,705 | $65,986 | 58% |
| California State University Maritime Academy | $20,555 | $24,965 | $94,784 | 60% |
| California College of the Arts | $53,909 | $27,000 | $49,414 | 61% |
| San Francisco State University | $12,278 | $15,371 | $68,077 | 50% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.