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Tuition & Fees

a lively lounge in the bowes center with students eating and talking

A breakdown of costs for tuition and other expenses.

The numbers below apply to all undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and Artist Diploma programs. These numbers do not take into account Financial Aid at SFCM. Nearly all of our students - 99 percent - are awarded scholarship assistance, with the average percentage of tuition covered at 60 percent.

2023–24 Tuition

Full-time student
$52,800 annually / $26,400 per semester

Full-time students who wish to register for credits in excess of 18.5 in the Fall or Spring (not counting ensembles) must pay a per-credit fee of $2,320.

Secondary/additional instrument instruction

  • One half-hour lesson per week: $5,880 annually / $2,940 per semester
  • One hour-long lesson per week: $11,760 annually / $5,880 per semester

Part-time student
Per academic credit
$4,640 annually / $2,320 per semester

Private instruction (one hour-long lesson per week)
$21,060 annually / $10,530 per semester

SFCM Student Budget

Students should come to SFCM fully prepared to meet their tuition, fees, and living expenses. Although living expenses will vary considerably, the following figures should help students plan a budget for the academic year:

2023 - 2024 SFCM Student Budget (based on a nine-month academic year)
This is the budget that will be used for purposes of financial aid. If you have any questions please contact the Office of Financial Aid. Direct costs are typically paid directly to SFCM. Indirect costs are estimates for additional possible expenses students should consider when budgeting.

Type Tuition Housing Dining Plan 3 Fees Total Direct Costs
Direct Costs $52,800 $13,900 1 $6,300 $1,750 $74,750

Estimated additional student expenses

Type Books and Supplies Personal Expenses Estimate 4 Health Insurance Total Indirect Costs
Indirect Costs $1,000 $3,400 $2,382*** $7,041

Total estimated cost of attendance for Undergraduates: $81,791

  1. Housing is based on a shared room at the Bowes Center. On-campus housing is required for Undergraduates in accordance with the Residency Requirement Policy.
  2. Students who live off-campus estimated $1,800/month rent for an individual in a 2-bedroom apartment for the 9 months during the academic year.
  3. See the Dining Services website for more information.
  4. Personal expenses estimate includes travel expenses, toiletries, clothing, entertainment, and additional food outside of the dining plan.

***All full-time students are required to have health insurance. This estimate is based on the 2022-23 SFCM Student Health Insurance Plan. Fall coverage is from August 1 to December 31 and spring coverage is from January 1 to July 31. All students will have this charge on their student billing account until waived with proof of insurance and a signed waiver form.

Type Tuition Housing Estimate Dining Plan 3 Fees   Total Direct Costs
Direct Costs $52,800 $17,500 2 $4,200 $1,750   $76,250

Additional estimated student expenses

Type Books and Supplies Personal Expenses Estimate 4 Health Insurance Total Indirect Costs
Indirect Costs $1,000 $5,400 $3,454*** $9,763

Total estimated cost of attendance for Graduates and Postgraduates: $86,013

  1. Housing is based on a shared room at the Bowes Center. On-campus housing is required for Undergraduates in accordance with the Residency Requirement Policy.
  2. Students who live off-campus estimated $1,800/month rent for an individual in a 2-bedroom apartment for the 9 months during the academic year.
  3. See the Dining Services website for more information.
  4. Personal expenses estimate includes travel expenses, toiletries, clothing, entertainment, and additional food outside of the dining plan.

***All full-time students are required to have health insurance. This estimate is based on the 2022-23 SFCM Student Health Insurance Plan. Fall coverage is from August 1 to December 31 and spring coverage is from January 1 to July 31. All students will have this charge on their student billing account until waived with proof of insurance and a signed waiver form.

The $500 enrollment reservation is required of all students and is credited to the tuition payment due for the Fall semester. The enrollment reservation is non-refundable if the student fails to register, and is due from new graduate and postgraduate students by April 15, and from new undergraduate students by May 1. The enrollment deposit should be paid through the admitted student's application status page after indicating attendance through the Reply to Offer of Admission form.

The balance of Fall tuition and fees must be paid when Fall classes begin. Spring tuition and fees must be paid when Spring classes begin. Students may also enroll in the Term Payment Plan (please see above).

Payments can be made by cash or check:

  • Checks can be mailed to SFCM, in care of the Business Office (50 Oak Street, San Francisco, CA 94102), or they can be brought in person. Checks should be made out to “The San Francisco Conservatory of Music” or “SFCM.”
  • If you wish to wire funds to SFCM, please contact Anna Semina in the Business Office.

 

  • First week: $250
  • Each subsequent week: $50
  • Late Payment Fee: $75
  • Late Tuition Payment Plan Fee: $25
  • Non-Sufficient Funds Fee: $25

Use the Net Price Calculator to get a sense of the cost of attendance based on what similar students paid in a previous year.

To view our Refund Policy, please visit sfcm.edu/refund-policy

Solanch Sosa

Solanch Sosa '22

BM Violin

Ihave known since childhood that if I wanted to be a professional classical musician, I would need to work hard to get a scholarship at a conservatory. I started playing violin at age 7 in my home city of Cienfuegos, Cuba, where I was selected to attend an elementary school with a rigorous music program. When my family immigrated to the United States several years later, however, the cost of continuing my music education became a challenge, as my Spanish-speaking parents struggled to cover our family’s basic needs with minimum-wage jobs. So, for the past ten years, I practiced nine hours a day with the hope of earning a scholarship that would enable me to continue my training at the highest level. . . When I received my acceptance letter to SFCM and a generous scholarship that made it possible for me to attend, it was one of the happiest moments in my life.”

Contact

Anna Semina

Student Accounts Manager
studentaccounts@sfcm.edu
415-503-6236