A breakdown of costs for tuition and other expenses.
The numbers below apply to all undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and Artist Diploma programs.
2022–23 Tuition
Full-time student
$51,300 annually / $25,650 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 $2,250.
Secondary/additional instrument instruction
- One half-hour lesson per week: $5,710 annually / $2,855 per semester
- One hour-long lesson per week: $11,420 annually / $5,710 per semester
Part-time student
Per academic credit
$4,500 annually / $2,250 per semester
Private instruction (one hour-long lesson per week)
$20,440 annually / $10,220 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:
2022 - 2023 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.
Living On Campus
| Year | Tuition | Housing | Dining Plan 3 | Comprehensive Fee | Health Services | Total Tuition & Required Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 2nd Year Undergraduate | $51,300 | $13,900 1 | $6,000 | $1,100 | $400 | $72,700 |
| 3rd & 4th Year Undergraduate | $51,300 | $13,900 1 | $4,000 | $1,100 | $400 | $70,700 |
| Graduate and Postgraduate | $49,300 | $13,700 1 | $4,000 | $1,100 | $400 | $70,700 |
Estimated additional student expenses
| Year | Books and Supplies | Personal Expenses Estimate 4 | Health Insurance | Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 2nd Year Undergraduate | $1,000 | $5,400 | *** | $79,100 |
| 3rd & 4th Year Undergraduate | $1,000 | $7,400 | *** | $79,100 |
| Graduate and Postgraduate | $1,000 | $7,400 | *** | $79,100 |
Living Off Campus
| Year | Tuition | Housing Estimate | Dining Plan 3 | Comprehensive Fee | Health Services | Total Tuition & Required Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Students | $51,300 | $16,200 2 | $1,000 | $1,100 | $400 | $70,000 |
Estimated additional student expenses
| Year | Books and Supplies | Personal Expenses Estimate 4 | Health Insurance | Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Students | $1,000 | $6,100 | *** | $77,100 |
- 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.
- Students who live off-campus estimated $1,800/month rent for an individual in a 2-bedroom apartment for the 9-month academic year.
- Dining plan charge is the minimum required plan based on residency status and class year. See the Dining Services website for more information.
- 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. Estimated Undergraduate cost of the 2022-23 Student Health Insurance Plan is $2,625.45 ($1,093.95 for Fall, $1,531.50 for Spring and Summer), and the estimated Graduate student cost is $3,867.45 per year, ($1,611.45 for Fall and $2,256.00 for Spring/Summer). Fall coverage is from August 1 to December 31 (5 months) and Spring/Summer coverage is from January 1 to July 31 (7 months). All students will have this charge on their student billing account until waived with proof of insurance and a signed waiver form.
Student Health Insurance Plan ›
Term Payment Plan (TPP)
For students who want to pay on a monthly basis, the Conservatory offers an in-house Term Payment Plan for a one-time fee of $50 per semester. Tuition, fees, and housing (if applicable) for each semester will be divided into four equal payments, due at the beginning of each month. A $25 late fee is charged for all payments submitted after the 5th of the month. For more information on this plan, please read the Term Payment Plan Enrollment Form below. The first installment for the Fall 2022 semester is due September 1, 2022. Please note that this plan doesn't automatically renew; to keep using it, you must enroll every semester.
Term Payment Plan Enrollment Form ›
Payment of Tuition and Fees
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, check, or credit card:
- 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.”
- Credit card payments can be made over the phone, in person, or online at sfcm.edu/payment.
- Foreign credit cards are accepted.
- Please DO NOT email your credit card information. As part of our PCI Compliance, we don’t send or receive credit card information in unencrypted forms.
- If you wish to wire funds to SFCM, please contact Anna Semina in the Business Office.
Late Registration Fees
- 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
