Tuition & Fees
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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 merit-based scholarships, with an average of 60 percent tuition coverage.
2024–25 Tuition
Full-time student
$54,400 annually / $27,200 per semester
Adding an Instrument
Students who are approved to take lessons on a secondary instrument/ voice must pay an additional instruction fee.
- 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
Enrolling in 18.5+ Credit Hours
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.
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
Cost of Attendance
Below is a breakdown of the estimated total cost of attendance (COA) by degree level. Although living expenses will vary considerably, the following figures should help students plan a budget for the academic year.
Below are the direct and indirect costs that add up to the total estimated cost of attendance (COA) for undergraduate students at SFCM. Please see additional details for further information regarding estimates.
Total Undergraduate Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA): $85,465
Direct Costs
- Tuition (fixed per year): $54,400
- Fees (fixed per year): $1,750
- Housing (variable): $13,900 1
- Dining Plan (variable): $9,030 2
Total Direct Costs: $79,080
Indirect Costs (Estimates)
- Books & Supplies: $1,000
- Personal Expenses: $3,000 3
- Health Insurance: $2,385 4
Total Indirect Costs: $6,385
Additional Details
- Housing Estimate: The housing estimate is based on a shared room at the Bowes Center. SFCM requires undergraduate students to reside on campus for the first 3 academic years (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years) in accordance with the Residency Requirement Policy. Students who live off-campus estimated $1,915/month rent for an individual in a studio apartment for the 9 months during the academic year. $1,915/month is the average in San Francisco according to the California Budget and Policy Center.
- Dining Direct Cost: Dining direct costs are based on the Platinum Dining plan (includes 3 meals a day / 7 days a week + $100 declining balance. See the Dining Services website for more information on other meal plan levels.
- Personal Expenses: The personal expenses estimate includes travel expenses, toiletries, clothing, entertainment, and additional food outside of the dining plan.
- Health Insurance: All full-time students are required to have health insurance. This estimate is based on the 2024-25 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.
Below are the direct and indirect costs that add up to the total estimated cost of attendance (COA) for graduate students at SFCM. Please see additional details for further information regarding estimates.
Total Graduate / Postgraduate Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA): $91,119
Direct Costs
- Tuition (fixed per year): $54,400
- Fees (fixed per year): $1,750
- Housing (variable): $18,0001
- Dining Plan (variable): $9,030 2
Total Direct Costs: $83,180
Indirect Costs (Estimates)
- Books & Supplies: $1,000
- Personal Expenses: $3,000 3
- Domestic Student Health Insurance: $3,939 4
Total Indirect Costs: $7,939
Additional Details
- Housing Estimate: The housing estimate is based on a small single room at the Bowes Center. SFCM requires undergraduate students to reside on campus for the first 3 academic years (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years) in accordance with the Residency Requirement Policy. Graduate and postgraduate students can apply for on campus housing. Students who live off-campus estimated $1,915/month rent for an individual in a studio apartment for the 9 months during the academic year. $1,915/month is the average in San Francisco according to the California Budget and Policy Center.
- Dining Direct Cost: Dining direct costs are based on the Platinum Dining plan (includes 3 meals a day / 7 days a week + $100 declining balance. See the Dining Services website for more information on other meal plan levels.
- Personal Expenses: The personal expenses estimate includes travel expenses, toiletries, clothing, entertainment, and additional food outside of the dining plan.
- Health Insurance: Graduate International Students have a health insurance rate of $2,385. All full-time students are required to have health insurance. This estimate is based on the 2024-25 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 | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shared room within a unit | $13,900 |
| Small Single room in a converted unit (Room C) | $18,000 |
| Single Room in a Converted Unit (Rooms A and B) | $19,000 |
| Regular Single Room | $20,000 |
| Single XL Room | $21,000 |
Learn about Bowes Center Student Housing.
SFCM requires undergraduate students to reside on campus for the first 3 academic years (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years) in accordance with the Residency Requirement Policy. Graduate and postgraduate students can apply for on campus housing. Students who live off-campus estimated $1,915/month rent for an individual in a studio apartment for the 9 months during the academic year. $1,915/month is the average in San Francisco according to the California Budget and Policy Center.
| Type | Meal Swipes | Per Semester Declining Points | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 1 breakfast, 1 lunch & 1 dinner (7 days / wk) | 100 | $9,030 |
| Gold1 | 2 swipes / day (7 days / wk) | 200 | $6,300 |
| Silver2 | 1 swipe / day (7 days / wk) | 300 | $4,200 |
| Bronze | None | 500 | $1,000 |
- Minimum required plan for Freshmen and Sophomores.
- Minimum required plan for Bowes residents who are not Freshman or Sophomores.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are due by the start of each semester. Students may enroll in a Term Payment Plan, questions about payment plans should be referred to the Student Billing Office. Students should come to SFCM fully prepared to meet their tuition, fees, and living expenses.
A non-refundable $500 enrollment reservation fee is required of all new students, due May 1 for undergraduate students, April 15 for graduate and post-graduate students and paid through the Application Status Portal. Spring semester applicants must pay this fee as outlined by the Admissions Office. Please note, this fee is non-refundable even if the student chooses to no longer attend.
The reservation fee is credited towards the first semester of tuition at SFCM..
View SFCM's Refund Policy
All electronic payments will be processed through our service provider Nelnet. Students must authorize their parents or other financial sponsors through Nelnet to make payments on their behalf. Authorization is completed exclusively through Nelnet. Alternatively, payments can be made in cash or by check. Checks should be mailed or delivered to the Business Office at 50 Oak Street, Room 409, San Francisco, CA 94102, made out to 'The San Francisco Conservatory of Music’
View SFCM's Refund Policy
- First week: $250
- Each subsequent week: $50
- Late Payment Fee: $75
- Late Tuition Payment Plan Fee: $25
- Non-Sufficient Funds Fee: $25
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.”
