SFSU Attracts National Recognition for Quality Educational Experience and ROI

San Francisco State University continues to attract national recognition from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, and other entities for the quality education SFSU delivers to students and ROI (return on investment) in the competitive higher education marketplace.

SFSU‘s reputation as a launchpad for student success and a vital driver of the Bay Area’s economy stands out in the latest economic impact report released by the California State University (CSU) system. The report analyzes the CSU’s contributions to California as a whole and at its 23 campuses statewide, through its transformative impact on students as well as the state’s economy, industry and society.

In addition, SFSU received a ranking of 4.5 out of five stars in Money Magazine’s, Best College’s 2025, and been named among the top 20 affordable colleges with high return on investment by MSN.com. At the same time, research from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that the SFSU’s 10-year return on investment (ROI) has grown significantly over the past decade, underscoring SFSU’s role as a driver of economic mobility and opportunity in the Bay Area. It’s the latest evidence that the future truly is brighter for students who choose SFSU.

For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal has put SFSU on its list of the top 25 universities in the country for social mobility — how well schools help their students create better futures for themselves and their families. It’s recognition that SFSU has always been about: opening doors and creating opportunity. The WSJ also ranks SFSU in the top 5% nationally for ROI from a degree.

Research from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that the SFSU’s 10-year return on investment (ROI) has grown significantly over the past decade, underscoring SFSU’s role as a driver of economic mobility and opportunity in the Bay Area. For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal has put SFSU on its list of the top 25 universities in the country for social mobility.

Landing in the top 25 for social mobility two years running shows the lasting impact of an SFSU degree. In higher education, social mobility is the measure of how well a college helps students — especially those from families with limited financial security — move into higher-paying careers and improve their economic situation.

At SFSU, social mobility is more than a statistic. It’s a mission rooted in access, equity and student success. You can see it in the numbers: 32% of SFSU students are the first in their families to go to college, and 58% receive financial aid. For many, getting an SFSU degree is not just a milestone — it’s a life-changer.

“SFSU was founded on the principle that higher education should change lives,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “Social mobility isn’t just a ranking for us — it’s the very heart of what we do. We help students gain the skills and confidence to transform their lives, their families’ futures and the communities they go on to serve.”

“Social mobility isn’t just a ranking for us — it’s the very heart of what we do. We help students gain the skills and confidence to transform their lives, their families’ futures and the communities they go on to serve.”
—SFSU President Lynn Mahoney

One alum who demonstrates that is Jessie Peterson (B.A., ’14). Peterson entered SFSU as a former foster youth and joined the Guardian Scholars program, which gave her housing, scholarships, mentoring and, as she puts it, “a family.” Today she’s an appellate criminal defense attorney at the Office of the State Public Defender, fighting for dignity and fairness in the justice system.

“I knew that if I went to SFSU, I’d be supported,” Peterson said. “I just didn’t know how much!” Peterson’s story is just one example of how students’ futures get brighter at SFSU — and why the University continues to be recognized as a national leader in social mobility.

According to the CSU report, SFSU is among California’s top universities helping students from all backgrounds turn education into meaningful and fulfilling careers. The report shows the degrees earned by SFSU alumni attribute to higher median incomes, totaling $4.2 billion, supporting statewide impacts of over 25,000 jobs.

“The results of the CSU Economic Impact study demonstrate the incredible return on investment that the state receives for support of the CSU,” President Mahoney said. “San Francisco State alone generates 9,700 state-level jobs, $717.4 million in wages earned and $101.7 million in tax revenues demonstrating the value of state support for the CSU. We fuel the Bay Area in so many ways, most importantly through the meaningful impact that an SFSU education has on the lives of our alumni and their families.”

“We fuel the Bay Area in so many ways, most importantly through the meaningful impact that an SFSU education has on the lives of our alumni and their families.”
—SFSU President Lynn Mahoney

The University’s overall impact on the Bay Area region is $1.5 billion in industry activity. For every $1 the state of California invests in SFSU, the return on investment yields over $44 when the impact of enhanced alumni earnings is included.

The report cites SFSU’s Criminal Justice Studies Department as an example of a program bridging classrooms and communities. Students intern with organizations that provide legal aid, re-entry support, youth mentorship and victim advocacy, expanding the capacity to serve marginalized populations, including formerly incarcerated individuals, at-risk youth and survivors of domestic violence. The report also recognizes SFSU’s graduate program in biomedical science and biotechnology, leveraging partnerships with Bay Area startups for thesis projects in gene editing, biosensors and biomanufacturing.

As the nation’s most diverse and impactful four-year public university system, the CSU is among the state’s most powerful engines of economic mobility. During the 2023 – 2024 academic year, the CSU supported 210,800 jobs, contributing $13.6 billion in labor income across California, while delivering an overall statewide impact of $31.6 billion.

Visit the CSU website to view the full report, “Moving California Forward: The Economic Power of the CSU.”