Costs and Financial Aid As the parent of a student who is thinking about attending college, you probably have two big questions - How much is my child's college education going to cost? And how am I going to pay for it? Because SFSU is a public university, its instructional fees are much more affordable than private institutions -- as little as one-tenth the cost of some colleges and universities. SFSU takes pride in offering a high-quality education at affordable prices to students from all backgrounds. Half of our students receive some form of financial aid, and more than three-quarters of our students hold down a job while going to school. Our financial aid counselors will put together a package tailored to your child's specific needs, using all available resources: grants, scholarships, loans, and on- and off-campus employment opportunities. For complete information about federal financial aid, the U.S. Department of Education Student Guide to Financial Aid is a comprehensive source for information on federal financial aid and is available in English and Spanish.