San Francisco Conservatory of Music

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) is a nonprofit music school for applicants whose main goal is intensive professional training in music. Its curriculum spans performance, composition, conducting, music technology, jazz, historical performance and voice. The school combines studio instruction and academic study with recitals, ensembles and public performances; its location near San Francisco’s major arts organizations can make the city part of a student’s professional network. Admission is audition-based for many programs, so the right instrument, degree level and audition format should be settled before an applicant begins the process.

Programs and musical focus

SFCM offers undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and certificate study in more than a dozen areas. Major pathways include brass, composition, conducting, guitar, historical performance, percussion, keyboard, Roots, Jazz and American Music, strings, chamber music, Technology and Applied Composition, woodwinds and voice. Depending on the discipline, students may pursue a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Professional Studies Certificate or Artist Diploma. The conservatory also lists opera and musical theatre, collaborative piano, orchestral instruments, baroque instruments and recording or production work among its focused areas. Since available credentials differ by major, compare the current degree and program list before choosing an application track.

Auditions, application and fit

Applicants should plan around both the written application and the required audition or prescreening materials for their intended program. Audition requirements and dates vary by instrument and degree; some candidates may request an alternate audition format when they cannot attend in person, subject to program exceptions. A prospective student can ask Admissions about repertoire, prescreening, deadlines and faculty fit, and request a sample lesson when available. Review the conservatory’s application and audition instructions before paying an application fee, because requirements are not identical across all programs.

Tuition, scholarships and living costs

For 2026–27, published full-time tuition is $58,400 per year, before fees and living expenses. SFCM estimates total undergraduate cost of attendance at $87,185, including housing, dining, books, personal expenses and health insurance; actual living costs can differ substantially in San Francisco. The school reports that 99% of students receive merit scholarships averaging 60% of tuition coverage. That is a schoolwide average, not a guaranteed award for an individual applicant, so compare your offer letter with the full annual budget and ask how renewal works. Financial aid may also include federal or state grants, loans and student work opportunities. Current tuition, fees and cost estimates are on SFCM’s tuition and financial-aid page.

Campus buildings and visiting

Main campus — Ann Getty Center for Education: 50 Oak Street, San Francisco, CA 94102-6011; main telephone (415) 864-7326. The conservatory lists office hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific during the academic year. Campus access is controlled: prospective students and families need to arrange a tour, and guests check in with security for a visitor pass. Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts: 200 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, about a five-minute walk from the Ann Getty Center. The two buildings hold classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces, student housing and dining. Tours normally begin at 50 Oak Street; confirm the meeting point and current access instructions in your appointment confirmation. Use the Connect & Visit portal to book a tour, virtual visit or sample lesson.

What students say about the experience

Student and alumni accounts often value the committed studio teachers, musical community and frequent chances to perform. Some reviewers describe scheduling conflicts between performance and required academic classes, while others question dining-plan flexibility or say the close-knit social scene can take time to enter. Those concerns matter at a small specialist school where practice, rehearsals and concerts shape the weekly routine. Ask how the calendar works in your intended program, what housing and dining will cost, and how much performance experience undergraduates can expect. Read a range of student reviews alongside the official program and cost information.