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San Francisco , CA
San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a public university located in the vibrant and culturally diverse city of San Francisco, California. Established in 1899, it is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University (CSU) system. SFSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including arts, humanities, social sciences, business, health sciences, and science and engineering.
One of the distinct qualities of San Francisco State University is its commitment to social justice and activism. The university has a rich history of promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equity, which are reflected in its academic programs, curriculum, and campus activities. SFSU prioritizes experiential learning and provides students with opportunities to engage with real-world issues through community service, internships, and research projects. The campus is also known for fostering a welcoming environment for students from different backgrounds, enabling them to develop a global perspective and actively contribute to society.
San Francisco State University boasts a vibrant campus life, where students can engage in a variety of extracurricular activities and organizations. The university offers more than 120 student clubs and organizations, including academic, cultural, professional, and recreational groups. These clubs provide opportunities for students to connect with peers who share their interests and passions. The campus also hosts numerous events and performances, showcasing the city's vibrant arts scene and providing students with chances to immerse themselves in cultural experiences. Additionally, SFSU's location in San Francisco allows students to tap into the city's resources, including its robust job market, world-class museums, theaters, music venues, and iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, CA and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 96%. The freshman retention rate at San Francisco State University is 84% and the six-year graduation rate is 54%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Learn more about what San Francisco State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
20,756
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. How difficult is it to get admitted to San Francisco State University and what are the admission requirements?
In 2023, the school accepted 28,727 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.44. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by February 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for San Francisco State University was 84% in 2023, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 54%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at San Francisco State University in 2023 was 23,935.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 1. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 20,756, 709 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 2,304.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 8,153 male and 10,563 female full-time students in 2023. There were 677 full-time graduate male and 1,297 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 4,780 Asian students and 1,295 Afro-American students in 2023. 7,983 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,187 as multirace. The school also had 118 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 33 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 838 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important information on San Francisco State University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $6,450, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $19,770 for students coming from a different state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $19,770, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,878 in 2023.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,770 | $1,878 | $21,648 |
| In-State | $6,450 | $1,878 | $8,328 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,100.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2023, room and board cost at San Francisco State University amounted to $23,890 a year. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $18,270 for the 2023 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $15,030.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,450 |
| Room and Board | $ 23,890 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,100 |
| Total Expense | $ 31,440 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at San Francisco State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,705 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,314.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 12,235 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at San Francisco State University isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 14,151. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $52,069,443, and state $70,395,065. The students of San Francisco State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $1,009,187, and external in the amount of $1,830,407.
$2,431
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,121 students overall (including freshmen) at San Francisco State University in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 214 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,500. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $6,670 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at San Francisco State University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 3,172. Out of that number, there were 1,382 men and 1,790 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at San Francisco State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at San Francisco State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about social life at San Francisco State University.
It has a campus size of 142 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 87. This number includes sororities and fraternities. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? San Francisco State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At San Francisco State University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of San Francisco State University.
All in all, campus life at San Francisco State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at San Francisco State University.
Career Counselling
At San Francisco State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, CA.
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San Francisco State University doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for San Francisco State University is 96%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for San Francisco State University is 84%.
Contact Information
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco , CA
94132-1722
415 338-1100
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.