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San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a public university in a large city in the San Francisco, CA metro with 20,756 students and a 96% acceptance rate.

San Francisco, California · Public · City, large · 20,756 students · R2 research university

NCAA Division II · California Collegiate Athletic Association

Admission rate

96%

of applicants admitted

Average net price

$12,278

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

50%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

84%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$68,077

10 years after entry

Students

20,756

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanEntry termDeadline
Priority deadline
Apply by this date for the best chance at aid or a place; later applications may still be read.		FallNovember 30, 2026

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: future.sfsu.edu · checked September 30, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income

$0–30,000$9,341
$30,001–48,000$9,867
$48,001–75,000$11,825
$75,001–110,000$14,556
Over $110,000$22,523

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreSan Francisco State University courseCredits
Calculus BC3Area 2 (3)6 credits
Biology3Area 5B (4), Area 5C (met)6 credits
Chemistry3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)6 credits
English Language and Composition3ENG 114 (3) + ENG 214 (3) / Area 1A (3)6 credits
English Literature and Composition3ENG 114 (3) + ENG 214 (3) / Area 1A (3), Area 3B (3)6 credits
United States History3HIST 120 (3) + HIST 121 (3)/Area D (6), USH (met)6 credits
Psychology3PSY 200 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
Statistics3
Met for the following majors only: DS 212 : BUS…Met for the following majors only: DS 212 : BUS, HTM; MATH 124 : SLHS, H ED, KIN, NURS, NUTR; PSY 171 : PSY/Area 2 (3) 3
Show all 39 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus BC3Area 2 (3)6 credits
Calculus BC4MATH 226 (4)/Area 2 (4)6 credits
Calculus BC5MATH 226 (4)/Area 2 (4) 6-8
Biology3Area 5B (4), Area 5C (met)6 credits
Biology4BIOL 230 (5)/Area 5B (5), Area 5C (met)6 credits
Chemistry3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)6 credits
Chemistry4CHEM 115 (4)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)6 credits
English Language and Composition3ENG 114 (3) + ENG 214 (3) / Area 1A (3)6 credits
English Literature and Composition3ENG 114 (3) + ENG 214 (3) / Area 1A (3), Area 3B (3)6 credits
United States History3HIST 120 (3) + HIST 121 (3)/Area D (6), USH (met)6 credits
Psychology3PSY 200 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
Statistics3
Met for the following majors only: DS 212 : BUS…Met for the following majors only: DS 212 : BUS, HTM; MATH 124 : SLHS, H ED, KIN, NURS, NUTR; PSY 171 : PSY/Area 2 (3) 3
Statistics4MATH 124 (3)/Area 2 (3)3 credits
Computer Science A33
Computer Science A4CSC 101 (3)3 credits
Macroeconomics3ECON 102 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
Microeconomics3ECON 101 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
World History: Modern3HIST 115 (3) or I R 104 (3)/Area 3B (3) or Area 4 (3)3 credits
Environmental Science3GEOG 160 (4)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)4 credits
European History3HIST 111 (3)/Area 3B (3) or Area 4 (3)6 credits
Human Geography3GEOG 102 (3) or I R 104 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
Spanish Language and Culture3SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3)/Area 3B (8)11 credits
Spanish Language and Culture5
SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3) + SPAN…SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3) + SPAN 206 (3)/Area 3B (8) 14
Computer Science Principles3Area 2 (3)6 credits
Art History3ARTH 201 (3) / Area 3A (3) or Area 3B (3)6 credits
Music Theory36
African American Studies3AFRS 101 (3)3 credits
Calculus AB or AB Subscore3Area 2 (3)3 credits
Calculus AB or AB Subscore4MATH 226 (4)/Area 2 (4)4 credits
Chinese Language and Culture3CHIN 101 (3) / Area 3B (3)6 credits
Chinese Language and Culture4CHIN 101 (3) + CHIN 102 (3) / Area 3B (6)6 credits
Chinese Language and Culture5CHIN 101 (3) + CHIN 102 (3) + CHIN 103 (3) / Area 3B (9)9 credits
Comparative Government and Politics3PLSI 250 (3)/Area 4 (3)3 credits
Drawing3
ADM Majors: Lower Division College-Level Drawing…ADM Majors: Lower Division College-Level Drawing Requirement (3) 3
Drawing3ART Majors: Lower Division Studio Art Requirement (3)3 credits
French Language and Culture3FR 101 (3) + FR 102 (3) / Area 3B (6)6 credits
French Language and Culture4FR 101 (3) + FR 102 (3) + FR 215 (3) / Area 3B (9)9 credits
French Language and Culture5
FR 101 (3) + FR 102 (3) + FR 215 (3) + FR 216 (3)…FR 101 (3) + FR 102 (3) + FR 215 (3) + FR 216 (3) / Area 3B (12) 12
German Language and Culture3GER 101 (3) + GER 102 (3) / Area 3B (3)6 credits
German Language and Culture4GER 101 (3) + GER 102 (3) + GER 206 (3) / Area 3B (9)9 credits
German Language and Culture5
GER 101 (3) + GER 102 (3) + GER 206 (3) + GER 207…GER 101 (3) + GER 102 (3) + GER 206 (3) + GER 207 (3) / Area 3B (12) 12
Italian Language and Culture3ITAL 101 (4) + ITAL 102 (4)/Area 3B(8)8 credits
Italian Language and Culture4ITAL 101 (4) + ITAL 102 (4) + ITAL 103 (3)/Area 3B (11)11 credits
Japanese Language and Culture3JAPN 101 (4) + JAPN 102 (4)/Area 3B (8)8 credits
Japanese Language and Culture4
JAPN 101 (4) + JAPN 102 (4) + JAPN 103 (4) + JAPN…JAPN 101 (4) + JAPN 102 (4) + JAPN 103 (4) + JAPN 250 (3)/Area 3B (12) 15
Latin3LATN 101 (4)/Area 3B (4)6 credits
Latin5LATN 101 (4) + LATN 202 (4)/Area 3B (8)8 credits
Physics 1: Algebra-Based3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)4 credits
Physics 1: Algebra-Based4PHYS 111 (3) + PHYS 112 (1)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (1)4 credits
Physics 2: Algebra-Based3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)4 credits
Physics 2: Algebra-Based4PHYS 121 (3) + PHYS 122 (1)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (1)4 credits
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)4 credits
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism4PHYS 230 (3) + PHYS 232 (1)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (1)4 credits
Physics C: Mechanics3Area 5A (4), Area 5C (met)4 credits
Physics C: Mechanics4PHYS 220 (3) + PHYS 222 (1)/Area 5A (4), Area 5C (1)4 credits
Precalculus3MATH 199 (4)/Area 2 (4)4 credits
Seminar33
Spanish Literature and Culture3SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3)/Area 3B (8)11 credits
Spanish Literature and Culture5
SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3) + SPAN…SPAN 101 (4) + SPAN 102 (4) + SPAN 205 (3) + SPAN 206 (3)/Area 3B (8) 14
Studio Art: 2-D Design33
Studio Art: 3-D Design33
US Government and Politics3PLSI 200 (3)/Area 4 (3), USG (met)3 credits

Source: bulletin.sfsu.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Business Administration and Management941
Psychology442
Computer Science365
Biology/Biological Sciences336
Early Childhood Education and Teaching207
Speech Communication and Rhetoric204
Film/Cinema/Media Studies184
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse181
Show the other 66 majors
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies168
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness143
Public Health127
Sociology118
Political Science and Government108
Design and Visual Communications106
Radio and Television104
English Language and Literature92
Mechanical Engineering71
Civil Engineering61
Apparel and Textiles57
Nutrition Sciences56
Art/Art Studies55
Economics54
Interior Design52
History44
Biochemistry41
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies41
Environmental Studies37
Computer Engineering36
Journalism36
Creative Writing34
Industrial and Product Design33
Mathematics33
Electrical and Electronics Engineering33
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts32
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences31
Communication Sciences and Disorders28
International Relations and Affairs27
Fine/Studio Arts22
Social Work21
Anthropology20
Environmental Science20
Comparative Group Studies16
Hospitality Administration/Management15
Philosophy14
Physics14
Geography14
Music14
Chemistry12
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other12
African-American/Black Studies12
Urban Studies/Affairs11
Music Performance11
Applied Mathematics10
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies9
Chinese Language and Literature9
Spanish Language and Literature9
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies9
Art History, Criticism and Conservation8
Statistics8
Humanities/Humanistic Studies6
Asian-American Studies5
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other5
Dance5
Labor Studies5
Japanese Language and Literature4
French Language and Literature4
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences3
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other2
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing2
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2
American/United States Studies/Civilization2
Comparative Literature1
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education1
American Indian/Native American Studies1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division II, California Collegiate Athletic Association

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Track and Field (Outdoor), Wrestling

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division II, California Collegiate Athletic Association

Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field (Outdoor), Volleyball

ROTC

Army

Faith groups

Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection

Also

Study abroad

Greek life

1% of men in fraternities · 2% of women in sororities · 2% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2021–22)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), hillel.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

City, large

Federal locale classification

Metro area

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

4,648,486 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

San Francisco International (SFO)

Nearest hub airport

San Francisco International (SFO)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 15.8 of 20

Elevation

158 ft

Time zone

Pacific

January low

46°F

July high

62°F

Annual snowfall

0.0 in

Days at 90°F or higher

1 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$2,680 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Public, city campus, NCAA Division II, similar size