About
San Francisco State University is a public research university in San Francisco, California, United States. It was established in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School and is part of the California State University system.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Applied
28,221
28,221 candidates competed
Admitted
27,215
96.4% acceptance rate
Enrolled
2,340
8.6% yield
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Overall completion
50%-12.0pp vs R2 Research
Overall completion
50%-12.0pp vs R2 Research
4-year graduation
28%
4-year graduation
28%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
50%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
50%
Full-time retention
83%
Full-time retention
83%
Pell equity
4.5pp gap
Pell recipients
48%932 of 1940
Non-Pell (all)
52%1116 of 2126
Subsidized loan, no Pell
50%226 of 455
No Federal Aid
53%890 of 1671
Non-Pell students graduate at a 4.5-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 200 Title IV programs, 77 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 123 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
200
Passing
77
38.5% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
200programs
- Passing77 · 38.5%
- No Data123 · 61.5%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
1
Watch
5
Safe
71
No data
123
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$38,639
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+7.1%
+$2,557
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+7.1%
$38,639 vs $36,082
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$72,271
$61,854
National Same-Field BA Median
+16.8%
+$10,417
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+16.8%
$72,271 vs $61,854
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$42,868
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+18.8%
+$6,786
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+18.8%
$42,868 vs $36,082
Philosophy
Bachelor Degree · Philosophy And Religious Studies
$42,993
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+19.2%
+$6,911
Philosophy
Bachelor Degree · Philosophy And Religious Studies
+19.2%
$42,993 vs $36,082
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$44,627
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+23.7%
+$8,545
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+23.7%
$44,627 vs $36,082
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$44,848
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+24.3%
+$8,766
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+24.3%
$44,848 vs $36,082
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$62,221
$49,483
National Same-Field BA Median
+25.7%
+$12,738
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+25.7%
$62,221 vs $49,483
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$62,210
$49,483
National Same-Field BA Median
+25.7%
+$12,727
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+25.7%
$62,210 vs $49,483
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$49,178
$62,221
79%
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$49,178 debt · $62,221 earn
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$36,173
$62,210
58%
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$36,173 debt · $62,210 earn
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
$41,000
$91,778
45%
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
$41,000 debt · $91,778 earn
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,027
$42,868
42%
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,027 debt · $42,868 earn
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,513
$44,848
41%
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,513 debt · $44,848 earn
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
$39,253
$96,854
41%
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
$39,253 debt · $96,854 earn
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$15,250
$38,639
40%
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$15,250 debt · $38,639 earn
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,500
$47,149
39%
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$18,500 debt · $47,149 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Accredited since 1949Next review Jun 2031
Programmatic accreditations · 13
Action history · 18
- Feb 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) - Graduate degree programs
- Jan 2024Approved for Distance EducationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Jan 2024Approved for Distance EducationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Dec 2023Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: Voluntary WithdrawalCouncil on Education for Public Health · Public Health Programs (PHPBG) - Baccalaureate and Graduate level programs offered outside a school of public health
- Oct 2023Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Aid exceeds costFamily pays
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Avg net price
$12,278
-$2,989vs R2 Research median $15,267
Federal loans
23.2%
In-state tuition
$7,950
Out-of-state
$20,550
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 9,840 students received $59.8M in Pell grants, alongside $58.8M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
9,840
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$59.8M
$59,846,504 total
Direct Loans
$58.8M
9,162 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
11k’20
11k’21
10k’22
10k’23
10k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$16.0M
3,779 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$17.1M
3,834 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$12.2M
779 loan awards
Parent PLUS$11.5M
659 loan awards
Grad PLUS$2.0M
111 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 4,896 borrowers who entered repayment, 93 (1.8%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
1.8%
-0.5pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
4,896
Defaulted
93
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
5.3%-4.0
2017
5.2%-4.0
2018
4.3%-2.7
2019
1.8%-0.5
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at San Francisco State
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs129
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
4,649 total completions
01Business
1,03522.3%
01Business
1,03522.3%
02Visual/Performing Arts
55311.9%
02Visual/Performing Arts
55311.9%
03Health Professions
50810.9%
03Health Professions
50810.9%
04Psychology
47310.2%
04Psychology
47310.2%
05Biological Sciences
4349.3%
05Biological Sciences
4349.3%
06Education
4028.6%
06Education
4028.6%
07Social Sciences
3858.3%
07Social Sciences
3858.3%
08Computer Sciences
3437.4%
08Computer Sciences
3437.4%
09Communication
3247.0%
09Communication
3247.0%
10Engineering
1924.1%
10Engineering
1924.1%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
22,563
12-mo unduplicated
25,505
Undergraduate
21,931
Graduate
3,574
Gender split
Men
45%11,372
Women
55%14,133
Race / ethnicity composition
Hispanic
40.1%
Asian
23.4%
White
15.0%
Black
6.5%
Two or more
6.2%
Unknown
4.2%
Non-resident
3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.2%
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Athletes
260
137 M · 123 W
Women athletes
47.3%
Athletic aid
$712K
Total student aid
Budget
$6.7M
Total expenses
Men vs women · spending splits
Athletic student aid
$336K
$375K
Recruiting expense
$17K
$17K
Head-coach salaries
$88K
$103K
Men Women
Sport-by-sport · 8
Sport
Men
Women
Expenses
Soccer
31
32
$763,606
Soccer
31 M · 32 W
Track and Field (Outdoor)
17
34
$295,989
Track and Field (Outdoor)
17 M · 34 W
Baseball
41
—
$582,981
Baseball
41 M · —
Wrestling
32
—
$452,666
Wrestling
32 M · —
Basketball
16
13
$919,724
Basketball
16 M · 13 W
Cross Country
17
10
$426,918
Cross Country
17 M · 10 W
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
2.76
66 offenses · 23,908 students
3-year trend
2.452 yrs ago2.371 yr ago2.76Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
192
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
72
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
4
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
13
Criminal offenses by type
Motor vehicle theft
29
Burglary
12
Rape
11
Robbery
5
Fondling
3
Statutory rape
3
Aggravated assault
2
Arson
1
By location
66total
- On campus54
- Public property12
Includes 15 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
9
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
14
Stalking
23 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
- Religion1
- Gender identity1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs924
Liquor12
Residence-hall fires
- Village at Centennial Square2 firesElectricalDamage $0-$99
- Village at Centennial Square2 firesCookingDamage $0-$99
- Towers at Centennial Square1 fireElectricalDamage $0-$99
- University Park North1 fireElectricalDamage $0-$99
Data quality: 2 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
19.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
756
San Francisco State vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions San Francisco State selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSan Francisco State University | 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,278 | R2 Research |
| 0% | 66.7% | 72,994 | $13,971 | R2 Research | |
| 62% | 85.5% | 21,089 | $14,940 | R2 Research | |
| 59% | 87.2% | 27,198 | $21,610 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 95.3% | 24,427 | $7,000 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 90.5% | 43,662 | $6,555 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $10,440 | R2 Research | |
| 55% | 93.7% | 18,492 | $4,564 | R2 Research | |
| 63% | 89.2% | 26,940 | $15,739 | R2 Research | |
| 63% | 66.1% | 31,607 | $8,752 | R2 Research | |
| 55% | 87.9% | 27,423 | $15,267 | R2 Research | |
| 65% | 88.2% | 21,546 | $19,398 | R2 Research | |
| 80% | 71.5% | 22,740 | $23,322 | R2 Research | |
| 52% | 69.2% | 47,764 | $15,048 | R2 Research | |
| 80% | 75.4% | 18,838 | $28,384 | R2 Research | |
| 54% | 69.1% | 20,488 | $13,359 | R2 Research | |
| 65% | 87.9% | 23,375 | $15,566 | R2 Research | |
| 61% | 89.6% | 28,467 | $14,158 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 90.9% | 19,951 | $9,552 | R2 Research | |
| 67% | 77.7% | 21,026 | $22,408 | R2 Research | |
| 55% | 90.3% | 21,039 | $16,404 | R2 Research | |
| 76% | 36.2% | 41,137 | $15,364 | R2 Research | |
| 55% | 89.3% | 40,674 | $16,805 | R2 Research | |
| 51% | 94.2% | 33,881 | $4,831 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 79.6% | 31,091 | $15,435 | R2 Research | |
| 56% | 88.5% | 18,012 | $10,965 | R2 Research | |
| 71% | 64.2% | 18,848 | $20,109 | R2 Research | |
| 72% | 72.2% | 17,210 | $21,440 | R2 Research | |
| 71% | 78.4% | 17,171 | $23,331 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 62% | 87.2% | 23,375 | $15,267 |
Institutions like San Francisco State
Explore the federal data for institutions in San Francisco State's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchArizona
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Grad rate0%Admit rate66.7%Enrollment72,994Net price$13,971View data - R2 ResearchIndiana
Ball State University
Grad rate62%Admit rate85.5%Enrollment21,089Net price$14,940View data - R2 ResearchIdaho
Boise State University
Grad rate59%Admit rate87.2%Enrollment27,198Net price$21,610View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate57%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment24,427Net price$7,000View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate70%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment43,662Net price$6,555View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate69%Admit rate46.3%Enrollment42,003Net price$10,440View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-San Bernardino
Grad rate55%Admit rate93.7%Enrollment18,492Net price$4,564View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
East Carolina University
Grad rate63%Admit rate89.2%Enrollment26,940Net price$15,739View data - R2 ResearchFlorida
Florida Atlantic University
Grad rate63%Admit rate66.1%Enrollment31,607Net price$8,752View data - R2 ResearchGeorgia
Georgia Southern University
Grad rate55%Admit rate87.9%Enrollment27,423Net price$15,267View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Illinois State University
Grad rate65%Admit rate88.2%Enrollment21,546Net price$19,398View data - R2 ResearchVirginia
James Madison University
Grad rate80%Admit rate71.5%Enrollment22,740Net price$23,322View data - R2 ResearchGeorgia
Kennesaw State University
Grad rate52%Admit rate69.2%Enrollment47,764Net price$15,048View data - R2 ResearchOhio
Miami University-Oxford
Grad rate80%Admit rate75.4%Enrollment18,838Net price$28,384View data - R2 ResearchTennessee
Middle Tennessee State University
Grad rate54%Admit rate69.1%Enrollment20,488Net price$13,359View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Montclair State University
Grad rate65%Admit rate87.9%Enrollment23,375Net price$15,566View data - R2 ResearchArizona
Northern Arizona University
Grad rate61%Admit rate89.6%Enrollment28,467Net price$14,158View data - R2 ResearchOregon
Portland State University
Grad rate53%Admit rate90.9%Enrollment19,951Net price$9,552View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Rowan University
Grad rate67%Admit rate77.7%Enrollment21,026Net price$22,408View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Sam Houston State University
Grad rate55%Admit rate90.3%Enrollment21,039Net price$16,404View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Diego State University
Grad rate76%Admit rate36.2%Enrollment41,137Net price$15,364View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Texas State University
Grad rate55%Admit rate89.3%Enrollment40,674Net price$16,805View data - R2 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Grad rate51%Admit rate94.2%Enrollment33,881Net price$4,831View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Grad rate69%Admit rate79.6%Enrollment31,091Net price$15,435View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Grad rate56%Admit rate88.5%Enrollment18,012Net price$10,965View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Grad rate71%Admit rate64.2%Enrollment18,848Net price$20,109View data - R2 ResearchRhode Island
University of Rhode Island
Grad rate72%Admit rate72.2%Enrollment17,210Net price$21,440View data - R2 ResearchPennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate71%Admit rate78.4%Enrollment17,171Net price$23,331View data
San Francisco State Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Office
Office of Institutional Research
Reports to Academic Affairs
Email
institutionalresearch [at] sfsu.edu
Address
Administration Building, Suite 460
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
Institutional Research (IR) provides information in support of internal and external reporting, decision-making, strategic planning, program review, and faculty activities. It is the official reporting source of student information to San Francisco State University and CSU, and supports student success efforts.
Visit IR office pageTeam
4 members
- Sutee SujitparapitayaAssociate Provost
- Daniel LopezData and Visualization Analyst
- Giovanni FerranteSenior Institutional Research Analyst
- Jemma KwonSenior Institutional Research Analyst
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planSan Francisco State University Strategic PlanSan Francisco State University has developed a strategic plan focused on fostering educational equity, improving employee experience, and enhancing university unity over 2024-2026. Guided by inputs from campus-wide stakeholders, the plan embodies strategic priorities and measurable metrics to drive impactful programs. Under President Lynn Mahoney's leadership, coordinating committees will ensure the plan's inclusive implementation, steering SF State toward significant positive changes in education and community engagement.president.sfsu.edu
Notable alumni of San Francisco State (23)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Alvin AileyFine art
- Chris LarsenBusiness
- Annette BeningMedia
- Jayshree UllalBusiness
- Margaret AveryMedia
- Tory BelleciMedia
- Dana CarveyMedia
- Peter CoyoteMedia
- Ben Fong-TorresJournalism
- Jose Antonio VargasJournalism
- Wilma MankillerPolitics and government
- Willie BrownPolitics and government
Showing 1–12 of 23
1 / 2
Frequently asked questions about San Francisco State University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about San Francisco State.
What is the acceptance rate at San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University's acceptance rate is 96.4% (27,215 admitted from 28,221 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.
What is the graduation rate at San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University reports a 6-year graduation rate of 50% per the latest IPEDS.
How many students attend San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University reports a total enrollment of 22,563 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at San Francisco State University?
The average net price at San Francisco State University is $12,278 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.
What is the yield rate at San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University's yield rate is 8.6%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.
Where is San Francisco State University located?
San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California 94132.
Who runs Institutional Research at San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research, which reports to Academic Affairs.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
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