Public
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
San Francisco, California
96.2% Acceptance Rate
San Francisco State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
96.2%Acceptance Rate
3.31Avg GPA
1030Avg SAT
$25,258Annual Cost
$68,077Grad Salary
41.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
96.2%
Avg GPA
3.31
Avg SAT
1030
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
990–1060
Avg Net Price
$12,882
Need-Based Aid
41.4% receive Pell
San Francisco State University is a public, metropolitan university that emphasizes academic excellence, social justice, and cultural diversity in the heart of San Francisco. Admissions are selective, focusing on high academic performance and the successful completion of a rigorous course load. The university looks for students who are ready to contribute to its vibrant, diverse campus community and who have shown potential for leadership in their academic or extracurricular pursuits.
Prospective students should highlight their consistency in academic performance and their involvement in extracurricular organizations that require teamwork or initiative. A successful application demonstrates that the student is proactive, focused, and ready to take full advantage of the research, arts, and community-based resources available at a major urban university. Showing how the student plans to engage with the unique opportunities of the Bay Area is a great way to demonstrate institutional fit.
San Francisco State University Acceptance Rate
San Francisco State University maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 96.2%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 96.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.31 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.11 – 3.30
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.86
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
San Francisco State University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at San Francisco State University is 3.31. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A's and B's is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.51-3.71 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.01 and 3.31, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score.
San Francisco State University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Admissions at San Francisco State University utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.31, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.31 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.11 – 3.30
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.91 – 3.10
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.90
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Acceptance rate 90?96% (US News 90%, BigFuture/edurank 96%); test-blind (CSU system eliminated SAT/ACT from admissions); minimum 2.5 a-g GPA for CA residents, 3.0 for non-residents; application window October 1?November 30; $70 application fee (waivers available); no supplemental essays for general admission; ~22,000?30,000 students; founded 1899; San Francisco, CA.
- College of Ethnic Studies: first in the US (est. fall 1969, outcome of 115-day Third World Strike - longest college student strike in US history); departments include African American Studies (first Black studies program in US), American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Raza Studies, Race and Resistance Studies; programs in Arab/Muslim Ethnicities, Critical Mixed Race Studies, Queer Ethnic Studies.
- Alumni: 22 Pulitzers, 16 Oscars, 55 Emmys, 10 Grammys, 13 Tonys; School of Cinema top 50 nationally (The Wrap); Danny Glover attended; top 20 CollegeNET Social Mobility Index; Seal of Excelencia; Money 4.5/5 stars (2025); first US university to establish both a College of Ethnic Studies and an international relations department.
- Six-year graduation rate ~50%; Cinema, Nursing, and Business require supplemental materials/selection beyond CSU general admission; Joint DPT program with UCSF; in-state tuition ~$7,000?8,000/year (CSU rate); SF Bay Area off-campus housing is among the most expensive in the US - model total cost of attendance, not tuition alone.
- The Rigor Metric: At San Francisco State University, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at San Francisco State University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on San Francisco State University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
San Francisco State University Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into San Francisco State University Without SAT or ACT?
San Francisco State University does not require admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process and does not recommend that students provide these scores. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
San Francisco State University Average SAT Score: 1030
The average SAT score of the admitted students at San Francisco State University is 1030 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1030 — Accessible
This score makes it an easy target for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1030 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1060 SAT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. San Francisco State University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 990, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at San Francisco State University. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1030 | 990 | 1060 |
It means that if you have scored less than 990 then you are below most of the admitted students at San Francisco State University and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1060 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into San Francisco State University with a 1050 SAT?
With a 1050 SAT Score, your chances of admission at San Francisco State University are good but the admission staff at San Francisco State University tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for San Francisco State University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
San Francisco State University provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
The College of Ethnic Studies Is a Historically Unique Academic Resource
SFSU's College of Ethnic Studies is the first in the United States - established in fall 1969 as the concrete outcome of the 115-day Third World Strike, the longest college student strike in American history. The original four departments included the nation's first Black studies program. The college now encompasses African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Raza Studies, Race and Resistance Studies, and programs in Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas, Critical Mixed Race Studies, Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies, and Queer Ethnic Studies. For students in sociology, history, political science, social work, public health, education, and related fields, the ability to take coursework in a college built from student activism and designed from day one to center the intellectual traditions of communities of color is a genuinely distinctive academic resource - not available in this form at any other institution in the country.
SFSU's Alumni Outcomes Are Disproportionate to Its Ranking Profile
San Francisco State alumni have won 22 Pulitzer Prizes, 16 Oscars, 55 Emmy Awards, 10 Grammy Awards, and 13 Tony Awards. The film program is ranked in the top 50 nationally (The Wrap), and the School of Cinema has produced Emmy and Academy Award-winning graduates. Danny Glover attended SFSU. The university is ranked in the top 20 for social mobility on the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index and holds the Seal of Excelencia for Latinx student success. Money's Best Colleges in America 2025 gave SFSU 4.5 out of 5 stars. These outcomes are worth naming in your application essay if they reflect a genuine sense of what kind of career trajectory you are building - especially in journalism, film, television, social justice law, and public service, where SFSU's alumni footprint is specifically strong.
Cinema, Business, and Nursing Have Additional Requirements - Know This Before Applying
SFSU's general admission is broad-access (90?96%), but several high-demand programs require steps beyond the standard CSU application: the School of Cinema requires portfolio or supplemental materials for competitive admission; nursing has its own supplemental selection process; business programs operate under competitive review. No program-specific supplemental essay is required for general SFSU admission - none of these are triggered by the main CSU application alone. Students who apply to SFSU as their intended nursing or cinema institution and assume that 90%+ acceptance means program admission are routinely surprised by a competitive internal selection they didn't plan for. Contact the specific department before applying to confirm current supplemental requirements, prerequisites, and the GPA range of admitted students for your target program.
The San Francisco Location Is Both an Asset and a Financial Planning Challenge
SFSU's campus sits in the southwestern corner of San Francisco - near Lake Merced, Daly City, and the Pacific coastline - accessible by SFMTA bus lines and BART connections. The location means students are in one of the world's most concentrated technology, finance, media, government, and nonprofit ecosystems, with internship and practicum access that almost no other CSU campus can match. It also means off-campus rent is among the highest in the country. SFSU has limited on-campus housing - students who need off-campus living should model the full cost of the San Francisco Bay Area before enrolling and compare net price to total cost of attendance including housing. File FAFSA as early as possible; SFSU's financial aid office processes awards in sequence and earlier filers receive consideration for limited institutional aid first.
Expert Insight:
SFSU's overall acceptance rate (90?96%) and its social mobility mission can lead students to underestimate the genuine academic demands of the institution once enrolled. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 50% - meaning roughly half of enrolled students take longer than six years to graduate or do not complete their degree at SFSU at all. The causes are largely structural (cost of living in SF, full-time employment while enrolled, housing instability) rather than academic failure - but these structural factors are real and need to be part of the enrollment conversation. Students who enroll without a financial plan for San Francisco Bay Area cost of living consistently discover mid-program that the tuition is manageable and everything else is not.
San Francisco State University Profile
Full Name
San Francisco State University
City
San Francisco
State
California
ZIP Code
94132
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a San Francisco State University Degree Worth It?
Getting into San Francisco State University can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. San Francisco State University offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at San Francisco State University is $77,500 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.44%.
How much does a degree from San Francisco State University Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at San Francisco State University is $25,258. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at San Francisco State University is $12,882.
41.4% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 25.4 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to San Francisco State University and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At San Francisco State University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist San Francisco State University as your choice in the form.
How much does a San Francisco State University Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $68,077. An average San Francisco State University graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than San Francisco State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as San Francisco State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 1037 | 21 |
| Valdosta State University | Valdosta, GA | 1037 | 20 |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo | Hilo, HI | 1025 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than San Francisco State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
Degree Programs at San Francisco State University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by San Francisco State University →
Frequently Asked Questions About San Francisco State University Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a moderate salary, $68,077 annually, with some fluctuation based on the field.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $25,258 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
41.4% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of San Francisco State University is 96.2% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.31. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.01, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.01, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 2.91 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.31, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to San Francisco State University is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1030 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 990–1060.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.