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U.S. News Rankings
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Summary
San Francisco State University is a public institution that was founded in 1899. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,170, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 142 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. San Francisco State University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (West), 48. Its in-state tuition and fees are $5,668 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $16,828 (2011-12).
San Francisco State University, known as SFSU or SF State for short, is an urban campus and part of the larger California State University system. At SFSU, it’s important to apply for university housing early, as there aren’t enough spaces for every student. Freshmen can apply to live in school residence halls—including a science and technology themed building, and university apartment complexes group students by age, not year in school. SFSU is commuter-friendly, with public transportation stops near campus. There are about 300 student organizations to consider, including fraternities and sororities. Most of the SF State sports teams compete in the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association; the school’s wrestling team is a member of the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Among San Francisco State’s diverse undergraduate academic offerings is the College of Ethnic studies, a unique division with majors including Africana studies, Asian American studies, and La Raza studies. For graduate students, SFSU has schools of business, education, health, and more. Notable alumni of SFSU include Jeffrey Tambor, a veteran of TV sitcoms including Arrested Development; Danny Glover, star of the Lethal Weapon movies; and Charles Hall, inventor of the waterbed.
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San Francisco State University, located in one of the world's most vibrant and beautiful cities, is a recognized leader in addressing issues both global and close to home. In the global arena, SF State typically enrolls the largest number of international students at any comprehensive university in the U.S., and ranks second among U.S. universities for the number of students who study abroad for an academic year. With a diverse range of students from almost every state and nearly 100 countries, the University community is a perfect setting for learning to succeed in a pluralistic society and global economy. Our highly diverse campus consistently ranks in the top 20 nationwide in awarding undergraduate degrees to minorities. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1899 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $32,544,604 |
Applying
When applying to San Francisco State University, it's important to note the application deadline is November 30. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 31. The application fee at San Francisco State University is $55. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 62.6 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 63% |
| Application deadline | November 30 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 31 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at San Francisco State University is 26:1, and the school has 20.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at San Francisco State University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Visual and Performing Arts; Psychology; and Social Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 76.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 26:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 14% - Low | ||||||||||
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Student Life
San Francisco State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,170, with a gender distribution of 42.3 percent male students and 57.7 percent female students. 11.7 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 88.3 percent of students live off campus. San Francisco State University is part of the NCAA II athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at San Francisco State University.
| Total enrollment | 29,718 |
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| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA II |
Campus Info & Services
San Francisco State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. San Francisco State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at San Francisco State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At San Francisco State University, 57.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $9,001.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $5,668 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $16,828 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $11,408 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
