San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a public University located in San Francisco, USA. The University has enrolled more than 20000 students across the World. The university offers 148 bachelor’s programs, 108 minors, 104 master’s programs, and 4 doctoral programs to international students. You can choose from 33 certificates and 32 graduate certificate courses in SFSU across numerous disciplines. SFSU ranks #1401+ in the QS World Rankings 2026. The acceptance rate of SFSU is 90%, which makes it quite easy for students to secure admission.
SFSU offers admission in 2 intakes: Fall and Spring. Some of the popular courses offered at SFSU include MBA, MS in Business Analytics, and MS in Computer Science. The PG program fees at San Francisco State University range from USD 9822 to USD 25967 per year (INR 8.71 lakhs to 23.03 Lakhs). Fees for UG programs range from USD 8388 to USD 22946 per year (₹7.43 Lakhs to ₹20.35 Lakhs). The cost of living at SFSU ranges from $37,412 to $ 39110 (INR 33.17 Lakhs to INR 34.70 Lakhs), which includes rent, food, and other personal expenses.
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The rankings of SFSU by different ranking bodies are given below:
| Ranking Source | Category | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News & World Report (2026) | National Universities | #208 |
| U.S. News & World Report (2026) | Top Public Schools | #115 |
| QS World University Rankings (2026) | Overall Global Ranking | #1401 |
SFSU offers admissions in 2 intakes: Fall and Spring. The deadlines for applying for international students are given below:
| Category | Priority Deadline (Impacted Majors) | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | December 1, 2025 | May 1, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 | August 31, 2026 | September 30, 2026 |
| MBA (Spring 2026) | – | November 1, 2025 |
The main campus of San Francisco State University covers 144.1 acres of land in the southwest corner of San Francisco. Other sites of the university include Romberg Tiburon Center, Sierra Nevada Field campus, and the Downtown campus.
The Mashouf Wellness Center is the social hub of the university, offering health, recreation, and wellness programs. There are more than 200 active student clubs and organizations that match a wide variety of interests.
The on-campus accommodation at San Francisco State University is home to around 3,900 domestic and international students. The university provides housing options to students in the form of residence halls, semi-suites, and apartments. Some of the housing options at the university include Manzanita Square, Towers at Centennial Square, University Park North, Mary Park Hall, Mary Ward Hall, Tower Junior Suites, etc.
Also check Student Accommodation in the USA
San Francisco State University offers a variety of programs, including undergraduate, graduate, doctoral degrees, credentials, and certificate programs in a number of disciplines. The university offers 148 bachelor’s programs, 108 minors, 104 master’s programs, and 4 doctoral programs to international students.
The University also offers a Doctor of Education degree (Ed D.) with 2 concentrations, a clinical doctorate of physical therapy (D.P.T.), and. a Ph.D. in Education. The most popular undergraduate majors include Business Administration, Computer Science, Biology, English, and Child and Adolescent Development.
San Francisco State University has a moderately selective admission policy. Some programs are considered to be competitive and may have additional requirements for admission. These requirements may include resumes, references, interviews, and others. The University also offers conditional admissions to students who fail to meet the admission requirements. Applicants seeking admission to the San Francisco State University must take note of the following points:
Application Portal: Cal State Apply
Application Fee: 70 USD (INR 6208)
Admission Requirements:
The minimum English language proficiency test scores required for admission are as follows:
The cost of studying in the U.S. comprises tuition fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.The table below shows a breakdown of living expenses for international students at SFSU:
| Cost Type | UG Cost (USD) | UG Cost (INR) | PG Cost (USD) | PG Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $8,256 | INR 7.32 Lakhs | $9,870 | INR 8.76 Lakhs |
| Housing | $18,270 | INR 16.21 Lakhs | $18,270 | INR 16.21 Lakhs |
| Food | $5,620 | INR 4.99 Lakhs | $5,620 | INR 4.99 Lakhs |
| Books & Supplies | $1,100 | INR 0.98 Lakhs | $1,100 | INR 0.98 Lakhs |
| Transportation | $1,512 | INR 1.34 Lakhs | $1,512 | INR 1.34 Lakhs |
| Personal Expenses | $2,592 | INR 2.30 Lakhs | $2,592 | INR 2.30 Lakhs |
| Loan Fee | $62 | INR 0.05 Lakhs | $146 | INR 0.13 Lakhs |
| Total Cost | $37,412 | INR 33.20 Lakhs | $39,110 | INR 34.70 Lakhs |
Some of the scholarships offered are given below:
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| New Leader Scholarship | Up to 8,000 USD | Undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5/4 (90%) majoring in Social Science, Health and Human Services, Public Interest, and Public Service. |
| AAUW SF Jubilee Scholarship | 500-3,000 USD | Awarded to upper-division and graduate school women in the final year of study. |
| Markowski-Leach Scholarship | 2,000 USD | Awarded to full-time students who demonstrate leadership and commitment in service, employment, and scholastics with a minimum GPA of 2.5; Student must self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer. |
Also check List of Popular Scholarships in USA
29% of the students graduating from San Francisco State University secure full-time employment within 4 months of graduation. The median salary of the university alumni is 52,650 USD. The average salaries of the graduates and alumni according to a degree can be seen as:-
| Degree | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master of Arts | 160,000 USD |
| MBA | 74,000 USD |
| Bachelor of Science | 68,000 USD |
| Bachelor of Arts | 60,000 USD |
San Francisco State University offers various courses for international students. It has an alumni network of 2,80,000 people and has 1600 faculty members currently. SF State alumni have been nominated for Academy Awards for the last 17 consecutive years. 65% of students receive some kind of financial aid at the university. Students can avail of 700+ scholarships in US and receive grants up to 8,000 USD.
Ques 1: What is the student-to-faculty ratio at SFSU?
Ques 2: Can I get an application fee waiver at SFSU as an international student?
Ques 3: What is the graduation rate at San Francisco State University?
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