San Francisco, one of the most liberal and progressive cities in the US, has a strong history of incubating noteworthy movements in social change, art, and entrepreneurship. San Francisco State University, founded in 1899, is the cerebral center of this vibrant city, fostering support for scholars from all walks of life.
Princeton Review called SF State a “College with a Conscience”, an institution that possess “an administration committed to social responsibility and a student body actively engaged in serving society”.
Mission/Vision
The mission of San Francisco State University is to “create and maintain an environment for scholarship and learning that promotes respect for the appreciation of freedom, human diversity, and the cultural mosaic of the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area”.
San Francisco State University recruits an excellent faculty committed to providing a challenging curriculum to a diverse and well-rounded student body that hails from across the globe. San Francisco State is an intellectual community where scholars cooperate among contrasting opinions, sustaining them for the sake of academic freedom and revolution.
Campus Setting
San Francisco State University’s campus is located in the heart of the “City by the Bay”, surrounded on three sides by water. Students live both on and off-campus. San Francisco’s diverse and fascinating neighborhoods are spread out over hills and districts that are distinctly influenced by various ethnic groups, including Chinese, Latino, and Indian. The city is also surrounded by beautiful forested areas with many walking and biking trails.
Academics
San Francisco State University offers 115 different Bachelor’s degrees, 97 master’s degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees, and 26 teaching credentials. Outstanding programs appear in he areas of bioscience, film, creative writing, and Jewish Studies.
The 6 academic colleges include:
Business
Education
Health and Social Sciences
Ethnic Studies
Science and Engineering
Liberal and Creative Arts
Many professors at San Francisco State have won of prestigious teaching awards, gained professional honors, and edged out the competition for fellowships that advance their important research work for the benefit of their students and society as a whole.
A diverse selection of courses at San Francisco State combine academic studies with community service through the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE).
Athletics
The San Francisco Gators have 11 sports teams competing in division 2 of the NCAA. SFSU fields sports for both men and women in all seasons, including cross country, soccer, basketball, track and field, and baseball.
Wrestling stands out as one of the most victorious sports in SFSU athletic history. It’s success is due to the excellent coaching that yielded the sixth longest scoring streak on collegiate wrestling athletic record.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Annual tuition at San Francisco State University for the 2012-2013 academic year was $6738 per year for California state residents, and $18,098 for those joining out of state. There are additional costs for housing, and books. About 68% of students receive student aid, and 51% receive scholarships and grants.
Accreditation
California State University receives accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, accredits the school’s business programs.
Admissions
Admissions to San Francisco State University have guidelines, procedure, and deadlines that vary according to the program being applied to. Each program has their own set of requirements. The admissions website is a step by step guide for prospective students through the application process. It includes a how-to guide in applying for financial aid.
