What is San Francisco State University (sfsu.edu)?

Updated

sfsu.edu is the official website of San Francisco State University (SFSU), a public university in San Francisco and part of the California State University (CSU) system. Use it to apply for admission, explore academic programs, learn about campus life, and find student services. It serves prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

What SFSU is

SFSU is a public institution within the CSU system, which the site describes as the largest system of higher education in the country granting bachelor's and master's degrees. The university positions itself around academic excellence, diversity and inclusion, and social mobility, and it emphasizes its location in the Bay Area as a connection point for education, art, culture, technology, and careers.

The site highlights several points of identity:

  • A diverse and inclusive community where students are free to explore and express their individuality.
  • Recognition for social mobility (cited from The Wall Street Journal) and for visual and performing arts degrees (cited from Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine).
  • A notable share of students who are the first in their family to attend college (per Institutional Analytics).
  • Athletics competing in NCAA Division II and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), with 10 intercollegiate sports teams.

What you can do on the site

The homepage organizes its main paths into a few clear areas:

Area What it covers
Admissions Applying as a first-year or transfer student, and applying for spring 2027
Academic Programs Exploring programs by type, including first-year/transfer, graduate, and online/continuing education
Campus Life Community, student services, and life at SFSU
Location The Bay Area setting and its career and cultural connections
Athletics Teams, conference affiliation, and competitive tradition
Beyond the classroom Study abroad, international opportunities, experiential programs, and research

Who it's for

  • Prospective students — start with the admissions and academic program sections to understand application paths and program types.
  • Current students — use student services and campus life resources.
  • Graduate and continuing-education learners — the site separates graduate and online/continuing education tracks from undergraduate admissions.
  • Community and visitors — the site offers a virtual campus tour and general information about the university.

Getting started

If you're new to the site, the most direct route is to decide which category fits you — first-year, transfer, graduate, or online/continuing education — and follow that path from the Academic Programs or Admissions sections. From there, you can move into specific program details, application steps, and campus resources. For a sense of the campus itself, the virtual tour lets you explore remotely.