SF State Facts

San Francisco State University is part of the largest system of higher education in the country granting bachelor's and master's degrees, the California State University (CSU). Though it began as a school for local educators, today San Francisco State's more than 280,000 graduates are leaders in science, business, public service, journalism and the arts — virtually every sphere of activity — around the globe.

historic photo with a sign that reads 'The New Home of SF State College"

Founded in 1899 as San Francisco State Normal School, a two-year teacher-training college. First normal school in nation to require high school diploma for admission.

University Milestones

1901 - First graduating class (36 women)

1904 - First man admitted

1923 - First bachelor of arts degree

1930 - Four-year program initiated

1935 - Liberal arts program first offered

1949 - Master's degree first offered

1960 - SF State becomes part of the California State College system (now the California State University)

1972 - University status attained

Names

San Francisco State Normal School (1899 - 1921)

San Francisco State Teachers College (1921 - 1935)

San Francisco State College (1935 - 1972)

California State University, San Francisco (1972 - 1974)

San Francisco State University (1974 - present)

Presidents

Frederic Lister Burk (1899 - 1924)

Archibald B. Anderson (1924 - 1927)

Alexander C. Roberts (1927 - 1945)

J. Paul Leonard (1945 - 1957)

Glenn S. Dumke (1957 - 1961)

Paul A. Dodd (1962 - 1966)

John Summerskill (1966 - 1968)

Robert R. Smith (1968)

Samuel I. Hayakawa (1968 - 1973)

Paul F. Romberg (1973 - 1983)

Chia-Wei Woo (1983 - 1988)

Robert A. Corrigan (1988 - 2012)

Leslie E. Wong (2012 - 2019)

Lynn Mahoney (2019 - present)

Mascot

The Gator (alligator). Selected by students in 1931, it was originally spelled with an "er" — Golden Gaters — a play on words to emphasize SF State's location.

Athletic Teams

Men: baseball(link is external)basketball(link is external)cross country(link is external)soccer(link is external)track & field(link is external), and wrestling(link is external)

Women: basketball(link is external)cross country(link is external)soccer(link is external)softball(link is external)track & field(link is external), and volleyball(link is external)

Affiliation: NCAA Division II, California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) affiliated member in wrestling

Campus Size

Main campus: 144.1 acres

Romberg Tiburon Center: 52.7 acres

Sierra Nevada Field Campus: approx. 7.1 acres

Downtown Campus: approx. 15,850 sq. ft.
Located at 160 Spear St.
Home to the College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGE)

Enrollment Fall 2022
Enrollment Type Number Percent
Undergraduate 21,868 87%
Post Baccalaureate/Graduate 3,178 13%
TOTAL 25,046 100%
Sex
Gender Number Percent
Women 14,123 56%
Men 10,819 43%
Non-Binary 104 0.4%
Ethnicity (Undergraduate)
Ethnicity Number Percent
Black 1,318 6%
American Indian 30 0.1%
Asian  5,861 27%
Latinx 8,467 39%
Unknown 1,464 7%
Pacific Islander 136 .6%
Two or More Races 1,159 5%
White  3,433 16%
TOTAL 21,868 100%
Student Origin 
Origin Number Percent
California 23,683 95%
Nonresident: Domestic 337 1.4%
Nonresident: International 1,026 4.1%
Average Age
Enrollment Type Average Age
Undergraduate 22.5
Graduate 31.3
All Students 23.6
First Generation Students
Achievement Number Percent
First to attend college 7,552 30%

 

 

Employees
  Number Percent
Faculty 1,905 49%
Staff 1,398 36%
Academic Student Employees 557 14%
TOTAL 3,860 100%
Faculty
  Number Percent
Tenured/Tenure-track 807 42%
Lecturers 1,084 57%
Counselors 14 1%
TOTAL 1,905 100%
Faculty Gender (Tenured/Tenure-Track)
  Number Percent
Men 361 45%
Women 445 55%
Non-Binary 1 0%
TOTAL 807 100%
Faculty Ethnicity (Tenured/Tenure-Track)
  Number Percent
African American 32 4%
American Indian 15 2%
Asian American 205 25%
Filipino 18 2%
Hispanic/Latino 51 6%
Other non-white 3 0%
Pacific Islander 2 0%
White 419 52%
Not Stated 62 8%
TOTAL 807 100%
Staff
Employee Number Percent
Clerical and Administrative Support 112 8%
Technical and Paraprofessional 639 46%
Management 223 16%
Academic Support 155 11%
Service and Maintenance 159 11%
Skilled Crafts 59 4%
Health Care 39 3%
Public Safety 12 1%
TOTAL 1,398 100%

SF State awards: 

  • Bachelor's degrees in 83 academic areas with an additional 41 areas of concentration 

  • Master's degrees in 72 academic areas with an additional 35 areas of concentration 

  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with 2 concentrations 

  • Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in special education 

  • Clinical doctorate of physical therapy (D.P.T.), jointly with UC San Francisco 

  • 19 credential programs and 45 certificate programs 

Degrees Conferred 2021-2022
College Student Count Student Percentage
Lam Family College of Business 1,482 22%
Education 311 5%
Ethnic Studies 84 1%
Health & Social Sciences 1,657 24%
Interdisciplinary Studies 1 .1%
Liberal & Creative Arts 1,738 25%
Science & Engineering 1,611 23%
TOTAL 6,884 100%