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.
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 Type | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 21,868 | 87% |
| Post Baccalaureate/Graduate | 3,178 | 13% |
| TOTAL | 25,046 | 100% |
| Gender | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 14,123 | 56% |
| Men | 10,819 | 43% |
| Non-Binary | 104 | 0.4% |
| 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% |
| Origin | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| California | 23,683 | 95% |
| Nonresident: Domestic | 337 | 1.4% |
| Nonresident: International | 1,026 | 4.1% |
| Enrollment Type | Average Age |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 22.5 |
| Graduate | 31.3 |
| All Students | 23.6 |
| Achievement | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| First to attend college | 7,552 | 30% |
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | 1,905 | 49% |
| Staff | 1,398 | 36% |
| Academic Student Employees | 557 | 14% |
| TOTAL | 3,860 | 100% |
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured/Tenure-track | 807 | 42% |
| Lecturers | 1,084 | 57% |
| Counselors | 14 | 1% |
| TOTAL | 1,905 | 100% |
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 361 | 45% |
| Female | 445 | 55% |
| Non-Binary | 1 | 0% |
| TOTAL | 807 | 100% |
| 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% |
| 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
| 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% |