San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

What are your chances of getting into San Francisco State University?

San Francisco State University is a large public university in southwest San Francisco with a distinctly urban, commuter-friendly feel and a campus that still gives students a real place to gather. It is known for practical, career-oriented academics, especially in film and cinema, business, teacher education, nursing, public health, and marine science, with more than 200 academic programs across seven colleges. The school’s location is one of its biggest assets: students have access to San Francisco’s internships, cultural institutions, and tech and biotech opportunities, while also being close to the ocean and Lake Merced. Student life is active in the way that fits a big city campus, with a wide range of clubs and identity-based, cultural, and professional organizations rather than a highly residential, sports-centered atmosphere. The university tends to attract students who want affordability, flexibility, and hands-on learning more than a traditional small-campus experience. It is a good fit for self-directed students who are comfortable taking initiative and using the city as part of their education.

San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

Less selective

0%
Admission rate
930–1130
SAT
16–23
ACT
#0
US rank

Calculate your chances at San Francisco State University

Enter your GPA and test scores, add other schools, and see where you stand instantly.

Your Academic Profile

Estimates based on admitted-student data. Real decisions also weigh essays, recommendations, and course rigor.

Your results

Enter your GPA to see your academic score.

San Francisco State University logo
San Francisco State University

Admit rate 96% · SAT 930–1130

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Strengths

  • Broad selection of majors and professional programs, with especially strong visibility in cinema, business, education, and health fields
  • Location in San Francisco creates access to internships, networking, and city-based learning opportunities
  • Large and diverse campus community with many student organizations and support options
  • Public university setting can be a strong value for students who want an urban education without a private-school price tag

Things to weigh

  • Very high admit rate means the campus is accessible, but some applicants may see it as less selective or less prestigious than nearby options
  • Commuter-heavy culture can make it harder to get a classic residential college experience
  • San Francisco’s cost of living can be challenging, especially for housing and daily expenses
  • The atmosphere is not especially sports- or school-spirit driven, so students who want a highly traditional campus identity may find it muted

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into San Francisco State University?+

San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants, and the middle 50% of admitted students score between 930 and 1130 on the SAT. Enter your GPA and test scores above and this calculator estimates your personal chances in seconds, and tells you whether San Francisco State University is a safety, match, or reach for your profile.

Is this the most accurate college admissions calculator?+

Counselly's chances calculator runs on real, current admissions data, the actual admit rates and SAT/ACT ranges colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education, not averages scraped from forums. Our algorithm weighs your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular strength against each school's admitted-student profile the way an admissions reader would begin, which makes it one of the most reliable free tools for seeing where you'll get into college.

How does the calculator predict my chances of getting in?+

It compares your academic profile to each college's real admitted class. We look at where your GPA and test scores fall within a school's 25th to 75th percentile range, combine that with the school's overall admit rate, and factor in your extracurricular strength, then translate it into a clear percentage and a Safety, Match, or Reach label. Everything recalculates instantly as you add schools or adjust your stats.

What counts as a good chance of getting into a college?+

Roughly above 60% is a Safety, you're comfortably ahead of the typical admitted student. Around 30 to 60% is a Match, realistic and worth prioritizing. Below 30% is a Reach, still absolutely worth applying to if it's a dream school. The strongest college lists balance all three, and Counselly helps you build exactly that kind of list.

Which colleges can I check my admission chances for?+

Hundreds of US colleges and universities, from Ivy League schools to large public flagships to smaller private colleges. Just start typing, MIT, UCLA, NYU, Michigan, and pick from the suggestions. We're continuously expanding our data, and your free assessment goes even further, matching you to programs across the country based on your full profile.

Can a calculator really tell me where I will get accepted?+

No tool can promise an outcome, and you should be cautious of any that claims to. What Counselly does exceptionally well is show you, honestly and instantly, exactly where you stand academically at each college, so you can build a smart, balanced list instead of guessing. Your essays, recommendations, and story do the rest, and your free assessment is built to help you strengthen all of them.

Is the college chances calculator free?+

Completely free, and no signup is required to use it. When you're ready to go further, your full assessment, the complete list of colleges where you're a strong fit plus a step-by-step plan to raise your odds, is also free to unlock with an account.

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