San Francisco State University Courses 2026: Popular UG, PG, & Certificate Courses

The SFSU is famous for unique courses such as journalism, creative writing and film to technology, science, business, government and education, Health Professions and Related Programs, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

International applicants need to score a 3.0 or higher GPA for getting into SFSU. Candidates are expected to have an above-average GPA to meet the GPA requirements of SFSU. International undergraduates applying for admission at San Francisco State University should keep this application checklist handy:

• Transcripts and/or academic records
• ELP Test Scores of either IELTS or TOEFL or PTE
• Standardized Test Scores of either SAT or ACT

To ensure that the students at San Frnacisco University enjoy their time at the University, SFSU offers the students with multiple extracurricular activities to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the students. SF State University offers more than 200 organizations namely Philosophy, Political, Religious, Cutural, Greek, Academic, and lots more. Additional SFSU has multiple sport programs for students to actively participate in. Some of the sports programs offered by the University include Baseball, Mens and Women's Basketballm Men's and Women's Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Field and Track, and many more. Additionally, the university also offers Campus Recreation Department which is a department incorporating transformative activities, and other wellness and health activities.

International applicants must start the application process at San Francisco State University well in advance of the application deadlines of their preferred intakes to avoid unnecessary delays. Applicants must meet the basic eligibility criteria, which include meeting the academic requirements and proof of English language proficiency as per their program, and they must also submit the mandatory documents required for admission, such as academic records, LORs, SOPs, updated CV, etc. Applicants must then finally finish the application and pay the San Francisco State University application fee of USD 70 (INR 6.1 K), which is the same for both UG and PG courses. This fee is non-refundable.
(USD 1 = INR 87.31)

The San Francisco State University provides its students with various scholarship options, mostly on the basis of merit. Some of the scholarships are valid just for international students, and some can be valid for both domestic and international students. The minimum GPA requirements for these scholarships are generally 2.5-3.0 out of 4.0 or higher. The following are the most popular scholarships given by the university:

• International Student / Associated Students Scholarship
• Scholarships via Academic works (General Campus Scholarships)
• Departmental or College-Based Scholarships
• Systemwide or Nationally Competitive Scholarships via Fellowships Office)

SFSU offers an MS in Computer Science programme where students are taught about the different aspects of System theory and Software Development, which includes both research and project components for more practical learning in technical and communication skills. Graduates from this programme are well prepared for Software Engineering, Software Development, and research-driven roles. The average salaries of these graduates range from USD 47,700 to USD 108,100. The programme goes on for 18 months, and the tuition fees are around INR 13 L.

An unofficial source says, SFSU acceptance rate is 90%. This shows the university is easy during admission. Students should meet the basic qualification of their program, submit all the documents, and complete the application. In case students fail to submit all documents, the application will be considered incomplete and may get delayed.

San Jose State University and San Francisco State University are among the best and top-rated universities in California. The best university is the one that suits your requirements and conditions best. However, based on rankings we can make a comparison between both universities. The U.S. News and World Report 2025 ranked San Jose State University is ranked #4 among Regional Universities (West) and San Francisco State University is ranked #204 among the national universities (overall). Also, San Francisco State University acceptance rate is around 90%, whereas, San Jose State University acceptance rate is around 80%. This means SJSU is more selective. 

Students are required to submit a minimum score of 120. Students must aim to submit much more than the required limit. As per Duolingo, international students must prove their English language proficiency by submitting the scores of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. The minimum score required for all the mentioned tests is given below:

SF State University offers on campus housing facilities to students. Some housing options offered by SFSU include halls such as West Grove Commons, Mary Park Hall & Mary Ward Hall etc. 

To know more about the housing facilities and different resident options, visit the University official website

San Francisco State University offers PG programs in diverse specializations, such as Computer Science; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Statistical Data Science; Biomedical Science; Mechanical Engineering; Mathematics; Civil Engineering, and more. The tuition cost for these programs is between INR 11L and INR 14L, insurance, and transportation costs are around INR 1.5L, and hostel and book supply cost is INR 12.9L and INR 91K respectively. Students can check the approximate cost from the below table:

Business and Management course rankings of San Francisco State University based on the US News and World Report are-

SFSU offers an MS in Accountancy program, which prepares students for careers across the public accounting, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. Graduates are well prepared for roles like Public Accountant, Financial Controller, Auditor, or Accounting Manager. The average salaries of these graduates are around USD 78,065. The programme goes on for 18 months, and the tuition fees are about INR 18 L.

San Francisco State University and Arizona State University are one of the top-ranked public universities of USA. San Francisco State University ranked #178 in 2024 among the National Univeristies according to the top-ranking publishers whereas, Arizona University ranked #105 hence securing a higher ranking than SFSU. Shiksha Study Abroad grading system has graded SFSU an overall grade of B and Arizona State University was graded an overall A. To determine which university is better there are multiple factors that need to be taken into consideration such as the tuition fee, programs offered, location, housing facilities, campus life, overall expenses, scholarships, and placements offered and many more.

SFSU offers an MS in Data Science and AI program designed to teach students the fundamentals of computer science, statistics, machine learning, and AI theory and its application. Graduates of this course are well prepared for roles like Data Scientists, AI Engineers, or Machine Learning Specialists. Their average starting salary typically ranges from USD 116,000 to USD 160,000. The program generally goes on for 18 months, and the tuition fees are around INR 14 L.

At San Francisco State University, international students are expected to score a minimum GPA of 3 on a scale of 4. Along with GPA, standardized scores, English language requirements, and academic performance are equally crucial for SFSU admissions. International students must score an SAT score of a minimum of 1230 and an ACT score of 27. In addition, if a student has any prior experience relevant to the chosen programme can make a huge impact in the selection.

The first-year tuition fees for international students at San Francisco State University are given as follows:

Yes, Shiksha Counselling can guide students on document preparation and visa interview. Basically, while accessing the Shiksha counselling services, students are guided from initial college selection all the way up to get a successful student visa. Students will be assigned a dedicated counsellor who will remain in touch throughout the entire admission process.  

San Francisco State University acceptance rate is 90%. This shows that SFSU is extremely lenient during SFSU admissions. The students must show their best performance in academics, score good marks on standardized test scores, and prove their English language proficiency to grab a seat in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs of SFSU.

Master of Science in Computer Science is one of the greatest courses to pursue for in-depth knowledge of computer engineering. San Francisco State University's Master of Science in Computer Science programme provides foreign students with a top-notch education, cutting-edge practical training, and professional prospects. The full-time Master of Science in Computer Science programme at San Francisco State University lasts 18 months. One of San Francisco State University's premier programmes is the Master of Science in Computer Science. To get admitted, candidates must pass the GRE, GMAT, SAT, and TOEFL/IELTS language proficiency exams.