San Francisco State University Acceptance Rate
San Francisco, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 29,878
- Admitted
- 28,727
- Yield
- 10.4%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, San Francisco State University's acceptance rate has risen from 66% in 2014–15 to 96.1% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 31,963 to 29,878 (-7%) over that period.
Its 96.1% rate makes San Francisco State University more selective than about 7% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 10%.
San Francisco State University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 10.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 31,963 | 21,087 | 66% | 3,754 |
| 2015–16 | 35,122 | 23,841 | 67.9% | 4,276 |
| 2016–17 | 36,223 | 24,704 | 68.2% | 3,642 |
| 2017–18 | 34,524 | 24,327 | 70.5% | 4,323 |
| 2018–19 | 35,606 | 25,550 | 71.8% | 4,287 |
| 2019–20 | 34,629 | 23,307 | 67.3% | 3,694 |
| 2020–21 | 31,430 | 26,431 | 84.1% | 2,779 |
| 2021–22 | 27,777 | 25,809 | 92.9% | 3,149 |
| 2022–23 | 29,932 | 28,195 | 94.2% | 3,339 |
| 2023–24 | 29,878 | 28,727 | 96.1% | 2,985 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 18,100 | 17,459 | 96.5% |
| Men | 11,778 | 11,268 | 95.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How San Francisco State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is San Francisco State University's acceptance rate?
San Francisco State University's acceptance rate is 96.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (28,727 admitted of 29,878 applicants).
Is San Francisco State University test optional?
San Francisco State University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to San Francisco State University?
San Francisco State University received 29,878 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 28,727.
Is San Francisco State University getting harder to get into?
San Francisco State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 66% in 2014–15 to 96.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.sfsu.edu/.