San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California, and part of the 23-campus California State University system. Founded in 1899, it serves a diverse student population at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university offers a broad range of programs across liberal arts, sciences, business, education, health, and creative disciplines. It is especially noted for its College of Ethnic Studies, established after the historic 1968–1969 student strike, and for its strong commitment to access and social mobility. Students are often drawn to San Francisco State University for its urban campus setting, community engagement, and wide array of academic and professional programs.

San Francisco State University was founded in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School, established by the California legislature to train teachers. Frederic Lister Burk served as its first president and helped shape its early academic direction. The institution became a four-year college in 1935 and later joined what became the California State University system in 1961. During the 1968–1969 academic year, San Francisco State College was the site of a 133-day student strike that led to the creation of the College of Ethnic Studies in 1969, the first of its kind in the United States. In 1972, the institution was renamed California State University, San Francisco, and shortly afterward adopted the name San Francisco State University in 1974. Over time, San Francisco State University expanded its academic offerings and campus facilities, evolving into a comprehensive public university serving the San Francisco Bay Area.