International Freshmen

To be eligible for admission to SF State as a freshman, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Be academically prepared for college/university

Complete a secondary/high school curriculum that totals 12 years of primary-secondary education, be qualified to enter a university in your home country and have a good scholastic record from an accredited/recognized school.

2. Meet the GPA requirement

Have a a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in the 4.0 grading scale or B- average in academic courses completed after 9th grade.

3. Graduate from high school 

​You should have, or will have, the equivalent of US high school completion.

See specific secondary school credentials by country.

4. Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement

See the English Language Proficiency section below for more information.

All SF State undergraduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English Language Proficiency by exam or previous academic instruction in English before an admissions decision can be made.

Eligible English Proficiency Exams

Academic Instruction in English

Demonstrate 3 years of full-time academic study in the following countries where the language of instruction was English:

SF State's American Language Institute

Applicants who do not have the minimum TOEFL/IELTS score may enroll in SF State’s intensive English language program, the American Language Institute (ALI). ALI prepares non-native speakers of English for academic study in the University and issues certificates of eligibility for student visas: ali.sfsu.edu

For students planning to study in F-1 student visa status, you and/or your sponsor(s) must prove that you have the financial ability to pay for school costs plus living expenses for one academic year. 

You will be asked to submit the following documents:

• Financial Affidavit Form
• Proof of finances
• Passport copy (or national ID card if you do not yet have a passport)

Some other documents we may need for your application:

• If it has been more than 1 year since you graduated from high school, submit the Gap in Attendance Form
• If you are a US permanent resident, please submit a copy of your green card. If you have an immigration status other than F-1, you may be asked to submit additional documents to verify your status.
• If you completed any of the following exams: Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma - Higher Level, you may be eligible to receive additional college credit. Official exam scores will be required to award transfer credit. Visit the Standardized External Examinations page for more information.
• If you are an official partner-agent with San Francisco State University, submit the Student Consent for Release of Information form.

1. Explore and Choose a Major

With more than 100 undergraduate majors to choose from, you can discover your unique path in life at SF State. Whatever you choose to study, you will learn from faculty experts who are dedicated to helping you develop your potential.

2. Apply Online

Apply online at www.calstate.edu/apply during the filing period (see Dates & Deadlines).

A $70 (non-refundable) application fee is due at the time of submission and can be paid by credit card or PayPal. 

Use this International Student Application Checklist to gather the information you will need to complete your online application.

SF State uses your self-reported information from the application to make an admission decision, so it is extremely important that you answer all questions on the application completely and accurately.

3. Submit any requested documents

Once we review your application we will notify you by email with instructions and deadlines should we need any additional documents.

4. Check your application status

San Francisco State communicates with students via e-mail. Make sure to read all e-mail messages and pay careful attention to deadlines.

Check your application status to ensure all supporting materials have been received.

After you submit your admission application, your Student Center will have a To Do List of required documents. Requested documents must be received by the specified deadline.

• Transcripts are required for each high school you attended.
• If you are currently in the final year of high school, we need to see grades through your first semester (or second trimester) of year 12.
• If you already completed high school, we need to see your complete high school transcript and proof of high school graduation.
• If your school does not issue transcripts in English, we will need a word-for-word certified English translation.
• We do not accept credential evaluations from third-party companies.
• If you are admitted, you will be required to submit official, final transcripts at a later date.
• Any documents submitted to SF State become the property of the University and will not be returned

Official transcripts must be sent in a sealed transcript envelope to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions & Recruitment
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

See our guide on submitting transcripts for more information.

Housing applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying for housing on campus is a separate process from the University admission process. Because obtaining housing on campus is not guaranteed, it’s important to apply early.

Basis for Appeals

Applicants may appeal denial decisions if they believe the evaluation of application information was incorrect and that they are eligible for admission.

Appeal Procedure

Contact the Admissions Office to discuss your appeal.

International Applicants: (415) 338-2382

After contacting the Admissions Office to discuss your appeal, you may be advised to submit an appeal in writing. If advised to submit an appeal in writing, send the written appeal to the Admissions Committee either via the Admissions Appeal Form or via letter to Undergraduate Admissions Committee, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132.

Appeals must be made within 15 days of the denial decision. There is a limit of one appeal per academic term. Estimated time to issue appeal responses is 7-14 days after all appeal documents are received.