San Francisco State University
On the 22nd of March 1899, the California State Legislature approved the creation of the San Francisco State Normal School with an appropriation of $10,000. Frederic Lister Burk became the first president and chose the motto Experientia Docet. The school rented space in a building on Powell Street between Clay and Sacramento Streets. Only 31 women enrolled in that first year. This institution began as a teacher training program for girls who wanted to pursue careers in education. It started as the San Francisco Weekly Normal School in 1857 before becoming the California State Normal School in 1862. By 1866 enrollment had increased to 384 students. When the California State Normal School moved to San José in 1871, Girls' High became the only publicly supported teacher-training institution. A group of teachers and supporters pressured the state legislature to convert it into a state-funded institution after funding issues caused closure in 1898.
The 1906 earthquake and fire forced the school to relocate from Nob Hill to a temporary campus at the Grant School in Oakland. Ten days after the disaster President Burk found a new site bound by Laguna Haight Buchanan and Hermann Streets. In 1938 students rallied for a new campus with non-wooden buildings due to fears about future earthquakes. Land near Lake Merced was acquired by 1939 but plans paused because of World War II. Many students took part in the war causing enrollment to decline. The campus opened for classes for Fall 1953 before being formally dedicated in October 1954. SFSU President Alexander Roberts and student body president Clifford Worth explored the undeveloped property which consisted mainly of sand dunes dotted with trees and underbrush. Worth proved instrumental in securing the campus's future by successfully lobbying the state Legislature to fund the land purchase. His efforts culminated on the 12th of July 1939 when the state committed to purchasing 57 acres from the City of San Francisco. The main campus is now located in the southwestern part of San Francisco and spans 144.1 acres.
From the 6th of November 1968 to the 20th of March 1969 the longest student strike in American history occurred at SF State. This historic event reshaped ethnic studies programs and university governance. Richard Oakes led a group of SF State students in the occupation of Alcatraz Island during this period. In response to the College of Ethnic Studies being underfunded since 2008 four students held a ten-day hunger strike from the 2nd of May 11 2016 resulting in one hospitalization. The strike ended when President Leslie Wong agreed to commit nearly $500,000 to the college and meet a portion of their demands. The Experimental College was started by students in Fall 1965 as an effort to teach untraditionally. Over 2000 students enrolled in courses offered by the Experimental College before it stopped operating after 1969. The original Experimental College known as E.C. lasted until 1969 but was revived in Fall 2017 as EXCO allowing students to create curriculums and teach one-unit courses about any topic.
On the 6th of April 2023 former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines visited SFSU for a Turning Point USA student chapter event and spoke publicly about her campaign against transgender athletes in women's sports. This sparked a protest where Gaines said she had been struck during the demonstration. About 500 people attended a rally on April 29 calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. After the rally some protestors began an encampment that lasted from April 29 to May 15. The encampment ended after protestors reached a divestment agreement with university leaders. In September October and November students and staff held numerous demonstrations in response to the Gaza war tuition increases layoffs and budget cuts. SFSU faculty members participated in a strike led by the California Faculty Association across the CSU system on the 22nd of January 2024. Faculty had held earlier demonstrations in an effort to prevent layoffs and receive a 12% raise. On the 28th of March 1999 construction began on the Village at Centennial Square while Verducci Hall was imploded after sustaining damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and sitting vacant for a decade.
The university operates on a semester calendar with courses offered during fall spring summer and winter sessions. Winter courses are not eligible for financial aid. As of 2025 the university has 1,582 faculty comprising 690 tenured or tenure-track faculty 882 lecturers and 10 counselors. The student-faculty ratio at SFSU was 25:1 in Spring 2025. The four-year graduation rate stands at 29% while the six-year graduation rate reaches 48.8%. SFSU offers 126 bachelor's degree programs across its seven colleges including Business Administration Psychology Biology Computer Science Criminal Justice Studies Communication Studies Early Childhood Education Cinema Physical Education and Nursing. The College of Health and Social Sciences also offers accelerated Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing in partnership with the City College of San Francisco and College of San Mateo. Project Rebound is a special admissions and support program for formerly incarcerated students started by John Keith Irwin in 1967 who had spent five years incarcerated in 1950. Project Rebound has expanded to 20 of the 23 California State University campuses as of June 2025.
The Romberg Tiburon Campus is a 53.7-acre research campus located in Marin County at 3150 and 3152 Paradise Drive in Tiburon California. SF State has operated a marine lab on the site since 1978 when it began acquiring the land from the federal government for $1 under the condition that the site be used for education. The campus was a former U.S. Navy base. The 7.1-acre Sierra Nevada Field Campus is located in Sierra County near Yuba Pass and the Sierra Valley at 35400 Hwy 49 in Calpine California. It is over 200 miles north of the main campus. Established in 1949 the campus was originally named Camp Leonard after SFSU's fifth president J. Paul Leonard. Basic plumbing was installed in 1953 and the first three-unit college course was taught there in 1961. The Downtown Campus spans approximately 15,850 square feet and is located on the fifth floor of 160 Spear St. in San Francisco. In 2007 the Downtown Campus opened at 835 Market Street with nearly 47,000 square feet of classroom space in Westfield San Francisco Centre.
Common questions
When was San Francisco State University founded and by whom?
The California State Legislature approved the creation of the San Francisco State Normal School on the 22nd of March 1899. Frederic Lister Burk became the first president of this institution which began as a teacher training program for girls.
Where is the main campus of San Francisco State University located today?
The main campus of San Francisco State University spans 144.1 acres in the southwestern part of San Francisco near Lake Merced. Land acquisition for this site was committed to by the state on the 12th of July 1939 after lobbying efforts by student body president Clifford Worth.
What major historical event occurred at San Francisco State University between 1968 and 1969?
From the 6th of November 1968 to the 20th of March 1969 the longest student strike in American history took place at San Francisco State University. This strike reshaped ethnic studies programs and university governance while Richard Oakes led students in occupying Alcatraz Island during that period.
How many faculty members does San Francisco State University employ as of 2025?
As of 2025 the university has 1,582 faculty comprising 690 tenured or tenure-track faculty and 882 lecturers. The student-faculty ratio at San Francisco State University stands at 25:1 in Spring 2025.
When did construction begin on the Village at Centennial Square at San Francisco State University?
Construction began on the Village at Centennial Square at San Francisco State University on the 28th of March 1999. Verducci Hall was imploded after sustaining damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and had sat vacant for a decade prior to this development.