Founded in 1899, San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and is part of the California State University system. The school awards bachelor's and master's degrees and participates in several joint doctoral programs with the University of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. According to the school, its mission is to create and maintain an environment for learning that promotes respect for and appreciation of scholarship, freedom, human diversity, and the cultural mosaic of the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area.

The academic palette afforded students at San Francisco State University is a broad one. San Francisco State University offers bachelors degrees in 116 different areas of specialization, and the curriculum is flexible and easily manipulated and customized. Students can choose a single major, a double major, a major and a minor, or work with their academic advisor to design a specific major based on courses offered. There are also 28 different certification programs in areas like teacher education. Many of this California State University's programs are highly competitive - some of these include communications studies, apparel design manufacturing, interior design, and film.

For the California-based student, studying at this Bay Area school is an extremely affordable pursuit, with in-state fees totaling $1,167 per semester. All students can apply for financial aid, which can constitute a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

As for the backdrop to academic life, students at San Francisco State University are lucky to make this Bay Area school their playground. San Francisco is known for its hills and Golden Gate Bridge, and the campus is located on western side of the city, close to the ocean, the zoo, and shopping and residential areas. The city's streets are packed with a vibrant culture of politically and artistically active citizens, and athletic franchises like the 49ers and the Giants offer year-round spirit and excitement.