The average cost of attending San Francisco State University is 30,000 USD, which includes tuition, living expenses, and a variety of other personal expenses.

Around 3,900 domestic and international students live on campus at San Francisco State University. Students can live in resident halls, semi-suites, or apartments provided by the institution. Manzanita Square, Towers at Centennial Square, Institution Park North, Mary Park Hall, Mary Ward Hall, Tower Junior Suites, and more housing alternatives are available at the university. In 2020, the average student paid $9,656 for housing and $4,728 for eating. Monthly rent for off-campus housing ranges between 500 and 700 Pounds.

The institution has an average enrollment of 30,000 students and 275,000 alumni, adding to the country's diversity. San Francisco State University claims to have 2,320 international students on campus. Admission at San Francisco State University is competitive, with an acceptance rate of 84%.

San Francisco State University's main campus occupies 144.1 acres of land in San Francisco's southwest quadrant. The university's other locations include the Romberg Tiburon Center, the Sierra Nevada Field campus, and the Downtown campus. The Mashouf Wellness Center is the university's social hub, offering health, entertainment, and wellness services. More than 200 active student groups and organisations cater to a wide range of interests.

SFSU has accreditation by Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Within four months of graduation, 75 percent of San Francisco State University graduates find full-time employment. The median wage of university graduates is $54,500 USD.