50%
Graduation Rate
6%
Transfer-out Rate
83%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At San Francisco State University, the graduation rate is 50 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 83 %, and the transfer-out rate is 6 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 56.21% (public Research University with high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 2,048 students out of 4,066 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at San Francisco State University.
By gender, 776 male and 1,272 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
| Total | 4,066 | 2,048 | 50.37% |
| Men | 1,631 | 776 | 47.58% |
| Women | 2,435 | 1,272 | 52.24% |
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at San Francisco State University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 66.67%
- Asian: 62.93%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 36.36%
- Hispanic: 44.30%
- White: 52.53%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 29.17%
- Two or More Race: 48.09%
- Unknown: 58.16%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 66.67%(4/6) |
100.00%(3/3) |
33.33%(1/3) |
|---|
| Asian | 62.93%(601/955) |
60.35%(274/454) |
65.27%(327/501) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 36.36%(84/231) |
21.92%(16/73) |
43.04%(68/158) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 44.30%(765/1,727) |
40.59%(246/606) |
46.30%(519/1,121) |
|---|
| White | 52.53%(312/594) |
50.83%(123/242) |
53.69%(189/352) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 29.17%(7/24) |
30.00%(3/10) |
28.57%(4/14) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 48.09%(113/235) |
42.42%(42/99) |
52.21%(71/136) |
|---|
| Unknown | 58.16%(57/98) |
46.94%(23/49) |
69.39%(34/49) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At San Francisco State, the transfer-out rate is 6.49%. Its transfer-out rate is much lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 18.69%.
San Francisco State's retention rate is 83% for full-time students and 54 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 77.30%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At San Francisco State University, 105 of 196 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 53.57%.