Community college transfer requirements to San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a major receiving institution for community college transfer students in California. This page summarizes the published minimum GPA, application deadline, credit cap, and articulation framework you need to plan the transfer.

Transfer-admission profile

San Francisco State University publishes a transfer-admission policy distinct from its freshman policy. The minimum cumulative community college GPA for transfer applicants is approximately 2; competitive majors — particularly engineering, nursing, computer science, and the business school — typically require a higher GPA, often 3.2 or above, plus specific grades in named lower-division prerequisite courses. The university accepts up to 70 semester hours of community college credit toward the bachelor's; anything earned beyond that cap will appear on the transcript but will not reduce the credits required for graduation.

The application window is Nov 30 (fall), and applicants should plan to have an official transcript from every previously attended college, the FAFSA submitted by the priority deadline, and (where required) a brief transfer essay or major-specific supplement. Some San Francisco State University programs admit only for the fall term; others admit for both fall and spring. Confirm with the receiving department before you commit to a transfer term.

Articulation framework

Because San Francisco State University is part of California State University in California, transfer students from in-state community colleges benefit from the following articulation programs:

• California Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) — AA-T or AS-T from any California Community College guarantees admission to a California State University in a similar major with junior standing.
• UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (UC TAG) — A signed TAG with one of six participating UC campuses guarantees admission for California Community College students who meet GPA and course requirements.
• Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) — Completing IGETC at a California Community College satisfies all lower-division GE requirements at any UC or CSU campus.

Following the relevant articulation program is the cleanest way to ensure a credit-for-credit move into San Francisco State University. Out-of-state transfers and applicants who skip the program are evaluated course-by-course by the registrar, which usually loses some credit at the margin.

Step-by-step transfer plan

1. Decide your target major. Read the San Francisco State University department's transfer guide for that major, which lists every required and recommended lower-division course.
2. Pick a feeder community college in California that offers the matching transfer-track associate degree (AA, AS, or the state's transfer-associate variant).
3. Map every semester against the San Francisco State University articulation table. Confirm with both your community college advisor and the receiving department that the courses you plan to take will count.
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA above 2 — and well above for the competitive majors. Aim for at least 3.2 if you're targeting an oversubscribed program.
5. File the FAFSA before the priority deadline, request an official transcript from every prior college, and submit your application before Nov 30 (fall).
6. After admission, attend the transfer orientation, lock in your major declaration with the receiving department, and request a final credit evaluation in writing.

Common feeder community colleges

The community colleges below are the largest in California by enrollment, and they each maintain established transfer pipelines into San Francisco State University. Each profile lists the college's transfer rate, costs, and program offerings:

Popular majors for transfer-in

Each program-area page below outlines the typical two-year coursework, prerequisites, and recommended sequence for transferring into the corresponding bachelor's program at San Francisco State University:

• Business Administration at San Francisco State University
• Nursing (RN) at San Francisco State University
• Computer Science at San Francisco State University
• Information Technology at San Francisco State University
• Engineering Transfer at San Francisco State University
• Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State University
• Criminal Justice at San Francisco State University
• Psychology at San Francisco State University
• Biology / Pre-Health at San Francisco State University
• Communications & Media at San Francisco State University
• Liberal Arts (General Studies) at San Francisco State University
• Hospitality & Culinary at San Francisco State University