Welcome to San Francisco State and the Gator Family!
We are very excited to welcome you to San Francisco State University! Your decision to attend SF State is an important step in your college journey, and New Student & Family Programs is here to support your orientation and transition to the University. Explore this site and make sure to take advantage of our step-by-step guides from accepting your admissions offer, signing-up for New Student Orientation, and starting your first semester with success!
Important Announcements
Below you will find regular updates to key announcements and important information essential for all new students and their families. We encourage you to bookmark our homepage as we try to bring together important resources for all new students!
- New Students for Spring 2023 will attend Winter Orientation in January 2023. Orientation registration will open in early Fall 2022.
- Public Transportation Update! MUNI M line services and all bus services to SF State are back! Click the above hyperlinks for more information!
- COVID 19 UPDATE REGARDING REMOTE OPERATIONS. New Student & Family Programs will be operating on-campus and remotely through Fall 2022. Our office can be reached Monday through Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm on campus in the Student Service Building (SSB) 301, or via email at nsp@sfsu.edu and by phone at (415) 338-3060. New Student & Family Programs can also be available for remote meetings, via Zoom, upon request. Please view our Contact Us page for more information.
News & Info
The new student checklist is here to help guide you through important reminders and tasks to complete once you accept your admission offer.
Note: If you happened to miss New Student Orientation and would like to learn more or find support regarding your transition to SF State, please email us at nsp@sfsu.edu
As a newly admitted student, here are some important dates and deadlines regarding your admission. Please feel free to contact our office if you need any support navigating your transition to San Francisco State!
We are here to help and pride ourselves on helping students and their families! Go Gators!
Students who are admitted for the Spring 2023 semester will reserve a spot for a Winter orientation session. Winter Orientation dates will be announced soon.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at nsp@sfsu.edu.
Two-Factor Authentication (or 2FA) is required for the SF State community for the protection of you and your information. All SF State students will need to set up their 2FA to access SF State resources and sign up for New Student Orientation.
To get started, follow the link below!
Modified Campus Operations Continue
We encourage all new students to carefully read the updates regarding COVID-19 and the SF State Campus Plan from the University's main webpage linked below.
Helpful Links
You can check your application status online. After you submit your online application, you will receive an email from the University with your San Francisco State University Identification Number.
Check your application status on the SF State Gateway. Log in with your SF State ID and password and navigate to the Student Center to see the most up-to-date information.
The To Do List will show the required documents needed for your admission application. Click “more” and then the individual To Do Items to see additional details about each item.
You can also check the status of your application by clicking on the link to “Check Admission Status” in the “New Students” box of your Student Center.
We recommend all new students review the cost of attendance at SF State early on and consider the various expenses, such as cost of living, tuition and fees, and what potential aid, scholarships, and resources will be needed to attend the University.
Below you will find a number of links to understand financial aid resources offered to SF State students.
Prospective and new students can check their financial aid application status, as well as view and accept their financial aid award offer through the SF State Gateway.
- Login to your Student Center on the SF State Gateway: gateway.sfsu.edu
- In the center of the next page in the "Finances" section, choose on "View Financial Aid"
- Check your "To Do" List for any required documents.
Make sure to carefully read through the Bursar's schedule of tuition and fees.
Housing at San Francisco State is limited! It's important to plan for alternative options if living on-campus is not possible. Note that Housing applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applying for housing on campus is a separate process from the University admission process. Because obtaining housing on campus is not guaranteed, be sure to apply early.
Navigating a University website as a new student can be a lot of work! Don't stress. We're here to help. Below you'll find an advanced search tool that can help you find specific offices and staff across campus. If you would like to speak with someone from our office, please visit our Help Desk.
New Student Orientation
Orientation 101
It All Starts Here! Learn more about New Student Orientation at San Francisco State and what it means to be a Gator!
Orientation Dates
Summer Orientation occurs in June, July, and August for a Fall start. Winter Orientation, for a Spring term, occurs in January.
Sign-Up for Orientation
Students apply, accept their admissions offer, and pay their enrollment deposit before they can sign-up for orientation.
Welcome to the Gator Way!
First-Year Experience
In the first-year, students forge and further develop personal, academic, and community identities and literacies in dialogue with San Francisco State University’s history of social justice, equity, and inclusion.
Peer Mentors
Peer Mentors will reach out to all new students during the first academic semester and provide opportunities for one-on-one check-ins, ways to connect and get involved and learn more about the University.
The City that Knows How
San Francisco is an incredible home for a University. San Francisco State University students will be able to explore the city and learn why you can leave your heart in San Francisco! See what there is to explore!