San Francisco State University vs. UCSF: Two Distinct Institutions

Despite sharing a city, San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) are entirely separate.

San Francisco State University

• Type: Comprehensive public university (CSU system).
• Focus: Liberal arts, sciences, business, education, creative arts.
• Students: ~25,000 undergrad + grad.
• Campus: Lake Merced / Parkmerced area.

University of California, San Francisco

• Type: Graduate-only health sciences campus (UC system).
• Focus: Medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, basic biomedical research.
• Students: ~3,000 grad/professional; no undergraduates.
• Campus: Parnassus Heights, Mission Bay, Mount Zion.
• Affiliated: UCSF Medical Center (top-ranked hospital).

SFSU grants bachelor's degrees across disciplines; UCSF trains doctors, scientists, and health professionals. Different missions, different students, different systems.