In both size and number of students, UC San Francisco is the smallest of the nine UC campuses. But its relative size belies its distinction as one of the leading biomedical research and health science education centers in the world.

Within its 83 academic departments and programs, SFSU awards bachelor's degrees in 122 areas of specialization and master's in 97. SFSU offers a Ph.D. and Ed.D. in education with a concentration in special education, jointly, with UC Berkeley and a joint Master's of Science in Physical Therapy with UC San Francisco. The University also offers 28 credential programs and 27 certificate programs.

Founded in 1878 as University of California's first law school, Hastings College of the Law has been at the center of the legal community in the West.