SFBU is a private, nonprofit institution, accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and founded on the belief that higher education should expand opportunity rather than limit it. We exist to question traditional approaches and create learning experiences that better reflect today’s realities. That commitment informs who we are and where we’re going.
Our history includes moments of meaningful change and transformation. Over time, we’ve strengthened how we approach academic quality, affordability, support and access to serve learners like you.
Mission: San Francisco Bay University provides diverse learners with inclusive, innovative and inspirational education for lifelong personal and professional success.
Vision: San Francisco Bay University will set the standard as a national and international model of engaged and transformative higher education in service of the common good.
These statements guide how we design programs, measure progress and stay focused on what matters most to you.
Located in Fremont, California, SFBU’s campus sits within one of the world’s most innovative regions. Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and technological advancements blend creative problem solving with business leadership. Our location influences how we develop our academic programs and learning structures based on in-demand competencies. With industry partners and our business incubator, Innovate Bay, SFBU offers access to unique professional experiences.
Leadership at SFBU plays a direct role in creating the distinct opportunities you find here. By questioning traditional approaches and investing in new ways of teaching and learning, our leaders ensure SFBU — and you — continue to move forward with intention.
At SFBU, your success is how we measure our success. Career preparation matters, but so does having the foundation to build the life you want after college. We empower you with financial and life literacy, support for your mental, physical and spiritual well-being, and the tools to pursue anything you set your mind to.
Our core values aren’t lofty goals etched into a decorative plaque; they inform the way our classrooms look, the way our teachers listen, the way you learn — and the way we live together as Bayhawks.
You are more than a student here. You are a whole person with unique personal and emotional needs and academic and professional goals. Our student support services help you navigate college and provide the reassurance to try, fail and succeed on your own timeline. We offer academic advising, mentoring, extracurricular opportunities, wellness resources and unlimited mental health support, serving first-generation, transfer, working and international students.
As higher education, in general, struggles to accommodate new generations of learners, SFBU challenges itself to stand out. The Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation (CEPI) trains our faculty in leading-edge teaching practices that are scientifically proven to improve learning outcomes in our undergraduate and graduate programs. Through project-based learning, collaborative team work and real-world assignments that mirror professional expectations, students gain practical experience here.
Additionally, we drive continual academic improvement that reflects the latest teaching breakthroughs and industry demands — like incorporating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into our teaching and your learning.
In 2023, Gallup and the Lumina Foundation reported that 55% of U.S. adults cited financial burden as the main reason not to pursue a college degree. We’re addressing that reality directly. In addition to its affordable tuition and housing rates and zero-cost textbooks, SFBU grants a wide variety of scholarships without requiring supplemental materials. Scholarships are awarded by GPA band and range from 25% to full tuition coverage.
If higher education exists to open doors, why should only a select few have the opportunity to enter? From removing the A-G admission requirements for California residents to welcoming international and transfer applicants, SFBU offers you a clear path to earning a college degree. We believe our resources are most impactful when shared, not guarded.
From applied coursework and industry partnerships to student-centered support and innovation, this is a college experience that removes barriers and reflects how learning actually happens today. Get to know more about San Francisco Bay University, plan a visit or apply to join us.
Everyone has a place at SFBU. We serve a diverse student population—including first-generation students, transfer students, working adults, and international learners—helping you move forward with confidence and achieve more.
Ready for a career-focused education with strong academic, personal, and professional support? At SFBU, you’ll find a community invested in your long-term success.
SFBU prepares students for careers by integrating real-world problem-solving throughout the student experience. We’ve built our education around career-connected learning, incorporating industry-informed projects, cross-cultural collaboration, and fluency in AI-enhanced workflows that reflect how modern organizations operate. This approach ensures students develop deep technical capabilities along with sound judgment, adaptability and a strong sense of ethical responsibility.
At the center of this experience is the Agility Praxis Pathway (APP), SFBU’s core curriculum that strengthens critical thinking, communication, leadership, and collaboration. APP ensures you graduate with the agility to adapt, lead and succeed across changing industries and roles.
Students can also refine their expertise through live hackathons, capstone showcases and cross-disciplinary collaboration, graduating with a portfolio that demonstrates their professional readiness.
Upon graduating, SFBU Bayhawks enter the workforce ready to contribute from day one, equipped with the human insight and technological fluency today’s employers demand.
Industry, community and educational partnerships are central to SFBU’s educational strategy, shaping both what students learn and how they apply it. Collaborations with Silicon Valley employers, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders inform curriculum design, ensuring coursework reflects real-world expectations and evolving industry needs.
These partnerships create opportunities beyond the classroom so students can tackle real business challenges and contribute to community-driven initiatives that broaden their perspectives.
References to Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) reflect an earlier phase in the institution’s history. The University has since transitioned to San Francisco Bay University and now operates under new leadership, governance and academic oversight.
Our name change was made to better reflect the University’s mission, its location in the San Francisco Bay Area, and its long-term academic strategy. It signals an evolution of the institution, with a stronger focus on academic quality, workforce relevance and community impact.
SFBU has evolved intentionally and strategically, emerging ready to meet the demands of a changing world. Today, the University stands on a strong foundation of accreditation, responsible governance and full regulatory compliance.
Defined by our forward momentum, we’re building an institution grounded in a renewed academic vision, strengthened leadership, and a commitment to human-centered, innovation-driven learning. One designed to expand access, accelerate opportunity and prepare students to drive impact—wherever they go.
San Francisco Bay University operates in compliance with all federal, state and accreditor requirements. Academic programs, governance and institutional practices are reviewed regularly through WSCUC accreditation processes and ongoing oversight.
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