How to apply to San José State University for art and design: the Animation & Illustration BFA is decided at application with three timed drawings and no internal transfer, while the other art and design BFAs use a portfolio review after enrollment — portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, students in Canada and transfer students

At San José State University (SJSU, part of the California State University system, in downtown San José in Silicon Valley), undergraduate art and design sits in two departments: the Department of Art and Art History and the Department of Design. Entry works very differently in each: Animation & Illustration is decided when you apply to the university, while most other art and design BFAs start with coursework and a later portfolio review. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SJSU’s official websites, for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Degrees

• Art and Art History: the BFA has four concentrations — Digital Media Art (computer graphics, programming, interactivity and computer games), Photography, Pictorial Art (drawing, painting, printmaking) and Spatial Art; BAs in Studio Practice, Prep for Teaching, and Art History and Visual Culture.
• Design: BFA Animation / Illustration, BFA Graphic Design, BFA Interior Design, BS Industrial Design and the BA in Design Studies.

2. Animation & Illustration BFA: decided at application

• Admission only when applying to SJSU: there is no internal transfer into the program; students admitted to another major cannot switch in or take its courses. List it as your first-choice major.
• Fall only: no spring applicants are accepted.
• Supplemental drawing exercises (not a portfolio review): due within one week of submitting Cal State Apply, through SlideRoom from inside Cal State Apply, with a processing fee (amount not stated). Three items, each done in one hour or less in a sketchbook or near 8.5 × 11 in.:
  • Self-portrait from a mirror, in black-and-white media other than felt-tip markers;
  • Room drawing from life in ballpoint pen, filling the page;
  • Passion page in any medium, with one or two sentences of explanation.
  Files are jpg, png, pdf or gif up to 5 MB each; international students choose the entry marked “_I”. Faculty assess creativity, thoughtfulness, aesthetics, discipline, skill and craft, and say they care more about how you tackle the problem than whether you “succeed”.
• Basis for admission: freshmen are admitted on the eligibility index plus the drawing exercises, with no separate portfolio review; transfers on GPA. For fall 2025 the freshman threshold for Animation & Illustration was 3040 (2000 for the art BFAs, Design Studies and many others); criteria change every year and are posted after admission.
• After enrolling: a mid-program portfolio review in the fall of the third semester, with one more try the following spring; students who do not pass move to the BA in Design Studies. A 3.0 GPA must be kept in major courses; two consecutive semesters below 3.0 also means a move to the BA. Four- and five-year roadmaps; concentration (story, visual development, 3-D modeling or animation) is chosen in the third or fifth semester; three required courses draw from the unclothed figure.

3. Other art and design majors: portfolio review after enrolling

• The four art BFAs: students enter as art majors, complete 21–24 units of preparation courses (Art 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 24, 74, Phot 40, one of ArtH 70A/B/C, and Art 100W) and then apply for the BFA portfolio review. Requirements: a 3.0 GPA in art courses, 3–6 units of recommended courses, a statement of about 500 words and 10 works from the preparation courses. The fall 2026 round opens 1 October and closes 26 October. Students may apply twice; those who do not pass graduate with the BA in Studio Art, and students who reach 90 units without applying or seeing an advisor are moved to the BA.
• Graphic, Interior and Industrial Design: everyone is first admitted as a BA Design Studies major; after two to three semesters at SJSU, a portfolio review decides entry to the BFA in Graphic Design, BFA in Interior Design or BS in Industrial Design. Graphic Design uses two reviews, DsGD 100 (early December) and DsGD 104 (early May), with a 3.0 GPA preferred; there is no portfolio review for admission to the BA.
• Computer: Graphic Design requires a laptop (15-inch screen recommended) able to run Adobe Creative Suite.

4. Deadlines and applying (fall 2027)

• Impaction: every SJSU major is impacted; meeting CSU minimums does not guarantee admission. Eligible freshmen are ranked within each major, and SAT/ACT are not considered for fall 2027. You cannot change majors during the application process, and changing after admission is by petition only.
• International first-year: Cal State Apply opens 1 August 2026, accepts submissions from 1 October and closes 1 April 2027; fee US$70. Partial transcripts by 23 March 2027, intent to enroll by 1 May, international documents by 2 May, final transcripts by 15 July.
• Spring: the international first-year window for spring 2027 is 1 July to 30 September 2026, but Animation & Illustration does not admit in spring.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Grades: applicants with two or more years outside the U.S. need a 3.0 GPA or B average, plus three years of college-prep math and four years of college-prep English with C or better; SJSU converts foreign grades. The fall 2025 results page notes non-residents (including international students) needed at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Tests: SAT/ACT optional, used only for placement.
• English (non-engineering): TOEFL 3.5 (61 for tests before 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0, PTE 44, Duolingo 95, valid for two years. Three years of full-time study where English is the primary language of instruction exempts you.
• SJSU publishes no Gaokao policy; ask admissions.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• The English exemption is based on three years of full-time study in English; Canada and Quebec are not listed separately.
• BC grade conversion and requirements are not published; confirm with admissions.
• Deadlines and drawing requirements are the same as above.

7. Costs

• International undergraduate estimate (12 units per semester): 2026–27 tuition and fees US$20,538, total US$49,278; 2027–28 tuition and fees US$21,915, total US$51,978 (including living costs and medical insurance).
• After admission you submit a declaration of finance and proof of funds for the I-20; funding does not affect admission.
• Whether international students can receive departmental scholarships is not published.

8. Transfer students

• Animation & Illustration: transfers also submit the drawing exercises and are admitted on GPA; courses must then follow the roadmap order.
• Art BFAs: the BFA review page notes many transfers arrive near 90 units and should plan the portfolio review with a major advisor right away.
• Supplemental application: all transfers must complete the SJSU-specific supplemental application with their grades, or they will not be considered; it appears on the MySJSU To Do List. The international transfer Cal State Apply window is also 1 August 2026 to 1 April 2027.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For Animation & Illustration: list it first and submit the three timed drawings in SlideRoom within a week
• For other art or design: enter the major, then take the preparation courses and prepare for the portfolio review
• GPA 3.0+, TOEFL 3.5 or IELTS 6.0; submit by 1 April 2027

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines and drawing exercises; confirm BC grade conversion and the English exemption with admissions

Transfer students:

• Complete the SJSU supplemental application; for art BFAs, meet a major advisor early

Sources: San José State University, Department of Art and Art History; Art undergraduate admissions; BFA portfolio review; Digital Media Art; Pictorial Art; Department of Design; Design admission; Animation & Illustration application guidelines; Animation & Illustration FAQs; Graphic Design FAQs; Admission deadlines; Impaction; Fall 2025 freshman impaction results; Coursework outside the U.S.; English proficiency; International financial documents and estimated expenses. Deadlines are for fall 2027 entry; check the SJSU website for the latest.