University of San Francisco

Change the World from Here

Founded in 1855 as the first college in San Francisco, the University of San Francisco has long helped to shape one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Today, USF offers more than 100 degree programs in the arts and sciences, law, management, education, and nursing and health professions. And today, as ever, it inspires its students to change the world for the better.

Stretch Your Mind with Community-Based Learning

USF delivers a well-rounded education that prepares students not only for successful careers but also for fulfilling lives. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1 and an average class size of 22, students work with professors who know their names and who expect them to contribute to discussions. The private Jesuit university has 1,184 full- and part-time faculty members, and 95 percent of full-time faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees in the fields they teach. Classes are not taught by student teachers or by teachers' assistants. They're taught by professors who turn theory into practice, who turn learning into action, and who don't teach students what to think but rather how to think.

Get Involved and Make Lifelong Friends

USF's 55-acre campus is a small and supportive community in the heart of a large city. Located in the geographic center of San Francisco, the main campus is just minutes from the Financial District, Golden Gate Park, and the Pacific Ocean. More than 90 percent of incoming freshmen live on campus, and USF students take advantage of all that the city has to offer -- music, museums, theater, dining, the ballet, major sporting events -- plus a wide range of research, internship, and employment opportunities. Also, students can connect with an ever-expanding network of 110,699 alumni who live in all 50 states, six US territories, and 135 countries.

As one of the most diverse universities in the United States, USF delivers the world on a campus. Students from all 50 states and 98 countries create a rich environment, and in the best Jesuit tradition, USF welcomes students from all backgrounds -- and from all religious faiths and no faith -- and invites input from every perspective. This combination of academic rigor and open-minded inquiry creates an atmosphere in which students grow and thrive. USF has produced 333 U.S. judges (including four California Supreme Courts justices); a former United States senator; a California lieutenant governor; four Pulitzer Prize winners; three Olympic medalists; countless priests, nuns, and other religious leaders; educators; police chiefs; corporate CEOs and entrepreneurs; three NBA Hall of Famers; three NFL Hall of Famers; and Alejandro Toledo, the former president of Peru.

With its vibrant campus atmosphere and endless activities, it's easy to stay engaged at USF -- and easy to make friends. Students participate in more than 100 student-run organizations, including clubs, fraternities, sororities, and honor societies. They can take their pick of 34 intramural and club sports, and cheer for the USF Dons in the NCAA Division I conference across nine men's and women's varsity sports: baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country, golf, tennis, track & field, sand volleyball, and volleyball. 

Both inside and outside the classroom, USF creates a culture of public service. Students participate in a full range of community service projects, from habitat restoration along Ocean Beach to tutoring schoolchildren in underserved neighborhoods. These programs aren't fringe efforts. They're built into the life of the university. As a result, USF students don't just graduate with degrees. They graduate with a comprehensive education, a drive for success, and a desire to improve the world.

Investigate Financial Aid

A full range of financial aid programs are available at USF, including scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment opportunities. Domestic students who wish to be considered for financial aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) by February 15. Approximately 76% of USF's undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.

In addition to need-based financial aid, the university has a generous academic scholarship program based on the applicant's high school record and test scores. Eligible freshman applicants are identified during the admission process and can apply as early action, early decision, or regular action applicants. Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a competitive GPA.