The University of San Francisco—a private, Jesuit university—reflects the energy, diversity, and opportunities of the city that surrounds it.
Founded in 1855 as the first college in San Francisco, USF has long been a part of the city’s colorful history. Today, USF is ranked #4 for student diversity among national universities by U.S. News & World Report (2021). True to our Jesuit values, the USF campus serves as a space for complex questioning and a meeting place for perspectives from all walks of life. While USF is a Jesuit, Catholic university, our student body grew up in 22 different faith traditions, and about one-fifth of our students identify as Catholic.
USF enrolls 5,852 undergraduate and 4,216 graduate students in more than 100 degree programs, boasting a network of more than 118,000 alumni around the world. In any of our 44 majors, you’ll be encouraged to turn learning into positive action with a strong commitment to social justice. Small class sizes (with an average of 24 students per class) taught by professors (not TAs) ensure that your education is intensely personal, intellectually demanding, and designed to help you change the world for the better. The six Core Curriculum areas build a common foundation for thinking critically with an eye toward a greater good.
USF’s hilltop campus in the geographic center of the city puts our students in the middle of everything San Francisco has to offer. Students enjoy the city’s natural beauty and cultural attractions, 36 unique neighborhoods, sporting events with the Bay Area’s six professional athletic teams, and unlimited access to research, internship, and employment opportunities at the Bay Area’s most successful companies. At USF, everything in San Francisco is just a walk or a bike, bus, or BART ride away.
