University of San Francisco

University of San Francisco

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 #3 in student diversity among national universities by U.S. News and World Report (2019). The university enrolls 6,704 undergraduate and 4,010 graduate students, offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and boasts a network of over 110,000 alumni who live in all 50 states, six US territories, and 139 countries. 

USF gives students from all backgrounds an education that is intensely personal, intellectually demanding, and designed to help them change the world for the better. True to its Jesuit values, USF encourages students to turn learning into positive action, with a strong commitment to social justice and to making a difference in communities near and far. The campus serves as a space for complex conversations and a meeting place for perspectives from all walks of life. While Catholic students make up approximately one third of the student body, the rest identify with other religious groups, or with no religion at all.

San Francisco Bay Area

Our 55-acre campus in the geographic center of San Francisco offers big grassy lawns, panoramic views of the city and the Pacific Ocean, and a classic college feel, with residence halls next to labs and libraries. First-year students are guaranteed on-campus housing, and many students have views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and Farallon Islands from their dorm rooms. The campus is small enough to walk across in ten minutes, but large enough to offer plenty of space to learn, study, and relax.

Our campus is a small and supportive community just minutes from the Financial District, Golden Gate Park, and the Pacific Ocean. Students enjoy the city’s natural beauty, 36 unique neighborhoods, cultural attractions, sporting events from the Bay Area’s seven professional teams, and unlimited access to research, internship, and employment opportunities at the Bay Area and Silicon Valley’s most successful companies. At USF, everything in San Francisco is only a walk, bike, bus, or BART ride away.

Academics

Whatever your interests, you’ll find programs that will encourage you to step up, speak up, and challenge your assumptions.

• More than 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and interdisciplinary concentrations

• A Core Curriculum that will push you to explore new passions and communicate your beliefs on complex questions in the humanities, science, ethics, and the arts
• A tight-knit and supportive learning community with an average class size of 23
• The Honors College, which includes accelerated classes and special lectures from scholars and artists in different fields
• Dual-degree and credential programs for business, nursing, psychology, economics, teaching, and more
• Starting in fall 2020, a new engineering program that will develop engineers who are humane, responsive, and diverse.

Academic English for Multilingual (AEM) Students Program

The University of San Francisco has a long commitment to educating international students. Since 1974, USF has offered courses in English for non-native speakers of English who have been admitted to the University of San Francsico. All courses in the AEM Program are credit-bearing and count towards the graduation total. 

AEM 110, AEM 120, AEM 124: Academic reading and writing at the low-advanced to intermediate to level of proficiency.

AEM 111 and AEM 121: Academic speaking and listening at the intermediate to high-intermediate level of proficiency.

AEM 102: Fluency-building in all the skills for intermediate learners of English. Students will be placed in this course on the basis of their test scores.

RHET 101: Composing and editing written work for other classes.

RHET 105: Develop academic discussion skills required for successful participation in college courses. This includes a focus on developing the ability to both contribute to and lead discussions.

Housing Options

• On-campus housing in residence halls with a meal plan is available, and guaranteed for first-year students.
• Off-Campus Living supports students in their housing search in San Francisco and teaches students how to live safely and responsibly in the city.

Facilities

• Gleeson Library offers spaces for individuals and group study, computer labs, and the Learning, Writing, and Speaking Centers that provide free academic support to students. It also houses the Thacher Gallery, which curates exhibitions by emerging artists from campus and across California.
• Lo Schiavo Center for Science and Innovation houses a digital lecture hall, spaces for collaborative learning, and labs for chemistry, toxicology, and mathematics.
• Harney Science Center’s new biotechnology laboratory is equipped with the latest technologies used by Bay Area life science and biotech companies. The Innovation Hive, currently in the planning phase, will also join the Harney Science Center in the coming years and offer all students space for ideation, 3D printers, power tools, and heavy equipment for wood and metal work. 
• Nursing Skills Laboratory for all nursing students
• A full demonstration kitchen for our Hospitality Management program
• The Koret Health and Recreation Center provides three floors of exercise equipment, court games, weight training, massage, personal training, fitness classes, and an Olympic-size pool.
• Opening in 2020, a new Sobrato Center will offer premium seating at athletic events, a hall of fame, and expanded practice and weight-training facilities. It will also serve as a concert and event venue.

Student Organizations

At USF, you’ll always have things to do and communities to join:

• More than 100 clubs spanning academic honor clubs, student government, media, business, performance, politics, recreational, spiritual, service, and Greek organizations
• The Culturally-Focused Clubs Council encourages collaboration among the 20+ cultural organizations
• 26 intramural and club sport teams and 17 Division I sports teams
• Muscat Scholars Program: An intensive academic program to support incoming, first-year, first-generation students in their transition to college life
• Magis Emerging Leaders Program: A year-long fellowship for first-year students to become socially responsible leaders
• Black Achievement Success and Engagement (BASE) initiative: Creating an academically challenging and personally supportive educational experience for Black-identified students, including a four-year Black Scholars Program, a Black Living-Learning Community, and a Black Resource Center
• The University Ministry supports the spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of students from all religious backgrounds with retreats, immersion trips, mass, meditation, and more.