University of San Francisco
A good fit for students considering a private nonprofit institution in California. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $74,000 within 10 years; financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
University of San Francisco is a private nonprofit institution located in San Francisco, California with approximately 5,287 undergraduate students enrolled. University of San Francisco has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 62%. The average net price after financial aid is $41,431 per year. The graduation rate is 70%, and the typical graduate earns $74,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1855, it has nearly 9,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in 59 major programs. In addition to its main campus in the Golden Gate area, it has satellite campuses in downtown San Francisco, Orange County, Sacramento, San Jose, and Santa Rosa.
Tucked into one of the most dynamic cities in the country, this Jesuit university offers a genuinely urban experience with a small campus feel and a median salary of $74,000 ten years out — solid for a mid-sized private school. The numbers tell a mixed story, though: an 80% freshman retention rate and 71% graduation rate suggest that a meaningful share of students who start here don't finish, which is worth asking about directly. Worth considering if you're drawn to San Francisco's job market, social justice-oriented programs, or the Jesuit academic tradition — but make sure USF's support systems are a fit for how you learn.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of San Francisco graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($143,356 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in International Relations and National Security Studies ($59,387 vs $66,596).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 227 | $143,356 | $88,910 | +$54,446 |
| Psychology, General | 120 | $65,071 | $50,706 | +$14,365 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 92 | $103,605 | $83,343 | +$20,262 |
| Biology, General | 86 | $69,440 | $57,214 | +$12,226 |
| Marketing | 80 | $91,815 | $69,303 | +$22,512 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 75 | $104,390 | $68,257 | +$36,133 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 70 | $68,592 | $56,359 | +$12,233 |
| Computer Science | 69 | $150,341 | $107,009 | +$43,332 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 37 | $59,387 | $66,596 | −$7,209 |
| Political Science and Government | 36 | $72,263 | $63,293 | +$8,970 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 34 | $53,369 | $55,012 | −$1,643 |
| Sociology | 34 | $61,883 | $52,657 | +$9,226 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,287 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
University of San Francisco is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of San Francisco?
University of San Francisco has an acceptance rate of 62%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of San Francisco hard to get into?
University of San Francisco is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 62%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does University of San Francisco cost?
The average net price at University of San Francisco is about $41,431 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Francisco?
University of San Francisco has a graduation rate of 70%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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