University of San Francisco

Gaining admission to the University of San Francisco is relatively accessible, though the institution has gradually drifted lower in national standings. In the 2027 US News ranking, the university placed 116th among national universities, moving down from 110th in 2018. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an acceptance rate of 61.7%, which was higher than 33% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 private universities with similar ranks. However, the university struggles significantly to convert acceptances into incoming classes. Its yield rate stood at just 6% in 2025, which was lower than all peer schools in that comparison group, where the peer median reached 13.8%. A yield rate this low means that nearly all admitted candidates choose other academic options. For prospective applicants, this dynamic creates a forgiving admissions environment where students meeting academic thresholds can expect strong acceptance prospects.

Undergraduate applicants targeting the University of San Francisco will find reasonable academic criteria for admission. For the 2025 entering class, the median SAT score was 1290, which was higher than 21% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 private universities with similar ranks. Most admitted students present solid secondary school performance, with roughly two-fifths of freshmen holding high school GPAs at or above 3.75. For prospective international candidates, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway reveal that admitted international students presented a median unweighted GPA of 3.6 and a median SAT score of 1210. These applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway are not official university data, but they serve as a practical reference point. Candidates presenting a solidly above-average academic profile and standardized test scores near the institution's historical middle range can approach the application process with confidence.

Academic programs at the University of San Francisco show pronounced concentration in healthcare disciplines, where student demand aligns directly with the institution's highest external evaluations. In 2025, the university conferred 1,500 bachelor's degrees, with Registered Nursing serving as the single largest major at 235 graduates. Nursing represents a primary academic strength, earning the 19th spot nationally in the 2027 US News undergraduate rankings, while undergraduate entrepreneurship reached 17th. These prominent programs translate into strong early-career compensation. According to federal earnings data from 2023 measuring median earnings one year after graduation, Registered Nursing graduates earned $120,438. The university's largest undergraduate major is also among its most reputable, offering prospective students in pre-professional fields clear pathways toward well-compensated careers, while smaller programs across the liberal arts show more modest graduate counts.

The student community at the University of San Francisco comprises 8,913 total enrolled students as of 2025, featuring substantial racial diversity and a substantial female presence across academic levels. Asian students form the largest single racial group among incoming undergraduates, representing 27.1% of the 920 first-year freshmen. Continuing undergraduates display a comparable composition, with Asian students making up over a quarter of that population. In the graduate division, which enrolls 3,592 students, white students constitute the largest ethnic cohort, while Asian students make up 16.6% of enrollment. International students maintain a visible footprint throughout campus, accounting for 8.8% of new undergraduates and 13.5% of the graduate cohort. This demographic balance creates a learning environment where domestic minority populations, particularly Asian and Hispanic students, form substantial shares of both undergraduate and graduate classrooms.

Undergraduate education at the University of San Francisco is oriented around traditional college-aged students, while its graduate population consists largely of individuals in their twenties and thirties. Among the university's 5,321 undergraduates in 2025, students aged 20 to 21 constituted the largest segment at 43.2%, followed by those aged 18 to 19 at 35.3%. This compact undergraduate age profile creates a shared campus experience focused on direct progression through four-year degree curricula. In contrast, among the 3,562 graduate students, 33% were between 25 and 29 years old. This division separates undergraduate student life, centered on foundational coursework and campus activities, from an independent graduate community pursuing career advancement.

International student participation at the University of San Francisco has followed distinct paths across academic levels over the past decade. Undergraduate international representation contracted substantially from its 2016 peak, falling to 9.2% of undergraduates in 2025. Despite this decline, that undergraduate share remained higher than 97% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 private universities with similar ranks. Conversely, the graduate international proportion expanded over the same decade to reach 13.5% in 2025. Among 2025 degree recipients, international students accounted for 10% of bachelor's graduates, showing elevated shares in business administration and marketing while representing less than 1% of nursing graduates. In master's degree programs, international graduates accounted for 22.8% of degrees awarded, with their heaviest concentration in Data Processing and Data Processing Technology at 56.3%.

Applicants exploring higher education options around the San Francisco Bay Area can consider several institutions in the surrounding region. Located within the city just 4.1 kilometers away, San Francisco State University is ranked 227th among National Universities. Across the bay at a distance of 12.3 kilometers, University of California-Berkeley holds the 20th spot nationally. Further south on the peninsula, Stanford University is located 28.6 kilometers away and ranks 5th in the nation. Additionally, Santa Clara University is situated 40.8 kilometers to the south, holding the 55th position among National Universities. These neighboring institutions offer students a wide spectrum of public and private options within the greater metropolitan area.

Campus safety at the University of San Francisco has shown long-term improvement, with the crime rate per 1,000 students dropping from 9.6 in 2016 to 6.1 in 2025. This downward trend suggests a generally stabilizing campus environment, though urban safety dynamics still require student vigilance. From 2023 to 2025, the majority of recorded infractions involved internal university disciplinary actions rather than violent offenses. Specifically, disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations formed the largest category, totaling 221 incidents across those three years, accompanied by minor tallies of drug-related referrals. Among criminal offenses reported over the same period, property crimes predominated, led by 62 motor vehicle thefts, alongside less frequent reports of rape, dating violence, and stalking. For families and prospective students evaluating campus living, these figures demonstrate that day-to-day security concerns center primarily on vehicle security and student conduct enforcement rather than severe violent crime.