University of St Francis

Admission to the University of St. Francis is accessible, though its overall acceptance rate remains lower than those of its institutional peers. In the 2027 U.S. News rankings, the university held the 276th position among national universities. For applicants in 2025, the university admitted 65.3% of candidates, placing its acceptance rate lower than all peer schools in its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. Admitted students enroll at a modest pace; the university recorded a yield rate of 14.2% in 2025, which was higher than 53% of peer schools in that same benchmark group. This indicates that while the university extends offers to a smaller share of applicants than nearby peers, only a modest fraction of those accepted ultimately choose to attend. For prospective students, these admissions dynamics suggest that applicants who meet the baseline academic profile stand a reasonable chance of receiving an offer, though the institution must compete actively to convert acceptances into final matriculation.

Standardized test performance among students at the University of St. Francis falls toward the lower end when compared to institutional peers. In 2025, the median SAT score for enrolled students stood at 1130, which was higher than 18% of peer schools in a benchmark group of similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. Across core subject areas, enrolled students typically scored between 510 and 610 on the SAT mathematics section, with a similar distribution in reading and writing. Submitting standardized test scores is relatively rare, as only a small minority of the incoming class chooses to report SAT or ACT results. For prospective applicants gauging their academic preparation, achieving test marks near the university median or earning consistent high school grades demonstrates readiness on par with typical admitted peers. Those whose standardized scores or overall academic records align with these benchmarks will find their credentials match the general profile of the undergraduate cohort.

Undergraduate academics at the University of St. Francis are heavily concentrated in practical healthcare and service fields. In 2025, the top three bachelor's majors accounted for 45.8% of all undergraduate degrees awarded, demonstrating a strong clustering of students in a small set of professional tracks. The largest undergraduate major by a wide margin was Registered Nursing, graduating 93 students that year. In terms of academic standing, undergraduate nursing was ranked 288th nationally by U.S. News in 2027, indicating that the school's highest-volume undergraduate program is not among the highest-ranked nationally. However, early career outcomes for clinical graduates remain comparatively solid. According to 2023 earnings data, graduates in registered nursing fields earned median earnings of $80,434 one year after graduation. For prospective applicants seeking career-oriented training, the university offers heavily traveled healthcare pathways that align directly with regional employment, even though national program rankings remain in the lower tiers.

The student body at the University of St. Francis totaled 3,074 students in 2025, with more than half pursuing advanced degrees. Graduate enrollment accounted for 1,731 students, making continuing and professional scholars the predominant campus population, while undergraduate cohorts remained comparatively small. Demographic representation shows a strong presence of diverse domestic groups alongside modest international and Asian contingents. Across the undergraduate ranks, Hispanic and White students formed the largest ethnic groups. Asian students accounted for 77 graduate students, alongside smaller counts in the undergraduate classes. Nonresident international enrollment remained limited as well, with 34 returning undergraduate students and just a few at the graduate level. Female students represented the substantial majority across all undergraduate and graduate divisions. For incoming students, this environment combines a small undergraduate community with an institution predominantly serving professional adult learners.

Undergraduate and graduate populations at the University of St. Francis display sharply different age profiles. Among the 1,306 undergraduates enrolled in 2025, traditional college-age students predominated, with 32.2% aged 20 to 21 and 29.2% aged 18 to 19. In contrast, the 1,879 graduate students are primarily working adults. The single largest graduate age cohort was students aged 40 to 49, representing 26.5% of the total, followed by those aged 25 to 29 at 16.8%. This split indicates an undergraduate daytime campus focused around younger learners, alongside an older, career-oriented graduate student community.

International enrollment at the University of St. Francis represents a very minor fraction of the total student population, showing diverging trajectories across degree levels. At the undergraduate level, the international share stood at 3% in 2025, an increase from earlier years that placed the university higher than 43% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. Conversely, international presence at the graduate level has dropped sharply to 0.2% in 2025. Among graduating classes, international students accounted for 5.8% of bachelor's degree recipients and less than one percent of master's degree earners in 2025. Where international students do complete degrees, they concentrate in select professional subjects. At the undergraduate level, international graduates were most visible in Marketing, where they comprised 11.1% of graduates, as well as in General Psychology and Registered Nursing. Master's level international graduates appeared almost exclusively in Business Administration and Management. For prospective international candidates, these patterns indicate a limited overseas peer network concentrated predominantly in core business fields.

Prospective students exploring educational options in northeastern Illinois have access to several diverse institutions situated near Joliet. Located approximately 20 kilometers away, Aurora University is ranked 262 in the 2027 U.S. News National University Rankings. For families considering private liberal arts colleges, Wheaton College sits about 23 kilometers away and held a rank of 57 among National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2027. Closer to central Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology is located roughly 32 kilometers from Joliet and was ranked 121 among National Universities in 2027. In addition, the University of Chicago is situated 31 kilometers away, ranking 9 among National Universities in the same year. These neighboring institutions provide contrasting institutional scales and academic focus within easy driving distance.

Campus safety records at the University of St. Francis show low rates of violent crime, with overall incident tallies dominated by internal disciplinary enforcement. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 2, representing a substantial decline from earlier historical levels. During the three-year period spanning from 2023 to 2025, student disciplinary violations accounted for the vast majority of all reported campus incidents. Substance policy enforcement led these category records, totaling 41 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and 16 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations across that timeframe. In contrast, serious property and interpersonal offenses remained rare over those same years, with a handful of reported burglaries, domestic violence cases, and dating violence incidents recorded on campus. For students evaluating the residential environment, these statistics reflect an institution where documented security concerns primarily center on institutional alcohol and drug conduct policies rather than predatory criminal offenses.