University of San Francisco: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

San Francisco, California · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
51%
24,888 applicants
Avg SAT
1300
Mid 50: 1200–1380
In-state tuition
$58,222
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$39,495
after aid, what families pay
Quick answer

University of San Francisco is a private nonprofit university in San Francisco, California that admits about 51% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $39,495 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 70% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 8.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

University of San Francisco is a private institution located in San Francisco, California with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of San Francisco admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 51%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1313 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $39,495 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of San Francisco is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for University of San Francisco?

University of San Francisco admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
20.6%
3.75–3.99
24.2%
3.50–3.74
19.2%
3.25–3.49
15.9%
3.00–3.24
11.6%
2.50–2.99
8.3%
Below 2.50
0.1%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of San Francisco.

What does University of San Francisco weight in admissions?

University of San Francisco reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important2 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
Important3 factors
  • Application essay
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work
Considered9 factors
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • First generation status
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered4 factors
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores University of San Francisco typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 645. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1200
50th percentile1300
75th percentile1380
% submitting SAT12.39%
ACT Composite
25th percentile25
50th percentile28
75th percentile30
% submitting ACT2.61%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class44%
Top 25% of class75%
Top 50% of class92%
% submitting class rank28.26%

How much does University of San Francisco actually cost?

Published tuition is $58,222 for in-state students and $58,222 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,300 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $39,495 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 27% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$61,720
Room and board$18,490
Average net price (after aid)$39,495
Application fee$70 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of San Francisco

Regular admission
Regular deadlineJanuary 15
Notification dateMarch 15
Reply deadlineMay 1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 1
ED acceptance rate49%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineNovember 1

Will my child graduate from University of San Francisco?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
83.7%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
62.67%
finished on time
6-year graduation
69.93%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at University of San Francisco

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of San Francisco, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, University of San Francisco confers roughly 997 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $149,741 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing247$149,741
Psychology, General150$63,533
Business Administration, Management and Operations125$104,526
Marketing110$91,873
Finance and Financial Management Services109$107,184
Biology, General104$71,657
Communication and Media Studies76$66,922
Computer Science76$149,331
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is University of San Francisco safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of San Francisco disclosed 45 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 5 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

Total offenses
45
8.5 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
5
0.95 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
7
1.32 per 1,000
Burglary
7
reported incidents
Clery Act disclosures (2024) cover on-campus, noncampus, and adjacent public-property incidents; rates use an enrollment of 5,287 students.

What is campus life like at University of San Francisco?

About 62% of undergraduates at University of San Francisco live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 6% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
62%
of undergraduates
In fraternities
2%
of men
In sororities
6%
of women
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of San Francisco.

Other colleges in California parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of San Francisco

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of San Francisco recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about University of San Francisco

What GPA do I need for University of San Francisco?

University of San Francisco admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.

What SAT or ACT score does University of San Francisco typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 645. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31.

How much does University of San Francisco actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of San Francisco after grants and scholarships is $39,495 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is University of San Francisco realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of San Francisco is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

What is the acceptance rate at University of San Francisco?

University of San Francisco accepts about 51% of applicants out of roughly 24,888 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.

Is University of San Francisco test-optional?

Yes. University of San Francisco is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at University of San Francisco?

About 70% of students at University of San Francisco graduate within six years, and 63% finish in four years. 84% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at University of San Francisco?

University of San Francisco's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 49%, compared with its overall rate of 51%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.

What does University of San Francisco look for in applicants?

University of San Francisco rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is University of San Francisco a public or private school, and where is it located?

University of San Francisco is a private nonprofit institution located in San Francisco, California.

What are the most popular majors at University of San Francisco?

The largest undergraduate majors at University of San Francisco by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 997 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is University of San Francisco safe? What is its campus crime rate?

University of San Francisco reported 45 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 8.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at University of San Francisco?

At University of San Francisco, 62% of undergraduates live on campus, 2% of men are in fraternities, 6% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of San Francisco, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.