Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
San Francisco, California
50.8% Acceptance Rate
University of San Francisco — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
50.8%Acceptance Rate
3.57Avg GPA
1313Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$76,421Annual Cost
$89,812Grad Salary
27.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
50.8%
Avg GPA
3.57
Avg SAT
1313
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1210–1390
ACT Middle 50%
26–31
Need-Based Aid
27.2% receive Pell
University of San Francisco, founded in 1855, is a private Jesuit university with a stunning hilltop campus overlooking the city. Ranked among national universities, USF is particularly strong in nursing, business, and environmental science. The campus blends historic architecture with modern facilities like the cutting-edge Downtown Campus for professional programs.
USF embodies Jesuit values of social justice through its community engagement programs and diverse student body. The university's San Francisco location provides unparalleled internship and career opportunities in tech, finance, and nonprofit sectors.
University of San Francisco Acceptance Rate
University of San Francisco is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of University of San Francisco is 50.8%. This means that 51 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
Admissions Guidelines
- Broad Evaluation: Personal growth and vocational goals are considered alongside grades.
- Flexible Standards: Strengths in extracurriculars can often balance an average GPA.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 50.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.57 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.37 – 3.56
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.12
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
University of San Francisco GPA Requirement
The average GPA of the admitted students at University of San Francisco is 3.57. University of San Francisco is highly selective.
Mostly A's with a few B's will keep you competitive. Taking AP/IB courses related to your field will improve your chances.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.77-3.97 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.27 and 3.57, a strong SAT or ACT score is recommended.
University of San Francisco GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Admissions at University of San Francisco utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.57, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.57 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.37 – 3.56
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.17 – 3.36
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.16
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Overall acceptance rate: approximately 51% (2024?25: ~25,709 applicants, ~13,052 admitted); nursing acceptance rate is significantly lower - intake limited to approximately 100 students per fall at the San Francisco campus; ED I and Early Action both November 1; ED II and Regular Decision January 15; $70 application fee (waivers available); test-optional with superscoring of both ACT and SAT.
- No supplemental essay required for non-nursing applicants; nursing applicants must complete a required 200-word short answer: "What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?" - this response must be distinct from the personal statement; letters of recommendation are optional for all applicants.
- USF School of Nursing and Health Professions ranked #3 nationally for nursing by U.S. News 2025 and #1 for diversity; NCLEX first-time pass rates: 90% for BSN graduates and 92% for MSN (Non-Nurses) graduates, 2022?2024; all admitted nursing students must pass a background check and ten-panel drug screen before starting clinical coursework; nursing campuses are also located in Sacramento and Orange County.
- USF was founded in 1855 as a Jesuit institution and was one of the first racially integrated universities in the United States in the 1950s; Jesuit mission language (cura personalis, "people for others," social responsibility) is explicitly embedded in how admissions evaluates all applications - not just nursing; the St. Ignatius Institute (SII), a separate optional program within USF, has its own additional essay requirements for interested applicants.
- The Rigor Metric: At University of San Francisco, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at University of San Francisco
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of San Francisco's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of San Francisco Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into University of San Francisco Without SAT or ACT?
University of San Francisco considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
University of San Francisco Average SAT Score: 1313
The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of San Francisco is 1313 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1313 — Competitive
This score makes it Competitive for SAT scores. You need to do well to score 1313 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1390 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. University of San Francisco allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1210, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of San Francisco. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 650 | 600 | 700 |
| SAT Reading | 650 | 610 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1313 | 1210 | 1390 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1210 then you are below most of the admitted students at University of San Francisco and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1390 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into University of San Francisco with a 1400 SAT?
With a 1400 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of San Francisco are good but the admission staff at University of San Francisco tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
University of San Francisco ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at University of San Francisco is 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
This score makes University of San Francisco Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do well to score 29 on the ACT.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 24 | 28 |
| ACT English | 29 | 25 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 31 |
Can I get into University of San Francisco with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at University of San Francisco — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at University of San Francisco use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.
One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that University of San Francisco — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether University of San Francisco uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.
Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 31 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of San Francisco
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
University of San Francisco is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Nursing Applicants Face a Structurally Different Admissions Process - Apply at the Deadline, Not Early
USF is unusual among selective universities in explicitly stating that nursing applicants do not receive priority for submitting early: "We review all applications at the deadline. You do not get priority for submitting early, so we recommend carefully working through your application rather than rushing." All nursing applicants are reviewed together at the deadline, which is January 15 for fall entry (same as Regular Decision). The deadline for spring entry is November 1. The nursing program limits intake to approximately 100 students per entering class across the San Francisco campus. Applicants with a grade below a C average in chemistry, biology, physics, physiology, Algebra II, or any AP/honors science course cannot be admitted - a hard academic bar that distinguishes nursing from USF's general admissions, which is test-optional and holistic. All admitted nursing students must also complete a background check and ten-panel drug screening before beginning clinical coursework.
Write the Nursing Short Answer to Connect Cura Personalis to a Specific Clinical or Personal Experience
Nursing applicants must submit a required short answer (200 words maximum) beyond the Common App personal statement: "What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?" This essay must be entirely distinct from the personal statement - USF explicitly states not to paste or excerpt from the main essay. The response is short enough that generic language about helping people is immediately visible as a non-answer. The strongest responses name Jesuit values by their specific terms - cura personalis (care for the whole person), accompaniment, justice, human dignity - and then connect them to a real and specific moment: a patient encounter, a family illness, volunteering at a clinic, a healthcare access barrier witnessed. At 200 words, an opening sentence that doesn't immediately establish the specific responsibility the student intends to articulate is wasted space.
Non-Nursing Applicants Have No Supplemental Essay - The Personal Statement Carries the Full Character Burden
For all applicants who are not applying to the nursing program, USF requires no supplemental essay beyond the Common App personal statement. This is structurally significant: it means the personal statement, the activities list, and the transcript are the entire written record on which USF makes its holistic decision. USF's "What We Look For" page explicitly asks applicants to address community involvement, what making the world a better place means to them, and how they will contribute to the Jesuit mission of social responsibility. These are not supplemental prompts - they are the framing through which admissions reads the personal statement USF receives. Non-nursing applicants who write a generic personal statement without connecting their story to service, community, or Jesuit-aligned values are submitting a file that is technically complete but thematically misaligned with how USF reviews it.
Apply Early Decision for Binding Commitment Advantage - ED I and EA Share a November 1 Deadline
USF offers Early Decision I (binding, November 1, for students whose first choice is USF), Early Action (non-binding, November 1), and Early Decision II and Regular Decision (both January 15). Test-optional policy applies to all pathways - and USF superscores both the ACT and SAT if scores are submitted. For the fall 2025 entering nursing class, 84% of admitted students were admitted without test scores, making the nursing-specific short answer and chemistry prerequisite the actual differentiators in that pool. For non-nursing applicants, the typical USF overall acceptance rate of approximately 51% masks significant variation by program - nursing is substantially more selective. Students who are applying without test scores should know that USF explicitly places more weight on the short answer question and academic profile when scores are withheld, making the activities list and transcript especially important to complete thoroughly.
Expert Insight:
USF's nursing program requires completion of chemistry prior to applying - and then either biology or physics as a second lab science. Students who have taken only biology and no chemistry, or who have below-C grades in any science listed above, cannot be admitted to nursing regardless of their overall USF admission status. This distinction matters because some students apply to USF nursing as a general fallback school, assuming that if they can be admitted to USF generally, nursing will follow. It will not. The nursing application is evaluated separately with its own science prerequisite checklist, its own 200-word short answer, and its own admissions committee. A student who is admitted to USF as a biology or health science major is not on a pathway that will automatically convert to nursing; transferring into the nursing program after first-year enrollment is extremely difficult and is not a reliable strategy.
University of San Francisco Profile
Full Name
University of San Francisco
City
San Francisco
State
California
ZIP Code
94117-1080
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a University of San Francisco Degree Worth It?
Getting into University of San Francisco can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. University of San Francisco offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at University of San Francisco is $82,500 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.22%.
How much does a degree from University of San Francisco Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at University of San Francisco is $76,421. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at University of San Francisco is much less than this.
27.2% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 47.3 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to University of San Francisco and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At University of San Francisco, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist University of San Francisco as your choice in the form.
How much does a University of San Francisco Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $89,812. An average University of San Francisco graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of San Francisco. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of San Francisco. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of San Francisco. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
Degree Programs at University of San Francisco
Bachelor Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by University of San Francisco →
Frequently Asked Questions About University of San Francisco Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a high salary, $89,812 annually, depending on the industry.
The tuition fee at this university is quite high, approximately $76,421 or more per year, so it is important to consider additional funding options.
27.2% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of University of San Francisco is 50.8% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.57. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.27, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.27, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 3.17 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.57, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to University of San Francisco is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1313 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 1210–1390.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.