Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Joliet, Illinois
63.9% Acceptance Rate
University of St Francis — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
63.9%Acceptance Rate
3.47Avg GPA
1055Avg SAT
23Avg ACT
$45,375Annual Cost
$63,926Grad Salary
37.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
63.9%
Avg GPA
3.47
Avg SAT
1055
Avg ACT
23
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
900–1170
ACT Middle 50%
20–25
Need-Based Aid
37.1% receive Pell
University of St Francis, founded in 1920 in Joliet, Illinois, is a Catholic institution known for its nursing, business, and education programs. The university combines Franciscan values with career-focused education.
The 18-acre campus features state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs, a business innovation center, and modern athletic facilities. Its location near Chicago provides numerous internship and networking opportunities.
University of St Francis Acceptance Rate
University of St Francis takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 63.9% each year.
What University of St Francis Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 63.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.47 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.27 – 3.46
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.02
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of St Francis Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of St Francis follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
University of St Francis reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
University of St Francis GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of St Francis is 3.47. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.17–3.47 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.67–3.87.University of St Francis GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.47 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.27 – 3.46
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.07 – 3.26
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.06
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Franciscan Catholic university (Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate); founded 1920.
- NAIA athletics (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference); "Fighting Saints" mascot.
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation strictly required for first-year per Common App, though USF's own optional essay process exists separately.
- Around 64?68% acceptance rate; test-optional.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at University of St Francis
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of St Francis'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 St Francis Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if University of St Francis is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into University of St Francis Without SAT or ACT?
University of St Francis considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of St Francis Average SAT Score: 1055
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of St Francis is 1055 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1055 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1170 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of St Francis allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 900, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of St Francis. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 510 | 440 | 580 |
| SAT Reading | 525 | 460 | 590 |
| SAT Composite | 1055 | 900 | 1170 |
Below 900, you're behind most admitted students; at 1170 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into University of St Francis with a 1150 SAT?
A 1150 SAT puts you ahead of most of University of St Francis's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of St Francis ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at University of St Francis is 23.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 23 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 18 | 26 |
| ACT English | 22 | 19 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 20 | 25 |
Can I get into University of St Francis with a 25 ACT?
A 25 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of University of St Francis's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at University of St Francis.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of St Francis
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
University of St Francis is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Use the optional admission essay to explain, not just impress
USF's admission essay isn't a generic personal statement - it's explicitly designed as a "provisional admission" tool to help the committee understand a transcript that doesn't tell the full story. Students with a rough GPA stretch, a gap year, or personal challenges (health, family) should use this essay to give context directly, addressing prompts like what happened and how they've grown since.
Confirm this is the Joliet, Illinois campus - not a same-named school elsewhere
There are several similarly named Franciscan Catholic colleges: University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, Indiana) and Saint Francis University (Loretto, Pennsylvania) are separate institutions. This UNITID corresponds specifically to Joliet, Illinois - verify any essay guide or admissions data source is actually describing this campus before using it.
Returning students should lead with the "why now" story
For applicants who've been out of school more than a year, USF explicitly asks what they've been doing and why they're returning now - adult and re-entry applicants should treat this as the actual prompt rather than writing a generic personal statement aimed at 17-year-olds.
Leverage HSI status and nursing program strength if relevant
USF is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution with particular strength in Nursing (Leach College of Nursing) and Healthcare Management - students interested in these fields should reference program-specific interest directly, since these are recognized strong points, not generic offerings.
Expert Insight:
Because the personal essay here is framed around explaining academic weaknesses, a student with a strong, uncomplicated record sometimes over-explains or manufactures a "struggle narrative" that isn't genuine - if there's nothing to explain, it's fine to focus the essay on goals and fit instead of forcing a hardship story.
University of St Francis Profile
Full Name
University of St Francis
City
Joliet
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60435-6188
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a University of St Francis Degree Worth It?
Whether University of St Francis is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $76,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.26%.
How much does a degree from University of St Francis Cost?
The sticker price is $45,375/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
37.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 79.8% take federal loans at University of St Francis — file your FAFSA early and list University of St Francis as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a University of St Francis Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $63,926 — about 57% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of St Francis. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of St Francis. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of St Francis. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
Degree Programs at University of St Francis
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of St Francis Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of St Francis run about $63,926 a year.
University of St Francis costs roughly $45,375 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 37.1% receive a Pell Grant at University of St Francis — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 63.9%, University of St Francis's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of St Francis average a 3.47 GPA.
University of St Francis doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.17 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.07, University of St Francis becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of St Francis — aim above 1055, ideally within the 900–1170 range admitted students typically fall in.
University of St Francis follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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