We recommend students complete 24 semester credits or 36 quarter units of transferable coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be competitive for admission. We will consider applicants with fewer earned credits if they present a strong high school record and standardized test scores. Students must be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.
While specific classes are not required for admission to the University of San Francisco, we do provide recommended coursework based on your intended area of study.
Required Documents
Application: To apply, you can submit either the USF online application or the Common Application. If you have previously applied to, or attended, USF, please select “Re-Application” for your application type. If you apply through the Common Application, we do not require the additional forms that accompany the Transfer Application.
Transcripts: Students must submit separate, official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended.
Letter of Recommendation: Your letter of recommendation can come from an academic advisor, professor, or an employer. It should be mailed separately by the individual providing the reference, or sent with other application documents in a sealed envelope.
All supporting documents should be mailed to the following address:
Office of Admission
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Special note for transfer applicants to the School of Nursing: Admission to Nursing is very competitive. We strongly recommend that interested students have a 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite coursework as well as a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA to be competitive for admission. The prerequisites courses include Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology (all require labs) and General Psychology. There are also additional courses that we consider in the review (but do not require for admission) including Intro to Sociology, Statistics, and Public Speaking. In addition to the academic requirements, we also consider a student's personal qualities as exemplified in the letter of recommendation, personal statement and volunteer/work experiences.The TEAS test is not required for admission.
Transferring Credit
Most coursework completed at a regionally accredited two-year community college or four-year institution will transfer to USF. We accept a maximum of 70 semester credits or 105 quarter credits from a two-year or junior college. There is no limit to the number of credits that transfer from a four-year institution.
We have articulation agreements with over sixty California community colleges and other two-year institutions. These agreements specify some (not necessarily all) of the courses at a particular community college which will fulfill Core requirements at USF. Admitted students receive access to an online degree evaluation detailing how previous coursework meets USF graduation requirements. The time needed to complete your USF degree will depend on your total number of credits and the distribution of these credits toward the USF curriculum.
Financial Aid
USF offers transfer students financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and employment opportunities. If you are applying for admission to the spring semester, financial aid availability will be limited for your first term, and student loans will be your primary source of financial assistance. Applicants will not be awarded a financial aid package until they have been accepted to the university. See our financial aid section for details.
Deadlines To be considered for admission, students should submit the application and supporting documents by the following deadlines
Fall Semester
Priority deadline: January 15*
Spring Semester:
Priority deadline: November 1*
*Nursing applications must be received by the stated deadlines to be considered for admission. We will continue to accept applications for all other programs after the priority deadlines if there is space available in the incoming transfer class. All students are encouraged to submit an application by January 15 if they will also be applying for financial aid or on-campus housing.
To be considered a priority for financial aid, you must file all financial aid forms by February 1 for the fall semester and be admitted by early March.
