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Undergraduate Admission

Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions

Location

  • Our 55-acre campus is located in the geographical center of San Francisco. We’re 20 minutes from downtown SF and Ocean Beach, and two blocks from Golden Gate Park. Everything is a bus ride, walk, or bike ride away. See for yourself by signing up for a campus tour.

  • The climate in San Francisco is moderate. Our warmest months are September through November, while "summer" months (June, July, and August) tend to be the foggiest. Typical temperatures are highs in the mid to high 60s and lows at night in the low 50s. In San Francisco, it’s all about the light jacket.

  • About 6,500 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students attend USF, bringing total enrollment to around 10,500. For more details, check out the breakdown on the USF facts and figures page.

First-Year Admission

  • The Fall 2019 average GPA was a 3.54. Our mid-50% SAT range was 1130-1310 and mid-50% ACT range was 22-29. Please take a look at our What We Look For page

    For more information, please see our First-Year Class Profile page.

  • We will accept either score, however please know that we are a test-optional university, meaning that submitting an ACT or SAT score is not required for undergraduate admission.

  • No, USF does not require SAT II subject tests.

  • Yes. For most Advanced Placement (AP) exams you will receive four units of credit for each exam on which you score 3 or better (for English Language and Composition, Calculus, Chemistry and all History exams a 4 or better is required). For International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, you will receive ten units of credit for each higher level score (4,5,6, or 7). See our catalog for more information on AP/IB/College Credit page.

  • We calculate every applicant’s GTA using only grades from academic core courses. For each AP and IB course you take, you will receive an extra quality point that is calculated into your grade point average.

  • You may receive transfer credit for college courses if you attended a regionally accredited institution and can provide an official college transcript. For more information, please see our AP/IB/College Credit page.

  • First-year applicants must apply using the Common Application. Apply now.

  • A non-refundable fee of $70 is required to cover the processing of your application.

  • Deadlines vary by application type: early decision (ED), early action (EA), or regular decision (RD). The EA and ED deadline November 1, and the RD deadline is January 15. Please visit our full list of undergraduate deadlines for details.

Transfer Admission

  • Admission requirements differ by program. Students applying to all programs except Nursing are expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. All Nursing applicants should have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, though our average GPA for admitted nurses is typically much higher. Find more information regarding transferring on our Transfer Applicants page.

  • The priority admission deadline for the fall semester is March 1st and for the spring semester is November 15th. Fall semester applicants who apply with a complete application by March 1st will receive an admission decision by April 1st. Spring semester applicants who apply with a complete application by November 15th will receive an admission decision by the end of December. Take a look at the complete list of undergraduate deadlines.

    Please note that transfer students applying to the School of Nursing and Health Professions may receive their admission decisions later.

  • Office of Admission
    University of San Francisco
    2130 Fulton Street
    San Francisco, CA 94117

  • Yes. Students may be admitted to USF regardless of class standing. USF has no maximum amount of credits that a student may transfer in, however, to earn a degree from USF, you must complete 44 units at the University.

  • USF requests high school transcripts from all applicants. USF does not require SAT or ACT scores from transfer students.

  • Both the original grade and the repeated grade will be used in calculating the grade point average unless the course was removed through the academic renewal process from the previous institution.

  • USF accepts an unlimited number of college-level units from regionally accredited institutions. However, a student must complete at least 44 units at USF to earn a degree.

  • Grades of "F" earned 10 years or more prior to the semester of application to USF will be forgiven and will not be used in the calculation of transfer GPA.

  • Completion of all the requirements in either the UC or CSU version of IGETC will substitute for most of USF's Core Curriculum requirements. IGETC certification from the community college must be submitted prior to the student's initial enrollment at USF.

  • Yes. CLEP credit may be awarded at the time of admission. Grades are not awarded for CLEP exams and the credit is not reflected in the student's grade point average.

  • DD295 (for active duty personnel) or DD214 (for former military personnel).

  • You may receive transfer credit for college courses if you can provide an official transcript from the college or university you attended that shows credits awarded and grades earned.

  • Approximately 18% of the USF undergraduate student body is comprised of transfer students. We typically admit 500+ new transfer students each year.

Academics

  • USF is on a semester system.

  • Yes. Students may complete pre-medical or other pre-health science requirements as a part of, or in addition to, the requirements of any academic major. The Pre-Health Professions Advising Program guides students to professional health programs, including medicine, dental, physician assistant, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary medicine and podiatry. The number of students admitted to medical schools from the University of San Francisco surpasses the national average by more than 20 percent.

  • No. Many students are undecided on a major when they apply. This does not affect your admission. Only nursing applicants must declare their majors because of the clinical course sequence throughout the program. Check out the full list of USF majors and minors.

  • Majors are not impacted at USF.  However, admission to our nursing program is highly competitive.

  • Yes. In addition to a faculty adviser, all students at USF are assigned an academic success coach in our Center for Academic and Student Achievement (CASA) who will help you excel in your classes.

  • 24 students. Student to faculty ratio is 13:1.

  • No. All of our classes are taught by faculty members, of which 92% percent have a Ph.D. or other appropriate terminal degree.

  • 128 units are required to graduate. Learn more about undergraduate student regulations.

  • Yes. Our programs are designed so that you will finish your general education and major coursework in four years.

  • Yes. The USF Center for Global Education is affiliated with Jesuit programs in Japan, Mexico, Italy, Spain, China, Chile, the Philippines and the UK.

Campus Life

  • Over 90% of first year students live on campus, and 40% of all undergraduates live on campus. For more information, visit the Office of Student Housing.

  • All first-time, first-year, fall undergraduate students are guaranteed housing for two semesters if the student meets the required enrollment deposit and housing application deadline. Please see our Housing Guarantee Policy for details.

  • The University of San Francisco's Department of Public Safety patrols the campus and the area surrounding the campus 24 hours a day.

    USF is located in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, Lone Mountain.

    The Department of Public Safety ensures a safe learning, working, and living environment for the USF community. Our 24-hour communication center and uniformed public safety officers proactively prepare for and respond to all reports of accidents, crimes, suspicious persons, hazards, and other emergencies. The Department of Public Safety provides patrol and dispatch services, One Card security systems, campus shuttles and safety escorts, disaster preparedness programs, and parking services.

  • Undergraduate students take advantage of activities both on campus and in San Francisco. On any given weekend, students may be involved with any of our 100+ clubs or organizations, playing an intramural or club sport, or attending an on-campus event or concert put on by the Campus Activities Board. As students become more familiar with the city of San Francisco, they tend to take advantage of the city’s vibrant social scene or outdoor adventures in places like Lake Tahoe, Big Sur, and the Marin Headlands.

Cost & Tuition

  • Take a look at the current tuition and fees.

  • Yes. Over 85% of USF students earn some form of financial aid. Our goal is to make attending USF a possibility for all admitted students. For more information, visit the undergraduate financial aid section for more details or contact the financial aid office at: (415) 422-3387. They can also be reached by email at financialaid@usfca.edu.

Career & Internships

  • Yes. Our students interview, intern, and land jobs after college at places like Google, Pixar, Salesforce, and the Golden State Warriors. It all starts at our Career Services Center, who will help open doors for you from your first day on campus, from Dons-only tours at local companies to relaxed conversations with recruiters at our pop-up events on campus.

Office of Undergraduate Admission

Lone Mountain Main 251
2800 Turk Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
Hours

Monday - Friday:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fax (415) 422-2217