Frequently Asked Questions

FERPA, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It is federal legislation designed to protect the privacy of students by limiting third party access to student education records. When students enter USF, regardless of their age, all rights to inspect and review educational records transfer from parents to students.

Families may not have access to their student’s grades without the written permission of their student. FERPA provides students with the significant rights of access to their educational records—including grades—as well as protects the privacy of student records. Only material classified as Directory Information, as defined in the general catalog, can be released without student consent. The permission to disclosed non-directory information to a third party, including parents, must be filed with the Registrar’s office and any other office that holds records regarding the student. Students may gain access to any written academic records directly concerning them. There are some records, however, such as financial records of parents, to which a student has no right of access. Students can visit student consent instructions on how to grant USF permission to release information to authorized individuals.

Student disciplinary records are protected under FERPA. Best practice is for students to inform parents or guardians directly of any disciplinary charges. Students can also authorize the release of any or all information in their disciplinary files.

Learn More About University Disciplinary Action

Students who live on campus are not authorized to park their cars on campus. USF offers a student parking lottery for students who meet the policy requirements and wish to be considered for either an annual or three-day parking permit.

Because parking on and around campus is limited, most students do not need a car. USF encourages students to use public transportation, biking, walking, and other transportation options to get around San Francisco and the Bay Area.

For more information about student parking eligibility, permits, and the lottery process, visit the USF Parking Permits page.

Yes, the FAFSA/CADAA is an annual application that becomes available at www.fafsa.gov and https://dream.csac.ca.gov/landing beginning Oct. 1 each year. It is important for new students to file the appropriate annual application by Feb. 1, and continuing USF students by March 2 each year to be considered on time and have their eligibility considered for federal, California state, and USF need-based grants for the following academic year. New students who are California residents and file their application after March 2 are considered late, which may affect eligibility for Cal Grant.

The University’s tuition grants and scholarships are considered gift aid that does not need to be repaid. Student loans must be repaid according to the terms and conditions. Each borrower should review the terms and conditions of each loan offered prior to accepting it. In most cases, repayment of federal student loans is deferred until the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time. Repayment for private loans varies by lender.

Yes, to receive any federal, state, or USF need-based grants and federal student loans, the student must complete all verification requirements. Students must submit their verification online via StudentForms. The financial aid award is not final and may be subject to change until verification is successfully completed. No need-based aid or federal student loans will be credited toward charges or paid to the student account until verification is complete.

Financial aid will be disbursed onto the USF student account no earlier than 10 days prior to the start of the term. Students must meet all disbursement requirements, including enrollment requirements. Students can regularly view their Unsatisfied Requirements in the Financial Aid section of their Banner Self-Service.

Credit balances created by federal student aid are refunded via check unless a student’s Direct Deposit information is provided to Student Accounts. For Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans, credit balances are refunded by check to the parent borrower unless the borrower selects a refund to be made to the student on their Parent PLUS Loan application. In general, a refund will be issued within 14 days of disbursement of financial aid onto the student account.

A wide range of options exists for making a gift to the University of San Francisco, the most convenient of which is making a gift online. Alternatively, please visit How to Give to learn more about the other options we have available.

Every dollar that you contribute to USF allows the university to improve the student experience by recruiting and supporting outstanding faculty, and by funding innovations that keep USF among the top tier universities in America. In addition, each donation, regardless of amount, demonstrates to other potential donors that USF is considered to be a worthy investment by those who know it best — alumni, parents, and friends.

Gifts to the USF Parents Fund provide critical, flexible funding to support students and programs with the greatest need. However, you can also earmark your gift for a specific purpose. If donating online, you can select one of these funds from the drop-down list on the online giving form. If you have any questions about the programs you can support, please contact Darian Rosengard in Parent Philanthropy at (415) 422-6703 or drosengard@usfca.edu.

Whether you are interested in giving online, by credit card, making a gift of stock to USF, or exploring other options, we have the information you need to easily make a secure gift.

How to Give

Donor Privacy Statement

All donations to USF are tax deductible to the full extent allowable by law. Please consult your tax advisor when determining the eligibility of your contribution.

USF’s Federal Tax ID number is: 94-1156628.

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and match charitable contributions made by their employees. The process is simple, quick, and allows alumni, parents, and friends like you to increase the impact of their personal contributions.

By taking advantage of your company's matching gift benefit, you can generate an additional gift that may double or even triple your gift to USF.

Check Your Employer

Yes, USF can keep your name confidential, and you will still be eligible for any allowable deductions on your income tax.

Donors at USF are honored at many different gift levels, including membership in the President’s Ambassadors, the Parent Leadership Council, the Lo Schiavo Legacy Society, and donor recognition walls in campus buildings.

Explore Giving Communities

Call (415) 422-6703 or email parents@usfca.edu.

Yearly annual security reports consistently provide crime statistics that confirm a very low campus crime rate, especially the low incidence of violent crime.  In compliance with the 1990 Crime Awareness Act, California State regulations, and the 1998 Jeanne Clery Act the past three years of crime statistics can be found on the Department of Public Safety (DPS) website. Printed copies can also be acquired by contacting the DPS administration office phone number at (415) 422-4222.

The University’s Parental Notification Policy states that we may notify parents or legal guardians when there is concern for the health or welfare of a student, including situations involving medical transportation and treatment, and serious or repeated violations of alcohol and/or drug policies. For more information, please see the Parental Notification Policy in the Fogcutter Student Handbook.

The University of San Francisco employs a number of crisis response plans. These plans include the: Emergency Action Plan for Active Shooters; Emergency Operations Center Plan; Pandemic Flu and Response Prevention Plan; and Emergency Procedure Plan. These plans are reviewed and practiced to the full extent possible on a yearly basis. A building marshal program was developed to provide local contacts (building or school) for management and coordination of emergency protocols including evacuations and lock downs as identified in these plans. Building marshals are responsible for the understanding of all university emergency procedures and protocols. They assist in informing all building occupants of proper procedures for building emergency or evacuation drills in preparation for an actual emergency. In addition marshals act as crime prevention liaisons with the Department of Public Safety and the occupants of their buildings.

As soon as your student, registers for classes, his/her records at USF are protected from unauthorized release under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. USF staff is prohibited from giving out specific information regarding student account, financial aid, and registration records (including grades) to anyone, including parents, unless the student has submitted a Student Consent to Release Information form.

Once your student has completed the authorization process, the Student Enrollment Services Office can provide combined services in the areas of Financial Aid, Registration, and Tuition & Billing. Advisors can be contacted via email at StudentAccounts@usfca.edu or by phone at (415) 422-2571.

Bills are available online only. An email notification is sent to the student's USFConnect account and to authorized payers each time the monthly statement is available.

View my Bill

The most common forms of payment include e-checks, money orders, personal checks, and bank wire transfers. View the complete list of available methods for making payments.

The University’s payment plan is administered by Nelnet Business Solutions, a third-party payment vendor, operating under agreement with USF. The payment plan provides a convenient means for paying tuition, fees, and room and board (if living on campus) through regularly scheduled payments. See payment plan options for information and instructions for enrolling. Please note that a $50 nonrefundable enrollment fee will be charged for each semester for which you enroll.