University of San Francisco
#6 Best Nursing Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $89,812 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $41,431 F
- 142% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 62% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Nursing Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,327,290.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 120% more than the national college median.
-
A top feeder school for 5 major employers.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.71% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 72%
- Patents
- 36
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #401-500
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 5
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 201
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 13/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of San Francisco Matters
University of San Francisco is a private doctoral / professional university in San Francisco, CA ranked #401-500 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 5,287
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose University of San Francisco
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 62% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1190–1390. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $41,431 a year after grants and scholarships — 142% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $89,812 ten years after enrolling — 120% above the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 14% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.89 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Students at the University of San Francisco can expect to earn an average of $89,812 within ten years of graduation. This strong earning potential reflects the university's focus on practical skills and career readiness. With an acceptance rate of 62%, the university maintains a balance of accessibility and selectivity.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for this institution, but the outcomes for graduates suggest a solid return on investment. The graduation rate stands at 71%, indicating that a significant majority of students complete their degrees. This completion rate, combined with the potential earnings, points to a pathway for upward mobility.
Tuition at the University of San Francisco has a net price of $41,431, which is a notable consideration for prospective students. Graduates carry a median debt of $23,000, which is relatively manageable compared to national averages. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Business, Health Professions, and Social Sciences, aligning their education with market demand and job opportunities.
Rankings
- #6 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #10 Highest-Paying Colleges for Communications
- #11 Highest-Paying Colleges for Health Professions
- #14 Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration
- #14 Best MBA Programs for International Business
- #16 Highest-Paying Colleges for Visual
- #16 Highest-Paying Colleges for Graphic Design
- #21 Best Communications Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective University of San Francisco is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of San Francisco? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 62% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1295
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1190–1390
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,860
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 23,103
- Admitted
- 16,444
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of San Francisco is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 6% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 6%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 39%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 3%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 49.4%
- vs 61.7% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 85 Early Decision applicants, 42 were admitted — a 49.4% admit rate, roughly 0.8× the 61.7% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 5% of the entering class (42 of 920 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 42% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of San Francisco? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of San Francisco is $60,492, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $41,431. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $31,537 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $60,492
- Out-of-State
- $60,492
- Avg Net Price
- $41,431
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 47%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $31,537
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $33,207
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $34,315
- Family Income $110K+
- $52,497
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of San Francisco — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of San Francisco Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of San Francisco earn a median of $89,812, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $69,951
- 8 Years
- $81,618
- 10 Years
- $89,812
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 79%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (951)
- 63%
- 100% (951)
- 63%
- 100% (951)
- 63%
- 100% (951)
- 63%
Where Grads Go
University of San Francisco is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of University of San Francisco’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Gartner Consulting ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Autodesk ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- JPMorgan Chase ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Snowflake ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Deloitte ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Weee! ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Genentech ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Google ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- TikTok ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Adobe ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- SAP ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Tesla ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Siemens Digital Industries Software ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of San Francisco Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of San Francisco delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $41,431/year ($165,724 total). Graduates earn $89,812 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,493,014 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,327,290 (15.0× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $165,724
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,493,014
- Net Return
- $2,327,290
- ROI Multiple
- 15.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $41,431
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of San Francisco Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of San Francisco is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.71%, among the highest in the country. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $106,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.71%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 46.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $145,240
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of San Francisco produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 36 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 13/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.22%
- Top 72% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 36
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 201
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 13/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 44/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 29/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.23%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-72,906,000
Top Programs
The fields University of San Francisco awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $76,125 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $119,166 early-career
- Psychology 11% $42,363 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $57,547 early-career
- Communications 7% $56,154 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $86,496 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $41,235 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $46,350 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of San Francisco's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of San Francisco? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 62% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of San Francisco? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of San Francisco is $60,492, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $41,431. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $31,537 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of San Francisco Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of San Francisco earn a median of $89,812, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does University of San Francisco Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of San Francisco is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.71%, among the highest in the country. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $106,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of San Francisco? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of San Francisco. Its economic connectedness score is 1.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of San Francisco? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of San Francisco at #401-500 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 13/100, teaching at 34/100, and citation impact of 44/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of San Francisco offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. University of San Francisco offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 49%, about 0.8 times the overall 62% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 5% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if University of San Francisco is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of San Francisco really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 42% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of San Francisco (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of San Francisco?
About 6% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of San Francisco — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of San Francisco.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL · Close peer67% grad $84,131 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Close peer83% grad $86,522 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Close peer89% grad $103,470 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
- Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY · Close peer80% grad $77,819 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · Close peer83% grad $102,051 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · Close peer81% grad $97,335 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of San Francisco? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of San Francisco. Its economic connectedness score is 1.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note