University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university centered on a hilltop campus near Golden Gate Park. Its San Francisco location is part of the academic experience: students can draw on the city’s health, business, technology, nonprofit and public-service sectors, while public transit is built into undergraduate fees. USF combines that urban setting with a broad undergraduate college and professional schools. Prospective students should compare the Hilltop residential experience with the smaller graduate campuses, because the programs and services available at each location are not interchangeable.

Programs and locations

USF lists more than 80 undergraduate programs across arts and sciences, management, nursing and health professions, with more than 60 graduate and certificate programs that also include law and education. Popular paths span nursing, business, computer science and data science, psychology, biology, politics, education, and health professions. Students can also consider five-year bachelor’s-plus-master’s pathways; the university says eligible students can save 50% on tuition in the fifth year. Its undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 100 majors and minors. Check the program directory for the complete list and confirm the school and campus attached to a degree.

Hilltop main campus: 2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117-1080; (415) 422-5555. Google Maps lists Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday are closed. Individual offices keep their own hours. The university’s Office of Financial Aid, for example, is at Lone Mountain Main, 2800 Turk Blvd., and lists Monday–Friday service from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other campus locations:

• Downtown San Francisco: 101 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105. This site serves selected graduate and professional programs in management, law, data science, arts and sciences, and sport management.
• Orange County: St. Joseph Center, 480 S. Batavia St., Orange, CA 92868; (714) 633-5626. The campus offers graduate options including sport management and nursing; USF currently notes that applications for its Clinical Nurse Leader MSN at this location are paused.
• Sacramento: 1 Capitol Mall, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 920-0157. Programs include a transfer BSN, counseling psychology with a marriage and family therapy concentration, and a teaching credential paired with a master’s degree.

Before planning a commute, call the location that teaches your program: graduate cohorts and campus availability may change from year to year. The university maintains a current campus and location directory.

Tuition, scholarships and financial aid

For 2026–27, full-time undergraduate tuition at the Hilltop campus is $63,880, plus $612 in listed fees. The university’s estimated total cost of attendance is $89,298 for students living on campus, $90,854 for students in off-campus housing and $81,510 for students living with family or commuting. Those totals include estimated indirect expenses and are not the bill itself; housing, meal plans, books, travel and health insurance can change the amount. The $310 transportation fee includes a Muni pass. Use USF’s net price calculator to estimate your own cost.

USF says 98% of domestic first-year students who applied for financial aid in Fall 2025 received aid, with an average package of $41,708. Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships during admission review. Filing a FAFSA or, when applicable, a California Dream Act application is also how students are considered for need-based institutional awards and federal or state aid. Scholarship terms and renewal requirements vary, so compare the actual award letter with the full cost rather than assuming a typical package will apply to you. The university’s undergraduate aid guide explains applications and deadlines; its 2026–27 cost page breaks down direct and estimated expenses.

Applying

First-year applicants can apply through the Common Application, Coalition Application or USF’s own application. Transfer, international, nursing, graduate and law applicants follow separate instructions. Financial aid has its own priority dates, including January 15 for first-year early applicants and March 1 for transfers. Start with the university’s undergraduate application page, and confirm both program deadlines and financial aid documents with the appropriate school.

What students say

Student accounts often praise approachable professors, access to public transportation and the chance to study in San Francisco. Other reviews describe a quieter social scene that takes effort to navigate, steep hills, expensive or repetitive dining, housing challenges and tuition they consider high for the experience. Those views differ by year, major and living arrangement, but they suggest practical questions to ask: how easy is it to get required courses, what does housing cost near your campus, and what support is available if you need help with advising or aid? Read a range of student reviews and visit the campus or neighborhood before committing.