While in the area recently, I visited the University of San Francisco.
A few takeaways from my visit:
Just down the street from Golden Gate Park, this beautiful 55-acre campus is located in the heart of San Francisco. We started our tour on the peaceful, green Main Campus, then crossed the street and climbed the stairs to the Lone Mountain Campus area, with breathtaking views of the city. This was the first time I’d ever seen a campus bookstore with its own fireplace, which seemed fitting for San Francisco temps and perhaps a reflection of the campus’s welcoming attitude.
Founded in the Jesuit Catholic tradition, the campus attracts students from many different backgrounds and faiths. In fact, the university was recently ranked #1 in campus diversity among national universities by US News and World Report (2025).
USF is known for its pre-professional emphasis with 13 “4+1” programs delivering a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in 5 years. Examples include the Computer Science BS/MS program and a Nursing BS/MSN degree.
I think USF would be a great place for a student interested in an urban college experience (yet located in a less busy area of the city) with small class sizes, pre-professional programs, and a student body poised to be changemakers, not unlike the progressive city that surrounds the university. Students interested in Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, and Loyola Marymount University may find USF a strong addition to their college list.
Go Dons!
