University of St. Francis

Welcome! We’re glad you stopped by! Please watch this video to find out more about University of St. Francis– a university that is consistently engaging mind & spirit in students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors and even members of the local community. We’re a “university with a mission,” and we want you to be a part of it!

As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

We hear this phrase from our students again and again. As a University of St. Francis freshman, we want you to succeed, to learn, and to start off on the right path. We will work with you through the application, admissions, and financial aid because our success as a university is based on your success as a USF student. You can rely on USF to provide you with the best higher education programs available, and with all of the information you need to relax and enjoy the experience. This is a great time in your life, and we are sure you will find USF to be the right choice for your college needs.

One of the biggest barriers our students tell us about is a hurdle students impose on themselves. Many of our students, even our most successful graduates, doubted themselves during their college search. They thought they were not cut out for college.

We have faith in you. We can make sure you get every advantage, get all of the help you need, and we will do everything we can to make you successful at USF. We aren’t like other, giant, impersonal universities. We can make sure you never get lost here. Schedule a visit with us to talk with admission counselors, students, and faculty.

USF offers online, accelerated degree completion programs in business, health care and nursing– there’s no better time than now to finish your degree. The University of St. Francis has designed programming specifically to meet the needs of adult learners for almost 40 years. We are a pioneer at offering quality educational experiences at off-campus sites as well as online. At the University of St. Francis, you can have all of this and more! We promise you quality faculty members, interactive and vibrant classes, and excellent support services.

USF offers numerous graduate degree programs in high-demand areas, including business, education, health care, management, nursing, social work and training and development. Programs can be completed online, onsite or in a blended delivery format– depending on the major you chose. Take your education and career to the next level by becoming a grad student at USF!

The University of St. Francis (USF) is a small private Catholic Franciscan university located in a beautiful historic suburban neighborhood about 35 miles southwest of Chicago – just a short train ride away! The small size of the University of St. Francis provides international students with an opportunity to be fully immersed in university culture and receive personal attention in their academic studies that isn’t always possible at larger universities.

USF promotes inclusion of all students, regardless of their citizenship, ethnicity, or religion. USF will assist all international students in achieving their educational goals and overcoming the challenges of studying and living in a foreign country.

Pursuing a college education is an investment in your future. Yet, achieving that goal can be a great concern for students and their families. Financial aid may be the means to make your education a reality.

The Office of Student Life provides many opportunities for students to become more involved throughout the university community. Students are encouraged to participate in the large selection of events that take place on and off campus and are invited to participate in the Student Government Association in order to address the needs and concerns of the student body.

The Student Activities Board, a function of Student Government, plans and implements major student entertainment programs on campus which include Homecoming, Little Sibs Day, Spring Fling, comedians, musicians, bowling nights, and other special events. Membership is open to all students.

The primary goal of the university is to serve, retain, and educate students. Student Affairs provides services to the students to help with their holistic development in creating responsible adults who are productive members of a world community. Students need to develop socially, psychologically, vocationally and spiritually, as well as academically.

Services are available to students to enhance the likelihood that development in these areas will occur gradually over the student’s term in school and such development should be coordinated so that what is learned academically is enhanced by learning experiences outside the classroom.

The International Programs Office (IPO) proactively supports the mission and commitment of the University of St. Francis by promoting an educational environment in which students, faculty and staff can become involved with and aware of the global forces, people and perspectives which shape our lives. The IPO is guided by the Franciscan values to connect the university community to the world outside of our borders. Please watch a video about our programs!