The University of San Francisco houses more than 10,034 students with over 5,969 undergraduate students and more than 4,065 graduate students. University of San Francisco has an acceptance rate of 70%.Students need a GPA of 3.5/4 (90%) or higher for admission to the university. The medical school of the university is highly desired and has a competitive acceptance rate of 3.5-4%. Check Out: USF Student Profiles!

  • Acceptance Rate: University of San Francisco exhibits an acceptance rate of 70%, indicating a lightly selective admission policy.
  • Programs: Undergraduate admission to the University of San Francisco is available in more than 40 undergraduate majors, over 70 minors, special programs, and dual degrees. There are 70+ full-time, part-time, or executive graduate programs across five schools with options for hybrid and online instruction. Explore: USF Programs!
  • Admission requirements: The university accepts standardized test scores in addition to academic transcripts. For applying to the University of San Francisco, you need a GPA of over 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (~89-90%) to stay in the competition. Additional documents required for admission include satisfactory SOP for the USA, multiple LOR, proof of finances, and English proficiency test scores. Explore: F1 visa application
  • Application Deadlines: The university accepts applications on November 1 for fall early action and spring semester. The fall regular decision deadline is on January 15.

University of San Francisco Admission Deadlines

Applicants can apply for both fall and spring sessions at the University of San Francisco. Application deadlines for first-year international applicants are mentioned below:

Decision Type Deadline
FALL 
Early decision November 1, 2022
Regular decision January 15, 2022 (Now closed)
Early decision (Supplemental materials) November 19, 2022
Regular decision (Supplemental materials) February 11, 2022
SPRING
Regular decision November 1, 2022

University of San Francisco Undergraduate Admissions

More than 50 undergraduate programs at USF are available for international students. Prospective students must declare their major while applying for admissions. 
Application Portal: Common Application; Application Fee: 70 USD (~5,300 INR)
Admission Requirements: The undergraduate requirements for University of San Francisco admission are as follows:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • Certification of Finances
  • Gap Year explanation (Optional)
  • GPA of 3.58/4 (91%)
  • SAT or ACT scores (Optional)
  • Personal statement
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Short answer questions (part of the USF supplement to the Common Application)
  • Proof of English language proficiency (for international students)
  • TOEFL iBT: 65
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Duolingo: 105

Supporting Documents: Following are the supporting documents required for UG admission: 

  • Fall Senior Grades: Required from Early Decision or Early Action applicant who opts for deferred admissions. But it is highly recommended for students applying for Regular Decision.
  • Early Decision Agreement: Required from Early Decision applicants only.
  • Academic LOR: One recommendation from either the school counselor or a teacher teaching a core and academic subject.
  • International Transfer Students Admissions: The admission process for international transfer students is similar to the process of undergraduate admissions. Application requirements, fees, deadlines, and test scores are also common.

University of San Francisco Graduate Admissions

The University of San Francisco offers admissions under 70 graduate programs at the University of San Franciscoto prospective applicants. The following table illustrates popular courses offered at the university along with their minimum requirements for admission.

Application Portal: Online Graduation Application; Application Fee: 60 USD (~4,570 INR)
Application Requirements: The documents required for University of San Francisco admission to the PG courses are as follows:

  • Official transcripts
  • GRE/GMAT scores,
  • English language proficiency (varies by program)
  • Statement of Purpose
  • LOR
  • Interviews
  • Professional statements
  • Writing samples.

International students applying to USFCA for graduate programs can fulfill the English language requirements using the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL Ibt, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores. Below mentioned are the minimum IELTS scores required across faculties:

Faculty Minimum IELTS score 
Arts and Sciences  6.5 
Arts and Sciences (Writing, Biology Public Leadership, Urban and Public Affairs) 7.0
Education 7.0
Management  6.5
Nursing and Health Professions (Entry-level MSN, DNP, and PsyD) 7.0
Nursing and Health Professions (All other programs) 6.5

English P​roficiency Test Requirements Waiver:

International undergraduates do not have to submit the scores if they have any of the below mentioned:

Tests Minimum Score 
SAT (Reading and Writing) 550
ACT 22
IB Higher-Level English A  5 or higher 
English O-Level exam Grade B or higher 
College-level English composition course (in the United States) Grade B or higher

Master’s at the University of San Francisco: Admission Requirements

Course  GPA GMAT/GRE Deadlines Additional Requirements
MS Data Science  3.0 GPA (85%) Not Required  March 1, 2022 Admission Interview 
MS Biology  3.2 GPA (87%) GRE Scores (Verbal – 153 (54%), Quantitative – 156 (63%), Analytical Writing – 4.3 (68%) October 15 -
MS Biotechnology 3.0 GPA (85%) GRE Required  October 15, 2022 (Spring 2023);  February 15, 2023 (Fall priority 2023;) April 15, 2023 (Fall deadline) -
MS Organization Development  3.0 GPA (85%) Not Required  November 15, January 15, March 15, May 15, June 15 Interview, Self-Evaluation (optional), Scholarship Statement (optional)
MA Sport Management  3.0 GPA (85%) Not Required  September 1 (Spring 2023); February 1 (September 2023)

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MBA at University of San Francisco: Admission Requirements

Students applying for a Full-Time MBA at the University of San Francisco have to submit all the documents required with the application by May 15, 2022.

Admission Requirements:

  • GPA of 3.0/4 (85%)
  • Academic transcripts
  • GMAT or GRE scores
  • Resume
  • 2 LORs
  • Interview
  • SOP (1000 words)
  • Self-Evaluation (optional)
  • Scholarship statement (optional)
  • English language proficiency requirements. 

Visa Application Process

If offered admission at the University of San Francisco, all overseas students will need to acquire an F-1 or J-1 USA student visa

  • F-1 visa can be obtained only during the summer term(May to August)
  • Following documents must be submitted by November 1 I-20 Request Form
  • A copy of the biographical page of the applicant's passport 
  • A Certification of Finances, based on the cost estimate mentioned in your I-20 
  • Copies of previous I-20s and F-1 visas (if applicable)

A total enrollment of about 16,000 was seen at the University of San Francisco. The admissions office reviews each freshman application critically. Admission decisions prove favorable if applicants show consistent academic excellence, score above average in English Proficiency Tests, and have no questionable backgrounds.

The admission decisions are released as soon as the application is reviewed. The applicants must ensure that they submit the applications and supporting documents before the deadline. Overall, the acceptance at the university has been above average. Be it based on test scores or extensive admission requirements.

FAQs

Ques. Are English proficiency test score waivers available?

Ans. The English language proficiency exams may be waived for one of the following applicants:
• Applicants who achieved an SAT Critical Reading score of 500 or higher or an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 560 or higher.
• Applicants who achieved an ACT English score of 22 or higher.
• Applicants having predicted IB Higher-Level English A result 5 or higher.
• Applicants who received a grade of “B” or higher on your English O-Level exam (GCSE, IGCSE, SPM, etc.).
• Applicants who received a grade of “B” or higher in a college-level English composition course taught in the United States.

Ques. How will I know if an early decision is suitable for me or an early action?

Ans. Applicants whose first choice of university is University of San Francisco and who have a strong academic profile should choose the early decision plan. Students who consider USF as one of their top choices but wish to compare other offers for admission or financial aid before making a final decision must choose the early action plan.

Ques. Will I have to write a different personal statement if applying to more than one university using the Common Application?

Ans. No. Your personal statement completed as a part of the common application will be forwarded to all institutions you apply through the Common Application.

Ques. Will submitting letters of recommendation add value to the application?

Ans. University of San Francisco admssion optionally requires submission of letters of recommendation. However, even if applicants choose to submit recommendations, all applications will be given equal consideration and not provide any advantage.

Ques. Do I need to submit SAT/ACT scores?

Ans. SAT/ACT scores are optional for undergraduate applicants at University of San Francisco.