University of San Francisco facts for kids
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private university in San Francisco, California. It was founded by a group called the Jesuits, who are a part of the Catholic Church. The main campus is about 55 acres and is located between the famous Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. People often call the main campus "The Hilltop." It's split into two parts, just a block away from each other. Part of the campus is on Lone Mountain, which is a well-known hill in San Francisco. The university's old motto, Pro Urbe et Universitate, means "For City and University," showing its strong connection to San Francisco.
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| Latin: Universitas Sancti Francisci | |
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Former names
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St. Ignatius Academy (1855–1859) St. Ignatius College (1859–1930) |
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| Motto | Traditional: Pro Urbe et Universitate (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Traditional: "For City and University" Current motto: "Change the World from Here" |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | October 15, 1855 |
| Founder | Anthony Maraschi, S.J. |
| Accreditation | WSCUC |
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Religious affiliation
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Catholic Church (Jesuit) |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $478.4 million (2022) |
| President | Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. |
| Provost | Eileen Chia-Ching Fung |
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Academic staff
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1,174 faculty (486 full-time, 688 part-time) |
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Administrative staff
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1,083 (fall 2016: 975 full-time, 108 part-time) |
| Students | 10,636 |
| Undergraduates | 6,577 |
| Postgraduates | 4,059 |
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United States
37°46′46″N 122°27′07″W / 37.77944°N 122.45194°W |
| Campus | Large city, 55 acres (22 ha) |
| Newspaper | San Francisco Foghorn |
| Colors | Green Gold |
| Nickname | Dons |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – WCC |
| Mascot | The Don, a Spanish nobleman |
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Contents
History of USF
The University of San Francisco was started by the Jesuits in 1855. It began as a small, one-room school called St. Ignatius Academy on Market Street in downtown San Francisco. Father Anthony Maraschi was the founder and first president. He was also a professor, the treasurer, and the first pastor of St. Ignatius Church.
In 1859, St. Ignatius Academy received permission from the State of California to give out college degrees. This permission was signed by Governor John B. Weller. That year, the school changed its name to St. Ignatius College. The first classes included subjects like Greek, Spanish, Latin, English, math, history, and geography.
A new building was built in 1862. In June 1863, the university gave out its very first Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1880, the college moved to a new spot on Hayes Street and Van Ness Avenue.
The college building was damaged in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and then completely destroyed by the fire that followed. The campus then moved west to Hayes and Shrader Streets, near Golden Gate Park. For 21 years, it used a temporary building known as the "Shirt Factory."
In 1927, the college moved to its current location on Fulton Street. This spot used to be a Masonic Cemetery. In 1930, to celebrate its 75th anniversary, St. Ignatius College changed its name to the University of San Francisco. Many former students and the mayor of San Francisco, James Rolph Jr., wanted this change.
For most of its history, USF was only for male students. But in 1964, it became fully coeducational, meaning both men and women could attend all programs. However, women had started attending evening classes in business and law as early as 1927.
In 1969, the high school part of the university moved and became St. Ignatius College Preparatory. In 1978, the university took over Lone Mountain College. On October 15, 2005, the university celebrated its 150th birthday!
What Students Study at USF
USF offers 59 different majors for students to choose from. These are spread across one college and four main schools:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- School of Education
- School of Law
- School of Management
- School of Nursing and Health Professions
University Rankings
| USNWR National University | 103 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 146 |
| Forbes | 197 |
USF is often recognized in national rankings. For example, U.S. News & World Report ranked USF tied for 115th among all universities in 2023. College Factual also placed USF at 164th out of all four-year colleges and universities in the nation in 2023. Washington Monthly ranked USF 138th out of 391 national universities in 2023.
Studying Abroad
USF has a special center that helps students study in other countries. Students can choose from over 89 programs in more than 40 countries. When students join a USF-sponsored program, they pay USF's tuition, not the tuition of the school they visit.
USF Campuses
The University of San Francisco offers many different programs for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The main campus, known as "the Hilltop," is 55 acres. It's divided into two parts: Lone Mountain and the lower campus.
USF also has other campuses:
- The Downtown San Francisco Campus opened in 2012. It offers 15 graduate programs.
- The Orange County Campus started in 1983. It offers master's degrees in Sport Management, Nursing, and Public Health.
- The Sacramento Campus began in 1975. It offers bachelor's degrees in Nursing and master's degrees in Public Health, Counseling, and Teaching.
- USF also has programs at San Jose City College and Santa Rosa Junior College.
How USF is Organized
The University of San Francisco is a non-profit organization. It is managed by a group of people called the board of trustees. The university president, provost, vice-presidents, and deans also help run the university. The board has 41 members who serve three-year terms. They choose the president, who is the main leader of the university. The current president is Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. He is in charge of making sure the university keeps its Jesuit Catholic values.
The teachers and librarians at USF are part of a union. This union helps them with things like wages and benefits.
Student Life and Clubs
USF has more than 100 different clubs and organizations for students. These groups help students develop leadership skills and get involved in activities outside of classes.
The Associated Students of the University of San Francisco (ASUSF) Senate is the student government. They plan big campus events, share student concerns, and manage the student budget.
Greek Life at USF
USF has social sororities and fraternities. These groups are part of the Greek Council, which helps them grow and develop. They often have events together, like mixers, social gatherings, and holiday drives.
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Social Fraternities and Sororities
Service Groups
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Academic and Honor Societies
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Student Media
The San Francisco Foghorn is the official student newspaper, published weekly. It started in 1903 as The Ignatian and changed its name in the 1930s. Famous alumni who worked on the Foghorn include Pierre Salinger, who was a press secretary for President John F. Kennedy, and author Kevin Starr.
USF also has a student-run radio station, KDNZ. In the past, it had another station, KUSF, which was known for its diverse music. The university also has USFtv, a student-run television station that broadcasts news, sports, and cultural shows. In 2008, USFtv students even worked with musician Wyclef Jean on a music video.
The Ignatian is USF's yearly literary magazine. It features different types of writing, like essays, short stories, poetry, and photos.
Performing Arts
USF has many student clubs for the performing arts. These include a theater group called College Players, an improvisational comedy team, a choir (ASUSF Voices), the USF Don Marching Band, and a dance program.
The College Players, started in 1863, is one of the oldest student-run theater groups in the United States. The ASUSF Voices choir offers different types of singing groups, including jazz. The USF dance program focuses on social justice and allows students to take traditional and modern dance classes.
USF Student Body
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| Asian | 26% |
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| White | 24% |
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| Hispanic | 21% |
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| Foreign national | 12% |
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| Other | 11% |
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| Black | 6% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 27% |
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| Affluent | 73% |
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USF has a history of welcoming diverse students. For example, Chan Chung Wing, whose parents were from China, was in the first law class. In 1929, a group for Filipino students was founded. In the 1930s, African American students like Isaiah Fletcher and Earl Booker were important athletes at the university, long before many other colleges became integrated.
In Fall 2017, about 15.5% of the students were from other countries. International students have special welcome events and groups like the International Student Association. USF also holds an annual International Education Week to celebrate different cultures.
Becoming a USF Student
USF is considered a selective university for undergraduate students. U.S. News & World Report noted that USF has a very diverse student body.
For students starting in Fall 2022, the average high school grade point average (GPA) was 3.68. Most students accepted to USF had good scores on the SAT or ACT tests.
Paying for College
USF states that 97% of new students in Fall 2023 received financial help to pay for college. The average financial aid package was $48,664. USF has a tool on its website to help families estimate costs.
For the 2023–2024 school year, tuition for full-time undergraduate students is $57,670. The total estimated cost for one year, including housing and food, is $83,662.
Where Students Live
Each residence hall (dorm) at USF has a lounge, kitchen, and laundry rooms. The halls are safe, with staff at the front desk 24 hours a day. Student leaders called Resident Advisors plan activities for students living in the dorms.
On-Campus Residence Halls
- Fromm Hall (FR)
- Gilson Hall (GI)
- Hayes-Healy Hall (HH)
- Lone Mountain (LMN)
- Lone Mountain East (LME)
- Pedro Arrupe Hall (PA)
- Toler Hall (TO)
Off-Campus Housing
- Fulton House and Fulton House Cottage
- Loyola Village (LV)
USF Sports Teams
USF's sports teams, called the Dons, compete in NCAA Division I. They are a founding member of the West Coast Conference, playing against local rivals like Santa Clara University and Saint Mary's College of California. USF offers many sports for men and women, including basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and track and field. Men also play baseball, and women play volleyball. The Dons' colors are green and gold.
Sports History
Sports have been a part of USF since it was founded in 1855. The first students played ball games for fun. Organized games against other colleges started in 1907, with baseball, basketball, and rugby. This is when rivalries with nearby Santa Clara University and Saint Mary's College began.
Some USF athletes have even competed in the Olympics! These include runners Maor Tiyouri and Haley Nemra, basketball player John Cox, and synchronized swimmer Mariya Koroleva.
The 1951 USF Dons Football Team
The 1951 USF Dons football team was amazing! They were coached by Joe Kuharich and won all 9 of their games. Nine players from this team later played in the NFL, the professional football league. Three of them – Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, and Bob St. Clair – were even inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a record for one college team! Another player, Burl Toler, became the first African American official in the NFL.
Despite their success, the team was not invited to play in any major college bowl games because they had two African American star players, Ollie Matson and Burl Toler. The team was invited to the Orange Bowl, but they refused to go without their Black teammates. Player Dick Columbini said, "No, we're not going to leave ‘em at home... We're going to play with ‘em or we’re not going to play." Because of money problems, USF had to stop its football program in 1952.
Basketball Success
The men's basketball team has won three national championships. They won the NIT Championship in 1949 and the NCAA National Championships in 1955 and 1956. In 1956, they went undefeated! Led by future NBA Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, the 1956 Dons won a record 60 games in a row. The 1954-1955 team was also the first major college basketball team to win a national title with three African American starting players.
Soccer Achievements
The USF soccer program started in 1931 and quickly became successful, winning five titles between 1932 and 1936. Stephen Negoesco, who played for USF, became the head coach in 1960. He led the team to 540 wins and four national championships (1966, 1975, 1976, and 1980). Negoesco was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003 for his incredible coaching record.
Famous USF Alumni
Many notable people have graduated from the University of San Francisco.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de San Francisco para niños
- St. Ignatius Institute
- List of colleges and universities in California
- List of Jesuit sites
