Admit rate has ranged 59%–77% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Saint Francis University, a small Catholic institution in rural Loretto, Pennsylvania, blends career-focused academics with a tight-knit community vibe. Known for strong outcomes in healthcare fields like physician assistant studies and nursing, it offers a moderately selective admissions process and a residential campus where two-thirds of students live. The university punches above its weight in social mobility and graduate salaries, delivering Franciscan values with pragmatic professional preparation.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,557
In-state tuition
$44,000
Out-of-state tuition
$44,000
Location
Loretto, PA
Campus Housing
66% of students
Acceptance Rate
76-80%
Notable Rankings
#132 for Graduate Salaries, #107 Social Mobility (WSJ 2026)
Total Annual Cost
$61,500
6-Year Graduation Rate
70%
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,875 (total enrollment)
Average Financial Aid Package
$33,725
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$62,101
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
74%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
76%
Pell (lower-income) share
46%
First-generation share
26%
Endowment / student
$38,891
Financial health
2.3 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$58,866
Accounting and Related Services$46,087
Marketing$43,798
Computer and Information Sciences, General$36,674
Business Administration, Management and Operations$33,993
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.64
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
98
Summer high
77°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
46"
Annual snow
41.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
155
Scholarly works
2,670
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.2%
Bottom → top quintile
35%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Francis University?
Saint Francis University's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Loretto, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Saint Francis University?
Admitted students at Saint Francis University typically score 1050–1230 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Saint Francis University cost?
At Saint Francis University, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,526 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Saint Francis University?
Saint Francis University enrolls approximately 1,557 undergraduate students.
Where is Saint Francis University located?
Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, PA.
Admissions
Saint Francis University maintains a moderately selective admissions process with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 74-80% across recent cycles. The middle 50% of admitted students typically post SAT scores between 1070-1220 or ACT scores of 20-26, with an average high school GPA of 3.69. Notably, the university has adopted a Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy for most undergraduate programs, though some accelerated tracks still require standardized test scores. About 38% of applicants voluntarily submit SAT scores. The institution received 2,623 applications for Fall 2024, admitting approximately 2,015 students.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
The university offers over 60 academic programs across undergraduate, graduate, and online formats, with particular strength in healthcare fields. The most popular majors include Physician Assistant studies (a direct-entry master's program), Nursing, Behavioral Sciences, and Psychology. Programs emphasize career readiness, with curricula designed in consultation with industry experts. The academic structure organizes disciplines into distinct colleges, allowing for interdisciplinary collaboration while maintaining focused areas of study. Flexible options include traditional four-year tracks, accelerated programs, and adult degree completion pathways.
Life at Saint Francis revolves around its residential campus, where 66% of students live in university housing. The administration emphasizes creating a safe, engaging environment with intentional programming and comfortable residence halls. Campus culture initiatives actively promote diversity and inclusion through dedicated offices and programming. Students describe a friendly atmosphere with ample opportunities to participate in activities and form close friendships. The rural Loretto location fosters a self-contained community, though some students choose to live off-campus (34%).
Saint Francis boasts strong post-graduation outcomes, particularly in earning potential and social mobility. The university holds a #132 national ranking for graduate salaries and #107 for social mobility in the Wall Street Journal's 2026 rankings. Its six-year graduation rate stands at 70%, with most students completing degrees on time. The career-focused curriculum appears to pay dividends, as evidenced by the institution's emphasis on these metrics in its public reporting. These outcomes are particularly notable given the university's modest size and rural location.
The total annual Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid. approaches $61,500, but generous financial aid packages significantly reduce the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. for most students. The average financial aid package for full-time undergraduates in 2024-25 was $33,725, bringing the average net cost (including tuition, fees, room, and board) down to a more manageable level. The university provides a net price calculator to help families estimate their actual out-of-pocket expenses after accounting for grants, scholarships, and other aid.
Saint Francis University distinguishes itself through its unusual combination of Franciscan values and pragmatic career preparation. The healthcare-focused curriculum—particularly its direct-entry PA program—delivers strong employment outcomes, while the small size (1,875 total students) ensures personalized attention. Its #107 social mobility ranking reflects success in elevating graduates' economic prospects, a rare feat for a rural institution. The residential campus culture fosters close relationships, with two-thirds of students living on-site. This is a school that quietly outperforms its modest profile, delivering tangible results through focused programs in high-demand fields.
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