Saint Francis University’s 600-acre campus sits atop a gorgeous mountain top in Loretto, Pa. (near Pittsburgh). We’re one of the oldest Catholic universities in the country, and the oldest dedicated to Franciscan values.
Our University is an inclusive learning community that welcomes all people. We are each unique, yet we share a common bond: a desire to be a better person tomorrow than we are today.
Our university is ranked among the very best according to U.S. News and World Report. Choose from more than 50 academic programs of study that fuel your mind AND feed your soul.
St. Francis of Assisi, through his Catholic Franciscan mission, left us an abundance of clues for living a meaningful life. Through his Faith and Franciscanism, he pointed the way in arts, business, healthcare, and the environment. Saint Francis is a 2015-16 Catholic College of Distinction.
Our university is ranked among the very best according to U.S. News and World Report. Choose from more than 50 academic programs of study that fuel your mind AND feed your soul.
Location & Facilities
Located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, Saint Francis University enrolls approximately 1,832 undergraduate students (of whom, 40.7% are male and 59.3% female) and 617 graduate students. The University offers 25 undergraduate majors and 7 graduate fields of study (including Physical Therapy, in which the University awards a doctorate) to its students. The University maintains an average graduation rate of 69.9%. Saint Francis University has 22 men's and women's sports teams and competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Great Campus Life with Great Facilities in the Great Outdoors
Just off campus you'll find plenty of outdoor activities to keep you connected to nature at Blue Knob State Park, Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park, Seven Springs Resort, Ohiopyle State Park, Ghost Town Trail, and Horseshoe Curve.
Living on-campus is truly the best way to fully experience college life. When living in the residence halls at Saint Francis University, you will find a focus on faith, civility, values, and personal development as part of the residential experience.Our residential communities are set up to assist you in building connections to the larger Saint Francis community in hopes that you will become an active participant in university life and gain a greater appreciation for our community values and services. Our Residence Life staff is committed to creating residential communities that support the University's mission, values, and Franciscan identity, and that offer a variety of intellectual, physical, spiritual, social, and academic experiences and opportunities.