Saint Francis University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,557 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes80
Value48
Affordability24
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.8%, Saint Francis University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1050 – 1230
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saint Francis University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saint Francis University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,526 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,526
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,000
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,500
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,576
Books & Supplies
$2,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$59,815
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,906
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,995
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,677
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,717
Over $110,000
$22,945
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$13,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$30,75075%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $27,000
—
No Pell $26,344
↓ $656
Dependent students $27,000
—
Independent students $18,750
↓ $8,250
Female students $27,000
—
Male students $26,000
↓ $1,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,610, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
67% of full-time students who enrolled at Saint Francis University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
67%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saint Francis University earn a median of $62,101 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,101
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,700, about 11% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.6 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Saint Francis University is home to 1,557 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,557
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
26%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.3%1,203
Black 6.6%103
Other 3.3%52
International 3.3%51
Hispanic 2.8%44
Asian 1.7%26
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saint Francis University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantLoretto, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential1,280 beds for 1,557 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Saint Francis University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Francis University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$107M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,641
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
115 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
27
23%
$82,473
Associate Professors
37
32%
$73,220
Assistant Professors
39
34%
$61,007
Instructors
12
10%
$52,372
Pros & Cons of Saint Francis University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saint Francis University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Saint Francis University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Francis University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saint Francis University.
Is Saint Francis University hard to get into?
Saint Francis University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Francis University?
Saint Francis University has an acceptance rate of 76.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Saint Francis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Francis University scored between 1050 and 1230 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Saint Francis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Francis University scored between 21 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Saint Francis University cost?
The average net price after aid at Saint Francis University is $23,526 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saint Francis University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,101 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,526 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saint Francis University known for?
Saint Francis University is best known for its programs in Medical Assisting, Allied Health Diagnostic, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saint Francis University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saint Francis University are $62,101, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saint Francis University accredited?
Yes. Saint Francis University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Saint Francis University?
Saint Francis University enrolls 1,557 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Francis University?
Saint Francis University graduates 67% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saint Francis University a public or private college?
Saint Francis University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Saint Francis University located?
Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Saint Francis University offer?
Saint Francis University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Medical Assisting, Allied Health Diagnostic, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Francis University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Francis University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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84 UCD Score
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$111,371 Top Earn
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80 UCD Score
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84 UCD Score
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$5,167 Lowest Net
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$6,233 Lowest Net
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