Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPrivate (nonprofit)

Saint Francis University

Loretto, Pennsylvania·Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above·Mid East·francis.edu

Saint Francis University's acceptance rate is 76.8% (2024). Its six-year graduation rate is 74% and its four-year rate is 70% (2024). Tuition and fees are $44,000 (2024). Fall enrollment is 2,963 students, and 3,297 enrolled over the full 12-month year (2024). Source: IPEDS.

Acceptance
76.8%
-3.5pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
6-yr graduation
74%
+7.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Total enrollment
2,963
peer median 2,968
Avg net price
$23,526
+$286 vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
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About

Saint Francis University (SFU) is a private Catholic university in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular. The university is situated on 600 acres (243 ha) in the forests and farmland of Loretto.

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
2,623
2,623 candidates competed
Admitted
2,015
76.8% acceptance rate
Enrolled
394
19.6% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
74%
4-year graduation
70%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
74%+7.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Full-time retention
83%

Pell equity

16.5pp gap
Pell recipients
62%51 of 82
Non-Pell (all)
78%193 of 246
Subsidized loan, no Pell
76%94 of 124
No Federal Aid
81%99 of 122

Non-Pell students graduate at a 16.5-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 102 Title IV programs, 17 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 85 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
102
Passing
17
16.7% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

102programs
  • Passing17 · 16.7%
  • No Data85 · 83.3%
  • Failing0 · 0.0%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
4
Safe
13
No data
85

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

17
Human Resources Management and Services
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+15.4%
$67,824 vs $58,761
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+17.3%
$68,940 vs $58,761
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
+21.7%
$56,442 vs $46,391
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+22.4%
$71,900 vs $58,761
Behavioral Sciences
Bachelor Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
+34.1%
$47,316 vs $35,274
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Doctoral Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+42.1%
$83,478 vs $58,761
Marketing
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+69.1%
$59,631 vs $35,274
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+74.4%
$61,535 vs $35,274

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

13
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Doctoral Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
74%
$61,500 debt · $83,478 earn
Human Resources Management and Services
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
61%
$41,000 debt · $67,824 earn
Marketing
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
45%
$27,000 debt · $59,631 earn
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
Bachelor Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
42%
$28,500 debt · $68,578 earn
Business Administration Management and Operations
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
41%
$25,000 debt · $61,535 earn
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Bachelor Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
39%
$28,375 debt · $72,821 earn
Accounting and Related Services
Bachelor Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
35%
$25,046 debt · $70,937 earn
Registered Nursing Nursing Administration Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
35%
$28,750 debt · $81,510 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Accredited since 1939Next review Jan 2033

Programmatic accreditations · 5

Action history · 10

  1. Nov 2025Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation Removed
    American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
  2. Jun 2025Renewal of Accreditation
    Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  3. Apr 2025Probation or Equivalent or a More Severe Status: Show Cause
    American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
  4. Jun 2024Grant Substantive Change: Other
    Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  5. Apr 2024Probation or Equivalent or a More Severe Status: Probation
    American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$21,906
$30–48k$19,995
$48–75k$22,677
$75–110k$28,717
$110k+$22,945

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price (private)
$23,526
+$286vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs median $23,241
Federal loans
37.1%
Tuition and fees
$44,000

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 490 students received $2.7M in Pell grants, alongside $14.2M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
490
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$2.7M
$2,662,652 total
Direct Loans
$14.2M
1,987 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

0k
’20
0k
’21
0k
’22
0k
’23
0k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$2.9M
670 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$3.3M
883 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$3.8M
225 loan awards
Parent PLUS$2.9M
145 loan awards
Grad PLUS$1.3M
64 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 600 borrowers who entered repayment, 9 (1.5%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
1.5%
-0.8pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
600
Defaulted
9
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
4.2%
2017
2.3%
2018
4.3%
2019
1.5%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Saint Francis

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs63
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

597 total completions
01Health Professions
23739.7%
02Business
15626.1%
03Education
6110.2%
04Biological Sciences
416.9%
05Computer Sciences
274.5%
06Psychology
254.2%
07Multi/Interdisciplinary
183.0%
08Engineering
162.7%
09Physical Sciences
91.5%
10Agriculture
71.2%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
2,963
12-mo unduplicated
3,297
Undergraduate
2,802
Graduate
495

Gender split

Men
39%1,295
Women
61%2,002

Race / ethnicity composition

White
77.3%
Black
6.6%
Unknown
5.0%
Non-resident
3.3%
Two or more
2.9%
Hispanic
2.8%
Asian
1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

EADA
Athletes
516
280 M · 236 W
Women athletes
45.7%
Athletic aid
$8.4M
Total student aid
Budget
$17.2M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$3.9M
$4.6M
Recruiting expense
$91K
$91K
Head-coach salaries
$82K
$49K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 14

Football
126 M · —
$3.6M
Track and Field (Indoor)
51 M · 39 W
$230K
Track and Field (Outdoor)
48 M · 38 W
$878K
Soccer
31 M · 26 W
$1.3M
Volleyball
21 M · 20 W
$1.3M
Cross Country
19 M · 19 W
$83K

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
2.12
6 offenses · 2,835 students

3-year trend

2.312 yrs ago2.801 yr ago2.12Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
21
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
8
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0

Criminal offenses by type

Burglary
4
Rape
1
Fondling
1

By location

6total
  • On campus6

Includes 5 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

1
Domestic violence
2
Dating violence
1
Stalking
4 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

No hate crimes reported.

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs70
Liquor38

Residence-hall fires

No residence-hall fires reported.

Data quality: 1 report was later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
16.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
112

Saint Francis vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Saint Francis selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
6-yr gradRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectSaint Francis University
74%76.8%2,963$23,526Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Assumption University
75%83.0%2,037$29,498Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Canisius University
66%72.4%2,451$17,940Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
DeSales University
72%77.1%2,972$31,643Doctoral/Professional
Gannon University
67%74.2%4,189$22,553Doctoral/Professional
High Point University
72%75.3%6,331$38,707Baccalaureate
Iona University
56%86.9%3,958$29,188Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
King's College
60%93.1%1,939$23,093Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
La Salle University
58%96.6%3,153$19,409Doctoral/Professional
Marywood University
72%60.6%2,530$23,388Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Mercyhurst University
64%81.0%2,632$19,444Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Misericordia University
72%70.9%2,200$37,485Doctoral/Professional
Monmouth University
72%89.0%4,767$30,988Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Mount St. Mary's University
65%73.8%2,408$22,655Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Niagara University
74%87.4%4,033$17,248Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Radford University
49%89.5%7,812$14,578Doctoral/Professional
Rider University
61%78.6%4,003$24,792Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Robert Morris University
66%89.9%5,275$23,003Doctoral/Professional
Seton Hill University
67%79.5%1,927$22,204Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
St Bonaventure University
67%81.6%2,752$27,074Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Peer group median67%80.3%2,968$23,241

Institutions like Saint Francis

Explore the federal data for institutions in Saint Francis's comparison group.

IPEDS
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsMassachusetts

    Assumption University

    Grad rate
    75%
    Admit rate
    83.0%
    Enrollment
    2,037
    Net price
    $29,498
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York

    Canisius University

    Grad rate
    66%
    Admit rate
    72.4%
    Enrollment
    2,451
    Net price
    $17,940
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalPennsylvania

    DeSales University

    Grad rate
    72%
    Admit rate
    77.1%
    Enrollment
    2,972
    Net price
    $31,643
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalPennsylvania

    Gannon University

    Grad rate
    67%
    Admit rate
    74.2%
    Enrollment
    4,189
    Net price
    $22,553
  • BaccalaureateNorth Carolina

    High Point University

    Grad rate
    72%
    Admit rate
    75.3%
    Enrollment
    6,331
    Net price
    $38,707
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York

    Iona University

    Grad rate
    56%
    Admit rate
    86.9%
    Enrollment
    3,958
    Net price
    $29,188
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsPennsylvania

    King's College

    Grad rate
    60%
    Admit rate
    93.1%
    Enrollment
    1,939
    Net price
    $23,093
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalPennsylvania

    La Salle University

    Grad rate
    58%
    Admit rate
    96.6%
    Enrollment
    3,153
    Net price
    $19,409
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPennsylvania

    Marywood University

    Grad rate
    72%
    Admit rate
    60.6%
    Enrollment
    2,530
    Net price
    $23,388
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsPennsylvania

    Mercyhurst University

    Grad rate
    64%
    Admit rate
    81.0%
    Enrollment
    2,632
    Net price
    $19,444
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalPennsylvania

    Misericordia University

    Grad rate
    72%
    Admit rate
    70.9%
    Enrollment
    2,200
    Net price
    $37,485
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Jersey

    Monmouth University

    Grad rate
    72%
    Admit rate
    89.0%
    Enrollment
    4,767
    Net price
    $30,988
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsMaryland

    Mount St. Mary's University

    Grad rate
    65%
    Admit rate
    73.8%
    Enrollment
    2,408
    Net price
    $22,655
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York

    Niagara University

    Grad rate
    74%
    Admit rate
    87.4%
    Enrollment
    4,033
    Net price
    $17,248
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalVirginia

    Radford University

    Grad rate
    49%
    Admit rate
    89.5%
    Enrollment
    7,812
    Net price
    $14,578
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew Jersey

    Rider University

    Grad rate
    61%
    Admit rate
    78.6%
    Enrollment
    4,003
    Net price
    $24,792
  • Doctoral/ProfessionalPennsylvania

    Robert Morris University

    Grad rate
    66%
    Admit rate
    89.9%
    Enrollment
    5,275
    Net price
    $23,003
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsPennsylvania

    Seton Hill University

    Grad rate
    67%
    Admit rate
    79.5%
    Enrollment
    1,927
    Net price
    $22,204
  • Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsNew York

    St Bonaventure University

    Grad rate
    67%
    Admit rate
    81.6%
    Enrollment
    2,752
    Net price
    $27,074

Saint Francis Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness
Email
tgraessle [at] francis.edu
Phone
814-472-2835
Address
Raymond Hall 002, Saint Francis University, 132 Franciscan Way, P.O. Box 600, Loretto, PA 15940

The mission of Institutional Research & Effectiveness is to supply accurate, meaningful information in support of administrative and academic decision making. This includes developing and maintaining procedures for data collection and dissemination, assisting with financial analysis and reporting; coordinating the dissemination of information to both internal and external communities, providing data support for the budget planning process, maintaining an information clearinghouse for pertinent statistical data and strategic reports, and providing data support for the institutional assessment process.

Visit IR office page
Team
1 member
  • Mrs. Tammy K Graessle
    Director

Reports & documents (2)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Notable alumni of Saint Francis (32)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe
    Athletics
  • Mubarak Awad
    Politics
  • Jeff Bower
    Athletics
  • Paul Boyton
    Entertainment
  • James Casorio
    Politics
  • Kent John Chabotar
    Education
  • Aaron Clapham
    Athletics
  • Robert Conway
    Military
  • London Fletcher
    Athletics
  • Ed Hayden
    Athletics
  • Michael L. Hess
    Politics
  • Maja Kazazic
    Business
Showing 1–12 of 32
1 / 3

Frequently asked questions about Saint Francis University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Saint Francis University.

What is the acceptance rate at Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University's acceptance rate is 76.8% (2,015 admitted from 2,623 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.

What is the graduation rate at Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University's six-year graduation rate is 74% and its four-year rate is 70%, per 2024 IPEDS data.

How many students attend Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University reports a total enrollment of 2,963 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Saint Francis University?

The average net price at Saint Francis University is $23,526 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University's yield rate is 19.6%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Saint Francis University located?

Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940.

Who runs Institutional Research at Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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