University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California · Private Nonprofit · 61.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 80/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of San Francisco scores 80 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a strong result for a private Jesuit university in San Francisco with $60,492 sticker tuition. The payback period score is 91 (5.6 years). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.393 is efficient given USF's urban Bay Area context. The outstanding programs are Registered Nursing (227 graduates, $101,731 year-one, B+ grade) and Computer Science (69 graduates, $89,915 year-one, $150,341 at year four, B+ grade). Both programs benefit directly from San Francisco Bay Area labor market premiums. Net price of $41,431 is high - the 0-30000 bracket pays $31,537 and the highest earners pay $52,497. This is not a generous aid school for any income level. But Bay Area wages inflate the earnings side enough to produce a solid overall ROI score. The 28% Pell rate reflects a student body with meaningful economic diversity, but the cost structure places real pressure on lower-income families.
The median graduate earns $89,812 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
University of San Francisco
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $60,492/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $60,492/yr |
| Average net price | $41,431/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $165,724 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $89,812 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $58,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,287 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $60,492/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $41,431/year, or roughly $165,724 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $31,537/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $52,497/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($58,500) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $31,537 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $33,207 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $34,315 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,933 |
| $110,001+ | $52,497 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $31,537 per year - nearly $126,000 over four years. This is very high for low-income families. Average 6-year earnings are $58,500. The aid data shows $31,537 a year for this bracket.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $34,315 (48001-75000 bracket) to $38,933 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. Four-year costs of $137,000-$156,000 are very high. At these prices, only nursing and CS graduates produce early-career earnings that justify the investment within a reasonable timeframe. Most other programs face a very long payback at middle-income pricing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $52,497 per year - about $210,000 over four years. The full-pay case at USF rests entirely on program selection. Nursing at $101,731 year-one recovers even this cost relatively quickly. For other programs, the five-year payback framing only works with Bay Area earnings premiums. Full-pay families should be clear-eyed about program-level outcomes before committing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of San Francisco with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $143,356 | B+ |
| Psychology | $65,071 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $103,605 | B |
| Biology | $69,440 | C |
| Marketing | $91,815 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $104,390 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,592 | C |
| Computer Science | $150,341 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $26,496 | D |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $59,387 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (227 graduates) is USF's flagship program: $101,731 year-one, $143,356 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.265, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings of $101k reflect Bay Area nursing wages. Four-year trajectory to $143k shows strong specialty and management advancement. The B+ grade is appropriate - the debt level is elevated but the Bay Area premium justifies it. This is a high-volume program with consistently strong outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (69 graduates) earns $89,915 year-one and $150,341 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.253, median debt $22,792). Strong Bay Area tech placement is the driver. Year-one of $90k and a four-year trajectory to $150k are consistent with San Francisco technology employer placements. Debt-to-earnings of 0.253 is efficient given the earnings trajectory. The B+ grade reflects the high absolute cost.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (92 graduates) earns $64,972 year-one and $103,605 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.375, median debt $24,347). San Francisco and Bay Area financial services placement drives the year-one figure. Four-year trajectory to $104k reflects advancement into financial management and investment roles. B grade is appropriate at this cost and earnings level.
Economics
Economics (23 graduates) earns $58,046 year-one and $93,712 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.370, median debt $21,500). Year-one of $58k is solid for a small economics cohort at a Bay Area private. Four-year arc to $94k reflects strong career progression. Low median debt of $21,500 helps the ratio.
History
History (12 graduates) earns $19,222 year-one with four-year data not reported (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.106, median debt $21,250). Year-one earnings of $19k compare with $21,250 in debt. The F grade is accurate. Even in San Francisco's labor market, history graduates in the first year face severe debt stress. Students considering history at USF should enter planning for graduate school or law school and model total debt accordingly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of San Francisco’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 61.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 5,287 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,860 |
USF's admission rate is 61.7%. SAT Math 580-690 and Reading 610-700 (ACT 25-30) describe a solid but not highly competitive academic range. Nursing and CS have more competitive internal standards than the overall rate suggests.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
USF's advantage is its San Francisco location; its disadvantage is the 70.1% completion rate and high net price at all income levels.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of San Francisco (this school) | 80 | $41,431 | $89,812 |
| Southern Methodist University | 79 | $40,892 | $78,354 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Marist University | 74 | $41,544 | $77,819 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
USF admits 61.7% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 580-690 Math and 610-700 Reading (ACT 25-30). Enrollment is 5,287. USF is a Jesuit institution with strong social justice values alongside professional program strength. Nursing and CS are the clear professional anchors. The 70.1% completion rate is a concern relative to the price point - students should assess the academic support environment. The school's San Francisco location is a genuine labor market asset.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of San Francisco pays off. You'd pay about $41,431 a year after aid ($165,724 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $89,812 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 70.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $58,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of San Francisco: Common Questions
Is University of San Francisco worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of San Francisco pays off. It scores 80/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $41,431 a year after aid ($165,724 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $89,812 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.6 years to earn back.
How much does University of San Francisco cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $41,431 a year, or roughly $165,724 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of San Francisco graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $89,812 ten years after enrolling, roughly $48,012 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of San Francisco?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.6 years for University of San Francisco. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of San Francisco graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $58,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Francisco?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.