University of San Francisco

The first university in San Francisco, this urban college occupies 55 acres set on a hill next to Golden Gate Park in the heart of the city. Originally known as St. Ignatius Academy, the school was founded in 1855 by Jesuits, and renamed the University of San Francisco in 1930. Women weren't admitted to all programs until 1964, but they currently make up about 60% of the student body. The school of about 11,000 students is ethnically diverse, with three-quarters of the incoming freshman class in 2018 identifying as people of color. USF offers about 50 majors in arts and sciences, management, and nursing and health professions. The school is distinct for its array of five-year joint-degree programs, which let ambitious graduates leave campus with both a bachelor's and a master's degree in one of the following: education, biotechnology, computer science, or economics. There are almost 100 different study abroad choices from London and Paris to the Himalayas. Students get to experience everything that San Francisco has to offer, including mild weather, cultural activities, and opportunities to learn and work in the tech and startup worlds. Sports fans wear green and gold to cheer for the Division I San Francisco Dons, who have brought home national championships in soccer, basketball, and tennis.