The university is set on a sprawling 600-acre campus in the scenic Laurel Highlands of Loretto, Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Mountains. This location provides an exceptional environment for living and learning, featuring its own lake, nature trails, a ski tubing park, and a championship golf course.

Saint Francis University does not require standardized testing (ACT or SAT) for general undergraduate admission and uses a "test-blind" admissions process. However, some accelerated programs do use a test-optional review process that allows applicants to be reviewed either with or without test scores. If you choose to submit your official scores from the SAT or ACT, you can do so through your student portal, by email to [email protected], or have your high school send them through the Common App or Parchment. International applicants may need to demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores.

A candidate for admission should have been graduated from an approved secondary school, and applicants must submit an official transcript indicating the successful completion of at least 16 academic units of work (grades 9-12) distributed according to their intended major. A complete application consists of an online application (or Common Application), a $30 non-refundable application fee (with fee waiver available), an official high school transcript, and one letter of recommendation from an academic source. An interview is not required but is highly recommended for all prospective students. The application deadline for fall start is August 1, and students should submit complete applications by March 1 for full consideration for academic merit awards.

Saint Francis University offers several merit-based scholarships, with new first-time freshmen who have a complete application on file before March 1 receiving fullest consideration. These include the Founders' Scholarship (Minimum Requirement: 4.25 GPA, $114,000 over four years), the Trustees' Scholarship (4.00 GPA, $108,000 over four years), the Presidential Scholarship (3.75 GPA, $100,000 over four years), the Bell Tower Scholarship (3.45 GPA, $90,000 over four years), the Assisi Scholarship (3.2 GPA, $84,000 over four years), the Dorothy Day Scholarship (2.9 GPA, $77,000 over four years), and the Captain McGuire Scholarship ($72,000 over four years). Additional awards include the Franciscan Award for Catholic High School Graduates ($2,500 each year for four years), the Transfer Student Scholarship ($15,000-$25,000 per year), and the International Student Scholarship ($15,000-$25,000 per year).

The Saint Francis University Zero-Tuition Advantage ensures that any remaining tuition balance is covered by SFU for qualified students after federal, state, and institutional aid are applied. This program is available to Pennsylvania residents who are first-time freshmen and traditional undergraduate transfer students beginning Fall 2026, from families with an annual income of $65,000 or less, and who qualify for both the Federal Pell Grant and the Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA). To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before March 1.

Saint Francis University is located at 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, Pennsylvania, just 5 miles from U.S. Route 22 and 80 miles east of Pittsburgh. You can reach the campus via various routes, including I-99, Route 22, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For air travel, you can fly to the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, which offers daily direct flights to Washington D.C. Dulles and Chicago O'Hare, with SFU Transportation regularly servicing the airport.

The official Saint Francis University website does not provide specific information regarding Optional Practical Training (OPT). Typically, OPT is a form of work authorization that allows F-1 students to work in their field of study in the U.S. for up to 12 months after completing their degree program, with a possible 24-month extension for STEM graduates. For official F-1 visa work authorization options and policies, please consult the university's Office of International Education or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.