Franciscan School of Theology

What is the accreditation of Franciscan School of Theology?

Franciscan School of Theology is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school also identifies accreditation through the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), which evaluates theological education.

These are distinct forms of review: WSCUC accredits the institution, while ATS accreditation addresses theological schools and their degree programs. Accreditation is relevant to educational oversight and, alongside other requirements, federal financial-aid eligibility. It does not mean another institution must accept transferred credits or that a degree automatically meets a particular employer's, denomination's, or licensing body's requirements. Students pursuing a specific ministry or professional credential should check that body's rules against their intended FST program.

What are the admission requirements at Franciscan School of Theology?

Admission to Franciscan School of Theology is an application to a graduate theology program, not an application for first-year undergraduate entry. Applicants should expect their prior college education and fit with the intended program to be considered.

Graduate applicants commonly need an application and official transcripts documenting a bachelor's degree; program-specific materials may include a statement of purpose, recommendations, or evidence of preparation for ministry. Requirements can differ between academic and professional degrees, particularly where a program includes formation or supervised ministry. Applicants educated outside the United States should check the school's current instructions for transcript evaluation and English-language proficiency. The relevant deadline, required materials, and any interview requirement should be confirmed for the specific degree and entry term rather than inferred from general college-admissions rules. FST does not operate as an open-admission institution.

What are the application fees and waivers at Franciscan School of Theology?

Applicants should check FST's current graduate application instructions for the fee that applies to their program before submitting an application. An application charge is separate from tuition, required student fees, and any deposit requested after admission.

Anyone for whom a fee would be a barrier should ask admissions whether a waiver is available and whether approval must be obtained before submission. Applicants should not assume that a waiver offered by the University of San Diego also applies to FST's separate admissions process.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Franciscan School of Theology?

Franciscan School of Theology does not identify ROTC as part of its graduate theology offerings. Its presence on the University of San Diego campus should not be taken to mean that FST students can automatically join an ROTC unit through the university.

ROTC eligibility depends on a host program's enrollment rules, degree timeline, commissioning requirements, and any cross-enrollment agreement. An applicant interested in Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC should obtain confirmation from the relevant ROTC program and FST before treating participation or a scholarship as part of an enrollment plan.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Franciscan School of Theology?

For FST applicants, transferring usually means seeking graduate credit toward a theology degree rather than entering as an undergraduate transfer student. The school reported no transfer-in degree-seeking undergraduates in the 2024-25 enrollment figures.

A previous graduate course's acceptance, its applicability to a particular requirement, and the maximum credit permitted toward an FST degree are separate decisions. Applicants with prior seminary or theology coursework should submit official transcripts and request a written evaluation tied to their intended program. Admission alone does not establish that a course will replace a required FST course; coursework taken through the University of San Diego also should not be assumed to transfer automatically.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Franciscan School of Theology?

Applicants should not assume that FST offers a standing semester-abroad or exchange program. International experiences, if offered in a given year, need to be checked against the current course schedule and the student's degree requirements.

For any proposed overseas course or independent program, the important questions are whether FST approves academic credit in advance, how the course fits the degree, and whether financial aid can be used. A trip connected to Franciscan history or religious formation is not necessarily a credit-bearing study-abroad program.