


Franciscan University of Steubenville is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from any approval or specialized accreditation that may apply to an individual professional program.
HLC accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and to how other institutions assess coursework for transfer. It does not require another college to accept every credit. Likewise, institutional accreditation alone does not establish eligibility for a professional license. Applicants to nursing, teaching, social work, or another regulated field should check the program's current specialized status and the requirements of the state where they expect to practice.
First-year applicants generally submit an undergraduate application and a secondary-school record showing completion of high school or an accepted equivalent. The university is selective rather than open-admission: the reported first-year admission rate was 58% for the 2024-25 admissions data.
Reported admissions criteria include the secondary-school transcript, GPA, and completion of a college-preparatory program. Class rank and recommendations are neither required nor recommended in the reported criteria. SAT or ACT scores are considered but are not required under the reported test policy. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the median was 1205 on the SAT and 25 on the ACT; those figures describe score submitters, not a minimum for admission.
English-proficiency documentation is required for applicants to whom the university's international-applicant policy applies. Requirements can also differ for homeschooled applicants and for programs with professional or clinical components. Applicants should check the admissions instructions for their entry term before arranging tests or transcripts, because an admission decision and admission to a particular major are not always the same step.
Applicants should check the charge displayed for their particular Franciscan University application route before submitting it. An application charge, if assessed, is separate from an enrollment deposit, tuition, and other charges that may arise after admission.
Students seeking a fee waiver should ask the admissions office about eligibility and the required request process before paying or submitting an application that cannot be edited. Transfer, graduate, and specialized applications may have different procedures, so a fee or waiver instruction for one applicant category should not be assumed to apply to another.
Franciscan University reports an Army ROTC unit on campus and access to Air Force ROTC through a cooperating host institution. The distinction matters: participation through a host may require travel, cross-registration, and coordination between two academic schedules.
ROTC is an officer-training pathway, not simply a military-themed student club. Interested students should discuss eligibility, physical and academic standards, scholarship applications, and the service commitment associated with commissioning with the appropriate ROTC program. They should also ask how required ROTC courses fit into their Franciscan degree plan, particularly in majors with tightly sequenced classes.
Franciscan University accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Reported entry options include fall, spring, and summer terms. Admission as a transfer student does not, by itself, settle which previous courses will satisfy a Franciscan degree.
Applicants should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended and to review whether a high-school record is required for their circumstances. The university also reports accepting certain Advanced Placement, CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and ACE-recommended credit, subject to its credit-award rules. Acceptance of an examination or recommendation as a credit source does not mean it will replace a specific major requirement.
A useful transfer decision requires a course-by-course evaluation: ask which credits count toward general education, which count toward the major, and how many credits must still be completed at Franciscan. Students entering nursing, education, or another sequenced program should also ask whether prior coursework meets prerequisite and placement requirements before committing to an enrollment term.
Franciscan University's best-known study-abroad opportunity is its semester program in Gaming, Austria, centered at the university's Austrian campus. It offers a more sustained international experience than a short trip, but participation requires advance academic and financial planning.
Students considering the Austria semester should compare its available courses with their major sequence and confirm which credits apply to graduation. They should also review program-specific charges, travel and passport expenses, housing arrangements, and how their particular grants or scholarships apply abroad. Shorter international opportunities may vary by term; a trip described in a past course listing should not be treated as a standing option.
42% of admitted students enrolled (723 of 1,732)
Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1205Median composite ACT score
25Percent of students submitting ACT scores
21%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
29%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Neither required nor recommendedFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
NoROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.