


Franciscan University competes in NCAA Division III varsity athletics and is a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Division III participation should not be confused with an athletic scholarship offer: NCAA Division III schools do not award athletics-based financial aid.
Varsity opportunities include sports such as basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The university also has recreational and club-sport opportunities, which may include activities not sponsored as NCAA varsity teams. A sport's appearance in a broad campus-activities listing does not establish its varsity status or that a team is active in a particular season.
Students interested in competing should check the current athletics roster and recruitment process. Those seeking less formal participation can look separately at club sports, intramurals, and fitness facilities; their eligibility and time commitments differ from varsity athletics.
Franciscan students can join religious, service, academic, arts, and recreational groups. Its Catholic identity is especially visible in student faith activities, while campus involvement is not limited to them.
Reported outlets for student participation include a student-run newspaper, a student-run radio station, theater, and choral groups. Student government and major-related clubs provide other ways to organize events or meet peers with shared academic interests. Because recognition and activity can change from year to year, an applicant interested in a specific group should consult the current student-organization directory rather than assume that a past club remains active.
Students can also distinguish between a recognized student organization and an office-run program: both may offer community and leadership experience, but they have different membership, funding, and oversight arrangements.
Franciscan University reports total enrollment of 3,976 students. In the reported entering group, 723 were first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates, and 145 were transfer-in students. The figures indicate a campus with both new first-year students and a smaller, distinct transfer population.
Its geographic enrollment is unusually national for an Ohio institution: approximately 19% of students in the reported geographic measure were Ohio residents, while about 80% came from other U.S. states. Reported international enrollment was about 2%. Because geographic categories and reporting populations may differ, these rounded percentages should not be forced into an exact headcount.
Reported racial and ethnic headcounts include 2,120 White students, 494 Hispanic or Latino students, 80 Asian students, and 34 Black or African American students. These counts describe enrollment categories, not students' individual backgrounds or experiences. An applicant evaluating belonging may learn more by examining current support services and speaking with students than by treating a demographic count as a description of campus culture.
Franciscan University has a predominantly residential campus experience shaped by its Catholic affiliation. Reported housing data place about 79% of students on campus and 21% in the commuting population, so campus activities can be important gathering points for residents while schedules and transportation matter for commuters.
Outside class, students can attend religious programming, performances, lectures, and recreational activities. The university also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. Students should check appointment arrangements and the scope of care rather than assume campus services replace a local doctor or ongoing outside treatment.
For a prospective student, the practical question is how the university's daily rhythm fits their preferences: a residential religious environment may feel different from a largely commuter or secular campus. Reviewing orientation, campus programming, and conduct policies can make that comparison more concrete.
The St. John Paul II Library is Franciscan University's main campus library. It provides a place for coursework and research alongside access to library collections and academic information resources.
Students working on research papers can use library staff for help locating sources, using subject databases, and navigating citations. Online journals and other licensed resources can be particularly important when a needed source is not on a shelf; students studying remotely should check the library's current off-campus access instructions. For materials outside the collection, they should ask about interlibrary-loan options and turnaround times.
The reported library information does not identify a regularly available 24-hour study area. Students who depend on late-night space should check current building hours, especially around examinations and academic breaks.
Total enrollment
3976Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
703Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
121 full time, 178 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Basketball
Cross-country running
Football
Lacrosse
Racquetball
Rugby
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight lifting
Data 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.