Saint Francis University

What is the history of Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University is a private Catholic university founded in 1847 by friars of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis. It began as a college in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and adopted the Saint Francis University name in 2001.

Its Franciscan origins remain part of its identity, while its academic offerings now extend well beyond the liberal arts to business, engineering, education, nursing, and other health professions. That combination of religious heritage and professional education is relevant to applicants comparing its programs with those at secular or larger public universities.

What are the faculties and departments at Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University offers undergraduate and graduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, and health professions. Its academic organization includes the Shields School of Business and the School of Health Sciences and Education, alongside programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and technology.

Representative fields include accounting, marketing, biology, computer science, mechanical engineering, teacher education, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. Credentials and entry routes differ: an undergraduate major, a graduate professional program, and an accelerated pathway can have separate admission rules and costs. Applicants interested in a licensed profession should check the current catalog for the exact degree sequence, clinical placements, and state-specific requirements.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 16 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not establish the size of a particular lecture, laboratory, or clinical group.

What is the location of Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University's main campus is in Loretto, a small community in Cambria County in western Pennsylvania. Its setting is rural rather than urban, which affects access to off-campus jobs, shopping, clinical sites, and entertainment.

Students should account for travel when comparing the university with colleges in larger cities. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, although parking rules and charges should be checked separately. The John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport is a nearby regional airport; flight options may require connections or a drive to a larger airport.

What is the mission and vision of Saint Francis University?

Saint Francis University describes its educational mission in Franciscan and Catholic terms, emphasizing learning, faith, service, and respect for others. Those are the university's stated priorities, not a measure of any individual student's experience.

Its religious affiliation can be visible in campus ministry, service activities, and institutional traditions. Applicants of any background may want to review the curriculum and student-life policies to understand where Catholic and Franciscan perspectives enter the experience, particularly in courses or activities relevant to their intended program.