
132 Franciscan Way P.O. Box 600, Loretto, PA 15940, USA


Saint Francis University provides a range of athletic programs competing primarily in NCAA Division I, with most teams participating in the Northeast Conference. The university supports both men's and women's sports, including basketball, soccer, cross country, and track and field. Football is a key sport at the institution, competing in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
In addition to traditional team sports, Saint Francis offers opportunities in golf and volleyball, among others. The athletic programs emphasize student-athlete development both academically and athletically, aiming to foster competitive spirit and teamwork. Facilities on campus are designed to support training and competition for these programs, enhancing the overall student experience for athletes.
Saint Francis University offers a range of student organizations aimed at enhancing campus life and fostering community engagement. Among the groups available are Esports, the Student Government Association, Best Buddies, and Cru. These organizations provide students diverse opportunities to connect, lead, and participate in activities outside the classroom.
Approximately 5.5% of the total student body are involved in social organizations, reflecting an active student engagement in campus groups. With 570 men and 847 women enrolled, the university supports a balanced and inclusive environment for participation across genders.
Saint Francis University hosts a diverse student body with a variety of backgrounds and academic levels. The majority of students are undergraduates, spanning a wide age range. Most undergraduates are younger than 22, with significant numbers aged below 18, between 18 and 19, and from 20 to 21 years old. Graduate students tend to be older, primarily between 22 and 29, with a smaller portion in their 30s and beyond.
The first-year enrollment at Saint Francis University is moderate, with about 379 freshmen and 17 transfer students annually, totaling approximately 396 new students. This places the university in the lower third percentile relative to other institutions concerning incoming class sizes.
Geographically, the bulk of the student population (around 98%) are from within the United States, a figure that ranks highly compared to peer schools. In contrast, about 26% of students come from out of state, which is considered average, and very few international students are enrolled, with foreign representation at roughly 1%.
Regarding ethnicity, the university maintains an average level of diversity in several categories. White students represent the largest group, accounting for approximately 1,210 individuals. African American students number near 99, while Hispanic students total around 13. Smaller populations include Asian and Native American students, with figures near 33 and 8 respectively. Other ethnic groups, including those identifying with two or more races, as well as some with unknown ethnicity, contribute to the mix but remain modest in size.
Student life at Saint Francis University includes a variety of extracurricular opportunities that cater to diverse interests. The campus supports several artistic and media activities, featuring a campus newspaper, drama productions, radio programming, a band, and a chorus. Although there is no campus television station, students have multiple outlets for creative expression and communication.
The university also provides essential support services to enhance student well-being. Health clinic services are available on campus, along with psychological counseling to support mental health. Additionally, there is an office dedicated to veterans' affairs, reflecting the institution's commitment to serving students who have military backgrounds.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14, which ranks in the top 50%, the university offers relatively accessible faculty interaction, possibly contributing to a supportive educational environment. The total enrollment of 2,856 students places the university in a moderate enrollment category, potentially allowing for a balanced campus community size.
Saint Francis University offers a single primary library, the Saint Francis University Library, to support its academic community. While the number of libraries is limited in comparison to many institutions, the university provides a range of resources and services that cater to student needs.
The library's collection includes approximately 49,784 physical books, which places it in the lower 40 percentile nationally, indicating a more modest volume compared to many other universities. Similarly, the number of subscriptions to journals and periodicals, totaling around 1,305, is also at an average level but on the lower end among peer institutions. Students benefit notably from extensive digital resources, including over one million ebooks, a figure placing the university's offering comfortably in the top 35 percent. The digital subscriptions, totaling approximately 242,839, further enhance access to scholarly materials and rank in the top 45 percent.
The library maintains about 45 databases, providing students with a moderate variety of research tools, yet remaining below the median level when compared nationally. It supports multiple physical facilities and study rooms, allowing for in-person study and collaboration. While the library staff are trained and service hours are well established, the facility does not offer all-day access, with weekly service hours totaling around 94.
Students at Saint Francis University also benefit from digital access to collections and the ability to tap into shared collections, broadening the scope of available materials beyond the campus holdings.
Total enrollment
2856Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
377Member of Athletic Associations
Data not availableTotal staff
114 full time, 93 part timeVeterans affair office
YesMain library name
Saint Francis University LibraryNumber of libraries on campus
1Reservable study rooms in library
Yes24h access
NoPhysical facilities
YesAccess to digital/electronic resources
YesStaff trained to provide and interpret library materials
YesEstablished library hours
YesAccess to library collections that are shared with other institutions
Yes