
The University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne is a private Catholic university founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in 1890. It began in Lafayette, Indiana, as a school for women preparing to teach, then moved to Fort Wayne in 1944. Its origins remain visible in its Franciscan identity and emphasis on service.
The institution expanded beyond teacher preparation to offer programs in health care, business, the arts and other fields, and eventually adopted university status. Prospective students searching for it should specify Fort Wayne, Indiana: several unrelated U.S. institutions have similar Saint Francis names.
Saint Francis offers undergraduate and graduate study across health professions, education, business, the sciences, humanities and creative arts. Examples include nursing, social work, business administration, biology, communication and studio arts. Students should use the university's current academic catalog to check a particular major's credential, campus location and delivery format.
Some programs involve more than classroom coursework. Nursing, education and social work students, for example, may need clinical placements, fieldwork or supervised practice. Those requirements can affect scheduling, transportation and the time needed to finish a degree. Institution-wide reporting lists an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio; that figure describes enrollment relative to faculty, not the size of every class.
The university is in Fort Wayne, northeastern Indiana's largest city. Its campus provides a residential college setting within an urban area, giving students access to local employers, health-care facilities, schools and arts organizations.
Location matters differently by program. A student with clinical shifts or off-campus fieldwork may need more flexible transportation than someone whose classes stay on campus. Prospective commuters should check their actual travel time and parking arrangements; students without a car should assess routes to any required placements, not just to the main campus.
Saint Francis describes its educational mission through its Catholic and Franciscan heritage. Its stated priorities include learning, personal development and service to others. Those are institutional aims, not measurable outcomes promised to every student.
Religious identity can shape campus programming and general-education expectations without determining every student's faith or career path. Applicants for whom this distinction matters can review the current catalog's graduation requirements alongside the university's mission statement and student activities.
Name of the institution
University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersUniversity of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData 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.