简体中文
EnglishWhat Is the University of St. Francis?
Updated
The University of St. Francis (USF) is a university in Joliet, Illinois, that offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs both on campus and online. It describes itself as "a welcoming community of learners." That combination — a full degree ladder plus online delivery plus an explicitly community-oriented identity — is the short answer to what kind of institution it is. The rest of this page covers what that means in practice if you are evaluating it as a prospective student.
Where it is and what it calls itself
USF is located in Joliet, Illinois. Its own framing of the institution is a "Welcoming Community of Learners in Joliet, Illinois," and it repeats the phrase "We're a Welcoming Community of Learners" as a self-description. If you are comparing schools, note that this is an identity claim rather than a ranking or a size statistic — the site does not present enrollment figures or campus size in the material available here.
What it offers
The degree ladder spans three levels:
| Level | Available |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Yes |
| Graduate | Yes |
| Doctoral | Yes |
Delivery is split two ways: programs are available on campus and online. That matters if you are place-bound, working full time, or considering a hybrid path — you are not limited to one mode.
One concrete signal of program outcomes appears in the site's own news: the Leach College of Nursing reported a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate, dated August 26, 2026. If nursing is your area of interest, that is a specific, checkable data point tied to a named college within the university.
How to decide whether it fits you
Use these conditions rather than a general impression:
- You want a school in the Joliet, Illinois area and are able to attend in person, or you want an online option from the same institution.
- You are looking across degree levels — for example, starting an undergraduate program with the possibility of continuing to a graduate or doctoral degree at the same place.
- Nursing is a candidate field for you, in which case the Leach College of Nursing and its reported NCLEX first-time pass rate are worth verifying directly with the school.
- A "welcoming community" culture is something you weight heavily in your choice. USF foregrounds this, so it is reasonable to test it — through a campus visit, a conversation with admissions, or contact with current students — rather than take the phrase at face value.
Getting more information
The site lists a phone number for inquiries: 800-735-7500. The available material does not state tuition, fees, admission requirements, or program lengths, so those are questions to ask directly rather than infer. Nothing here indicates whether applying or contacting the school carries a cost or requires an account.