San Francisco Bay Area College Road Trip: University of San Francisco
Like the city that it calls home, the University of San Francisco is a melting pot. About half of undergraduates are students of color, and close to 20 percent hail from outside the U.S., representing 87 different countries.
Even the buildings on campus display a mix of styles, from the elegant Baroque-inspired architecture of the 100-year-old St. Ignatius Church to the modern John Lo Schiavo S.J. Center for Science and Innovation, opened in 2013, with its sleek glass-walled exterior, high-tech labs, and grass-covered "living roof."
Located near Golden Gate Park and the hip, historic Haight-Ashbury district, the private university's 55-acre campus is divided by a couple of city streets. USF students embrace their urban environs, enjoying sporting events, cultural excursions, arts and music performances and engaging energetically in community service, particularly in the underserved Western Addition neighborhood next door.
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One of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the country, the university makes an effort to make people of all faiths -- or none -- feel welcome. In fact, just about a third of students identify as Christian. All undergrads who want to can participate in a weekly Mass, interfaith retreats and other faith-based programming.
Founded in 1855, the school still stays true to the spirit of its Catholic roots. "USF is really focused on social justice, diversity and inclusion," says senior Jacqline Murillo, a philosophy major originally from the Netherlands.
Undergrads can choose from 46 majors in the colleges of arts and sciences, management and nursing. Students must complete a core curriculum that includes courses in communication, math, arts, religion and other subjects. At least one course must have a service-learning component, such as a business class that offers a firsthand look at management and organizational dynamics issues through volunteer work with Meals on Wheels.
About 20 student organizations focus on giving back, and undergrads truly come to feel like "part of the greater San Francisco community," says recent graduate Mia Orantia, a media studies major from San Jose, California. The Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good helps coordinate volunteer opportunities between students, faculty members and more than 200 local partners.
"It's not just about talking about it," says recent sociology grad Alexis Stanley. "There are so many opportunities that you can take advantage of." Stanley, a Phoenix native, spent a summer in Bolivia on a USF-sponsored trip working for a solar energy development organization, helping to train women in indigenous communities to use ecologically friendly cooking devices.
Enrolling more than 6,500 undergrads, plus 3,800 grad students, USF "has a very familial environment," says senior nursing student Kevin Bachar of Chino Hills, California. That feeling also extends to the faculty, who are "not just professors," Bachar says, but "mentors."
Core courses average about 29 students -- major classes and electives are typically smaller -- and about a third of undergrads live on campus, in one of several dorms, apartments or themed housing communities. Many upperclassmen live a short ride or walk from campus. About 60 percent of those who apply to USF are granted admission, and 4 in 5 U.S. students who enroll come from California.
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While the Golden Gate City is a big draw for many students, it can be expensive. At the same time, the abundance of off-campus activities makes the school occasionally feel a little empty.
"It's our biggest asset, but at the same time our big challenge," notes sociology professor Jennifer Turpin, former provost and vice president for academic affairs.
On campus, the student community does come together for the Hui O Hawaii Club's annual luau, the Spring Carnival or to cheer on the Dons, whose Division I teams compete in the NCAA's West Coast Conference.
More From the San Francisco Bay Area College Road Trip:
-- University of California--Berkeley
-- University of California--Santa Cruz
This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2016" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
