Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û

Flash Facts, Rankings, and More

  • University Leadership
  • Institutional Research
  • History & Traditions
    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û banners on mall

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û 

    Flash Facts

    College of Distinction
    • 600-acre campus in Loretto, Pennsylvania 
    • Catholic-Franciscan 
    • Private not-for-profit
    • Carnegie Classification: Masters Colleges and Universities Larger Programs

    Main Phone: 814-472-3000

    Mailing Address: P.O. Box 600
    (169 Lakeview Drive -package shipping) 
    Loretto, Pa 15940 

    Recent Accolades 

    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û celebrates 10 years of earning the honor for demonstrating hands-on learning, strong student-teacher relationships, a vibrant campus life, and successful outcomes.
    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has been named to the Forbes 2024 America's Top 500 Colleges List
    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Aviation Education Center launches its FAA-certified Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program
    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Recognized in
    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Recognized as One of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by Wall Street Journal and College Pulse

    Read all press releases.

    Fall 2024: Institutional Data

    • Enrollment: 1,962 (Fall 2024 undergraduate, graduate & adult degree)  
    • Graduation Rate: 73.40 % 
    • Average Time to a Degree: 4.1 years
    • Retention Rate: 87.3%
    • Early Career Earnings: $62,101
    • Graduates earning more than peers with high school diploma: 84%

    Sources:  U.S. Government College Score Card & Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Office of Institutional Research

    doors to the chapel banner

    Our Franciscan Identity

    • oldest Franciscan college in the United States
    • founded in 1847 by six friars from Ireland
    • one of the first Catholic co-ed colleges in the nation 

    Governing Structure 

    • Sponsored by the Franciscans of the Third Order Regular
    • President of the University Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, Ph.D., T.O.R.
    • Governed by Board of Trustees
    stack of books with faded background

    Academic Flash Facts

    •  60+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies programs
    • programs range from non-degree certificates through doctoral level programs
    • face-to-face and online programs 

    Accreditation

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û and its specialized programs are accredited by 12 accrediting bodies. Review accrediting details here.

    Academic Structure

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û fall under the scope of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

    Academic Homes:

    Athletics

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the University's 22 men's and women's sports teams compete at the Division I level. The University is also a member of the Northeast Conference. The University's nickname is the Red Flash.

     

    frankie the friar

    Athletics Fast Facts

    • Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has won 17 Conference Championships since 2016
    • More CoSIDA/College Sports Communicators Academic All-America selections come from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û than any other institution in the Northeast Conference
    • Saint Francis became the first school in NEC history to garner both the Male and Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year award in the same academic year in 2023-24
    • Saint Francis is the only NEC school to have at least one NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year every year since the inception of the award in 2003-04 and have amassed 86 winners in that span
    • In 2023-24, 57 student-athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. In addition, two men’s volleyball players earned Academic All-America status
    • The Red Flash softball team defeated Siena 1-0 in the Austin Regional for the program’s second NCAA Tournament win in program history in 2024

    Blog
    Most Improved Voting Rate

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Earns Most Improved Voting Rate

    Mitchell Jubas | 10/07/2024
    The 2022 NSLVE report recognized Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û for its strong voter engagement, earning the Most Improved Voting Rate in the Pennsylvania Campus Voting Challenge, the Presidential Commitment Seal, and a Silver Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û also celebrated Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day, launching a voter registration drive to promote civic participation.
    Distinctions and Rankings

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Earns High Marks in 2025 Niche College Rankings

    Erin McCloskey | 10/03/2024
    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has earned impressive rankings in the 2025 Niche College Rankings, including #37 Best Catholic Colleges in America and #63 Safest College Campus in America. These accomplishments reflect Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's commitment to academic excellence, student satisfaction, and a safe, supportive environment rooted in Catholic, Franciscan values.
    U.S. News & World Report 2025 Rankings on a gold seal

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Maintains Strong #30 Rank on U.S. News & World Report's 2025 'Best Regional Universities' in the North

    Erin McCloskey | 09/24/2024
    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û ranks #30 in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Regional Universities" in the North and #38 for social mobility. Its engineering programs rank #236-286. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û also earned recognition from the Wall Street Journal, Colleges of Distinction, and Washington Monthly for academic excellence and student success.
    Distinctions and Rankings

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Recognized in Washington Monthly 2024 College Guide for Value and Impact

    University Communications & Marketing | 09/18/2024
    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has been recognized for its exceptional value and educational impact in the Washington Monthly 2024 College Guide. The university ranked #69 out of 604 in the Master’s Universities category and earned the #101 spot out of 388 for the Best Bang for the Buck in the Northeast , underscoring its commitment to providing students with a high-quality education that is both affordable and impactful. The Washington Monthly rankings are distinctive in their focus on what colleges do for their students, the country, and the common good. These rankings evaluate institutions based
    Distinctions and Rankings

    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Recognized as One of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by Wall Street Journal and College Pulse

    University Communications & Marketing | 09/11/2024
    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has been recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse, in partnership with the independent market research firm Statista. This honor reflects the dedication of the entire Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û community in delivering a high-quality education and fostering student success.
    Spring 2024 President's and Dean's Lists - Blog Thumbnail

    Spring 2024 President's & Dean's Lists Announced

    University Communications & Marketing | 06/05/2024
    Both the President's & Dean's Lists were announced on Friday, June 7, 2024. A total of 736 students were named; 232 to the President's List and 504 to the Dean's List.
    Powers Award Recipients 2024

    Three stand-out Cambria Heights educators receive Dr. John Powers Outstanding Educator Award

    University Communications & Marketing | 05/01/2024
    Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û presents the Dr. John Powers Outstanding Educator Award to a deserving elementary or secondary teacher or administrator each spring. This year, the university presented the award to three outstanding Cambria Heights educators during the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û President's Awards Convocation on April 30, 2024.
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