University of San Francisco Reviews

"I attend the USF branch campus in Santa Rosa. The facility is small, but easily accessible and very hospitable. The staff is committed to student success and very supportive. They really make an effort to reach out, get to know their students and provide support. Cons: Because it is a small branch campus, it doesn't have that traditional "college feel," but it is great nonetheless."

"The major pro for this program is the amount of time outside of class and school work that it leaves for the students to not only have a career, but the availability/opportunity for its students to flourish within the Sport Management program. They give the students the option to defer the program in order to pursue positions in the field. The only con I would say, would be how little our cohort actually spends together in the program and at the school. Because our classes are only one day a week, I feel very disconnected from the school and other students."

"I loved USF. The focus on education paired with community in a diversity city made for an exhilarating 4 years. Located in one of the best cities in the world and led by the Jesuit order, things seem to fall in place and perfect example of the real world has to offer. Go here, you won't regret it."

"So I'm taking Museum Studies. It's only my second week and already it's pretty intense. I'm only enrolled in three classes, but I have a bundle of readings for each one (some short, others so long they make me rethink my life choices) and assignments that aren't even due until the end of the semester. However terrible the workload may be, the people and my professors are bomb people. Everyone is pretty friendly and we all tend to work together. The professors are always willing to help and always in reach, even if you need to make an appointment. The school itself is beautiful, three different campuses, but surrounded by some amazing architecture. And the Hilltop campus has an amazing view of the surrounding area. Cost wise it's the pits, as everything on campus costs and arm and a leg, but there are stores around to buy cheap food. I live in one of the grad student townhouses, and while nice, it was terribly expensive. Technology here is good, but you have to be kind of savy and practice to use Google Docs if you live under a rock like me. Of course there are some shady areas around, but every city has those; just be smart about walking around in say, the Tenderloin. I've hear transportation here is great, but as I have not yet used it, I can't really chime in on that one. So otherwise, so far, I like USF. Yay USF!"

"I'm a new student to the program, so I don't have the knowledge yet to have an opinion on the program. However, I have enjoyed the class I attended and can't wait for my other classes!"

"Although I haven't officially started yet, my ratings are based on a year of research, in which I audited classes, interviewed students and faculty and communicated with the director of the department. So, please take my ratings with an informed grain of salt. When I last spoke with the director, he welcomed me to the Asia Pacific Studies department as a new member of the "family." Based on what I've experienced so far, I think "family" is a good way to describe the culture of the program. Students of the same graduation year are encouraged to take the majority of their classes together, a learning strategy called the cohort model. The goal is to make learning a cooperative effort, as every member of the team contributes their own unique insights. Current students and faculty members alike that I met all advocated for the program. Its program appears to be quite comprehensive, with required classes in history, literature, politics and economics--in short, a general survey of Asia. For the capstone project, students have the freedom to narrow their interests to a particular region or country. I think this program is perfect for me because I have experience living in Asia, but I haven't formally studied in school. I feel that their courses will give me a solid background in Asian Studies. For someone who has already done extensive course work in Asia, other programs may be more suitable. The main con that I can see so far is that funding is not as stellar as it could be. I got funding for my first semester--about half the tuition--but it's still pretty expensive. That may change over time. I think one of the biggest issues is that USF doesn't provide funding for its grad programs; all funding comes from individual departments, and Asia Pacific Studies is still growing. However, they recently won an award, so hopefully they will be able to support more students over time. Overall, I'm very excited to get started!"

"Pros- As a graduate student at the University of San Francisco you will learn about public policy and how policy affects the community, state, and federal government. The program is great to teaching you about nonprofit, government, and local community policies and how students can get involved as a community activist, lobbyist, or even as a politician. This program is great for those who have a pre-law background, political science, or public policy; however if you do not (such as myself) the program is design to help students learn from the beginning and then advance very quickly second semester. The professors are amazing as they've worked in the fields and have great connections within the community as well as state level or federal level. As a graduate of this school i've been able to work within the nonprofit, state level, and now presented with an opportunity on the federal level. Cons- The school is based in San Francisco, which means the cost of living is very high. Any student thinking about attending the program and not living on campus need to at least be financial stable in order to live within the city and not stressing over money as well as keeping up with classes."

"The best part about USF's teacher education program is the ability to work while taking classes for most of the program. In addition, the quality and preparation of teachers coming from USF is top notch. One disadvantage is that USF does have high tuition costs, but the program is worth it."

"The school has changed since I attended, but the part of USF I appreciated the most was the fact that the entire city became our classroom. THe diversity of the student body also played a major role in shaping my college experience. Hving professors who also had careers outside the school, as well - was a big bonus. The spiritual component of the Jesuit education can also not be given enough credit."

"The pros of the program is that is situated in downtown San Francisco which allows the opportunity to have a close relation with the financial companies and others situated there. In addition, the program is closely associated with the CFA exam which is highly valued in finance. The cons is the cost of living. Starting as a full-time student and having to move to a part-time job paying very low is extremely difficult to afford."

"Academic Competitiveness: Pro - It helps you get the sense of thinking on your feet when you are cold called. Con - The curve can be harsh as some professors grade from the bottom up. Affordability of Living: Pro - San Francisco is a get place to be filled with diverse cultures, food, and city life. Con - San Francisco is also one of the most expensive places to live in the nation. Campus Safety: Pro - There is on-campus security. Con - There will still be people on campus who are not always students. Career Support: Pro - They will contact you immediately for career referrals. Con - I love our office so nothing wrong here! Education Quality: Pro - State of the art library. Con - too much competition. Faculty Accessibility & Support: Pro - open door policy. Always available for their students. Con - They can be intimidating! School Use of Technology: Pro - pretty updated and nice scanners and printers. Con - not much of a con here. Social Life: Pro - people enjoy going out and being in each other's company. Con - most of the social life happens in the library too. Student Diversity: Pro - very diverse set of people. Con - not much of a con. Surrounding Area: Pro - Mostly safe. Con - there's a ton of hills and fog in San Francisco. Transportation: Pro - Easy transportation using the bus and bart. There is always Lyft and Uber. Many walkable places. Con - If you have a car then good luck with finding parking spots. Quality of Network: Pro - tons of networking opportunities around the bay area. Con - not nationally recognized as a good network. Financial Aid: Pro - they offer it. Con - not enough. Grad Program Value: Pro - very good value for people who are interested in going into public interest. Workload: Pro - the work is challenging. Con - It is endless."

"Great program for working professionals as the classes are nights and weekends. Only program where you could actually graduate in 2 years if working in San Francisco."

"I really enjoy attending USF because my program is taught every other weekend and I am able to still work and go to school. The campus is beautiful and the quality of education is great. Small classes allows more interaction with other classmates and the instructor."

"Though I do attend a very pretty campus equipped with modern technologies, these luxuries come at a steep price and with very little support in financial aid for students."

"This program is taught in downtown San Francisco in a newly renovated building, so the surroundings are unremarkable. The course caters to full-time workers, which was the major drawcard for me. There is virtually zero competitiveness among students as grades are not awarded on a bell curve. Faculty are extremely committed to students having a great experience and achieving their best academic results. The courses appear to be extremely applicable to the overall degree and the assignments involve real-world issues likely to be encountered upon graduation. The course cost is comparable to similar courses offered by private and public institutions. On the downside, there has been one faculty member that pulled down the score due to being virtually inaccessible and not following through on his word. This was an exception, however. A further difficulty experienced is what appears to be a lack of organization from some administrative sections of the institution. While some messages are overly communicated, some and under communicated and caused anxiety at the beginning of the course (e.g. how to register for the initial classes, when final grades are due and how they will be posted). A little ironic for a course in Organizational Development. Financial aid is not abundant for this course at this institution unfortunately. Overall, I am satisfied with my choice to attend USF. The few issues I have encountered have not altered my commitment to remaining at USF. I am acquiring quality education that will readily translate to operation upon graduation."

"I have been a part of the dual degree program here at USF. I will be going into my fifth year here, and will be receiving my master's degree and preliminary credential at the end of this upcoming year. I definitely encourage people to take part in the dual degree program. The work load is not too heavy, but you still end up learning so much about how to navigate in the classroom!"

"Professors are personable. Parking is a pain."

"I have greatly enjoyed USF's International and Multicultural Education Master's program. The professors and staff are open, diverse, and are genuinely concerned with the academic and personal development of their students. Undoubtedly, the professors have relevant experience in the course content, and they offer unique perspectives on social justice issues within the education field."

"The professors are excellent, the Financial Aid not so much"

"The UCSF DPT program has world-class professors with exceptional knowledge, and they provide students with the tools needed to succeed post graduation. The culture at UCSF is that of acceptance, diversity and professionalism, and everyone feels their contribution to the health field. The major downside to this university is the cost of living in San Francisco and the limited options for student housing. It is also difficult to attend UCSF and live in other, less expensive, parts of the Bay Area due to limited transportation to and from campus."