It's what you do next that counts.

Make a difference with your Saint Francis University education.

Become that Someone at Saint Francis University

Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States.
Our mission is to help students grow into compassionate, successful professionals through a culture of
Virtue, Truth, and Compassion. 


 

Career-Directed Studies
Focused on Ethical Leadership 

Our University has earned a reputation for creating innovative learning experiences and being a place where students grow to become that someone that God calls them to be. Saint Francis prepares students for more than just success in their chosen professions.  Our vision is for our graduates to be leaders who carry their Franciscan values with them.
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Academics


A Breadth of Offerings

Whether you pursue your educational journey online or on-campus, part-time or full-time, we will arm you with the knowledge to succeed as an ethical leader in your profession. Explore our broad portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and professional & continuing studies programs.

Academic Homes

Explore Campus Life: Become & Belong

Saint Francis isn't just near the great outdoors, it is the great outdoors. High in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, you'll find a home away from home in this vibrant and safe campus community full of student activities, leadership opportunities, and spiritual programs. 

The best way to experience campus is to schedule a visit!


 

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Come On Up!

 

No matter where you are in your college search, our visit opportunities allow you to connect with us and to find out what life is like as a member of the Red Flash Family!

 

Our visit experiences offer you the chance to learn about admissions and financial aid, meet faculty and students, enjoy the beauty of our 600-acre campus, and find out how SFU will help you become that someone. 

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Founded on Catholic Franciscan Values

 

In an age of complexity, the simplicity of the message of St. Francis of Assisi has more appeal than ever before:
Catholic Faith. Humility. Generosity. Reverence. Service. Respect. Prayer. Joy. Love.
These guiding principles of the Franciscans are the values we embrace at Saint Francis University.


Our Mission

As the oldest Franciscan institution of higher learning in the United States, Saint Francis University draws inspiration from our Catholic tradition and expresses the lived example of Saint Francis of Assisi in the modern world. Saint Francis University promotes an inclusive learning community and a lifelong path to virtue, truth, and compassion. Within a culture that seeks understanding through innovation and collaboration, we champion both the inherent dignity of the individual person and the common good. 

Blog
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Center Panel St. Marianne Triptych

New triptych honoring St. Marianne in Saint Margaret Hall

A new work of sacred art now graces the halls of Saint Margaret Hall in the study area outside the Occupational Therapy suite. The contemplative triptych celebrates the life and legacy of St. Marianne Cope, a Franciscan sister whose compassion and courage continue to inspire.
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Mass of the Holy Spirit 2025 on campus mall at Saint Francis University

Mass of the Holy Spirit 2025

Students, faculty, and staff gathered under blue skies to pray for wisdom, strength, and unity as Saint Francis University opened the 2025-2026 academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit on the Campus Mall.
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PCT progran graduates at celebration and in lab

Inaugural Class Completes Patient Care Technician Program

On Monday, August 11, 2025, the Division of Professional Studies (DPS) at Saint Francis University hosted a special recognition and program completion ceremony at SFU’s Curry Innovation Center in Altoona to honor nine students who successfully completed the new Patient Care Technician (PCT) program.
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Welcome Class of 2029

Saint Francis University Welcomes the Class of 2029

The Red Flash Class of 2029 arrived yesterday! From near and far, our newest students and their families pulled into Loretto for New Student Orientation and Move-in, bringing with them fresh energy and big dreams.
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Nathan Cammarata

SFU's IDEA Center: Smartphone-Based Rail Car Tracking for Geo-Spatial Organization

As rail cars are constantly moved for cleaning, repair, or inspection, Curry Rail Services needed an efficient system to quickly identify the location of each car. Nathan Cammarata, an SFU engineering/mathematics major is collaborating with the company todevelop a smartphone-based strategy for tracking the location of rail cars in real time.
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Brenden Miller, Class of 2022, Environmental Engineering at Saint Francis University

Beyond Nuts and Bolts: Preparing Problem-Solvers for the Engineering World

There is no solution manual to the world's needs, but those needs are many. As engineers, we must embrace the ambiguity in order to create new solutions for our brothers and sisters. Saint Francis University's Engineering programs are designed to build not just your technical skills but also your ability to grasp the world as it is, enabling you to meet the challenges of tomorrow head on and reveal opportunities where others see only unsolvable problems.

Upcoming Events


 
Explore our Location

Welcome to Loretto, Pennsylvania!

Our scenic campus sits on a mountain top near Pittsburgh. We’re just five miles from a major interstate highway (U.S. Route 22), which makes a road trip to major cities like New York, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia an easy drive. 

 

 

 

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