Built upon 450 years of Jesuit tradition, the University of San Francisco was founded in 1855 by the Jesuit Fathers. As the first institution of higher education in San Francisco, this California college was originally known as St. Ignatius Academy and would not gain its ability to confer degrees until 1859. Since then, the University of San Francisco has seen both its campus and student body steadily increase in size and diversity.

Once limited to a small building of 26 feet in length, the California college has grown to encompass 55 acres and now boasts the largest independent university campus in San Francisco. The school is also home to a coeducational student population that represents more than 80 countries and various regions of the United States.

These days, with such a large student body and campus, the University of San Francisco is able to offer programs and schools that appeal to a wide variety of interests and aspirations. In fact, the college is now divided into six schools - each of which is devoted to a different branch of academia, such as the School of Nursing and the School of Law - and offers degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.