Saint Francis University, Loretto
Saint Francis University is a private, nonprofit Catholic-Franciscan university in Loretto, Pennsylvania, founded in 1847, offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across business, health sciences, STEAM, and professional studies to traditional, adult, and student-athlete learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1847
- HeadquartersLoretto, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Saint Francis University, Loretto does
Saint Francis University is a private, nonprofit Catholic-Franciscan institution of higher education founded in 1847 by Brother Giles Carroll and five Franciscan friars from the Archdiocese of Tuam, Ireland, on a 600-acre mountaintop campus in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest Franciscan college in the United States and one of the first 20 Catholic universities in the country, operating continuously as a Catholic-Franciscan institution under the spiritual oversight of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order of Saint Francis (T.O.R.). The university serves traditional undergraduate students, graduate and adult learners, NCAA student athletes, and high school dual-enrollment students, organized into four academic units: the School of Business, the School of Health Sciences and Education, the School of STEAM, and the Division of Professional Studies.
The university's core technology stack consists of standard higher-education infrastructure rather than proprietary software: Canvas LMS for course management, the My.Francis student self-service portal, Parchment/Credentials Solutions for 24/7 online transcript ordering at $10 per copy, a UPMC-operated MyHealth Saint Francis student health center, and library databases including ProQuest, JSTOR, Sage, Wiley, and WorldCat. Campus security is handled through a card-access and video surveillance system across residence halls and facilities, with FERPA-compliant records handling for transcript release. Academic offerings span business, health sciences and education (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant sciences, public health, exercise physiology), STEAM disciplines (biology, chemistry, environmental engineering, general engineering, mathematics, cybersecurity), and flexible professional studies with micro-credentials and online programs. Athletics competes in NCAA Division III beginning Fall 2026 under the new Red Wolves identity, replacing the Division I Red Flash program after larger universities recruited away basketball talent.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition and fees, room and board across 1,280 residential beds in 10 residence halls and 11 apartment-style structures, and athletics-related streams including ticket sales, sponsorships, and conference distributions. Ancillary one-time fees include $10 per transcript copy and a $550 chapel wedding package. Go-to-market follows a traditional sales-led university admissions model: regional field recruitment territories, inside inquiry management, campus visits and tours, athletic recruitment through the Red Flash Futures program, and digital channels including the institutional website, blog, and active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and X. The university employs 101-250 people and reported 696 students on President's and Dean's Lists for Spring 2026, with 99.8% of 2024 graduates employed or in graduate school within nine months of graduation.
Saint Francis University, Loretto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saint Francis University, Loretto
- Legal name
- Saint Francis University
- Website
- https://francis.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1847
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Saint Francis University is a private, nonprofit Catholic-Franciscan university in Loretto, Pennsylvania, founded in 1847, offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across business, health sciences, STEAM, and professional studies to traditional, adult, and student-athlete learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saint Francis University, Loretto industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Religious Organizations (8131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Saint Francis University, Loretto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Loretto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Saint Francis University, Loretto business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and online program tuition, including fees for various services
- Room and Board: Housing revenue from 1,280 residential beds across residence halls and apartments
- Athletics Programs: Revenue from athletic programs including ticket sales, sponsorships, and conference distributions
- Transcript Services: $10 fee per transcript copy for current students, former students, and alumni
- Facility Rentals: $550 fee for chapel weddings including rehearsal and wedding usage, sacristan services, and Basilica fees
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transcript Copy |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Chapel Wedding Package |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Saint Francis University, Loretto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saint Francis University is a private Catholic university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across four academic schools, supplemented by NCAA intercollegiate athletic programs. The institution was founded in 1847 in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and serves prospective and current students through residential and online learning channels.
Product overview
Saint Francis University is a higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and online academic programs across four schools: the School of Business, School of Health Sciences and Education, School of STEAM, and Division of Professional Studies. The university complements its academic offerings with student services including the SFU Library (with ProQuest, JSTOR, Sage, and Wiley database access), Canvas LMS, the My.Francis student portal, student health center (UPMC), counseling services, disability services, campus ministry, and residence life housing. Its athletics program, transitioning from Division I to Division III as the Red Wolves in 2026, competes in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Transcript ordering is provided through Parchment. The portfolio is organized as a traditional university with interconnected academic and student-life services rather than a unified software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Red Wolves: Athletic teams identity adopted in 2026, replacing Red Flash, as the university transitions to NCAA Division III competition.
- Zero Tuition Advantage
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs spanning liberal arts and professional disciplines, delivered across four academic schools to traditional college-aged students on the Loretto campus and online.
- Graduate Degree Programs
- Online Degree Programs
- NCAA Intercollegiate Athletic Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.8% of 2024 graduates were employed or in grad school within 9 months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Saint Francis University, Loretto
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Saint Francis University, Loretto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Saint Francis University, Loretto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)coreUPMC provides campus health and wellness services for both students and employees through MyHealth Saint Francis. As the region's largest medical provider, UPMC delivers comprehensive healthcare services integrated into the university's student support infrastructure.
- 3S ChemicalsminorCollaborative research partnership awarded a $49,771 grant through Pennsylvania's Manufacturing Innovation Program to improve the durability and performance of asphalt roadways.
- Basilica of St. Michael, LorettominorDiocesan partnership for marriage paperwork filing and ecclesiastical oversight. The Basilica processes all marriage documentation for weddings at the Immaculate Conception Chapel.
- Presidents' Athletic ConferencecoreAthletic conference partnership beginning 2026-2027, marking the university's transition to NCAA Division III competition and new chapter of athletic tradition.
- Credentials SolutionssupportingTranscript ordering service provider offering 24/7 online access for current students, former students, and alumni with automated email and text messaging for order status updates.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saint Francis University, Loretto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- St. Bonaventure University: Franciscan-sponsored Catholic university in western New York serving traditional undergraduates with comparable academic portfolio and mission identity rooted in Franciscan tradition.
- Mount St. Mary's University: Small Catholic university in Emmitsburg, MD operating in the same Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region with comparable four-year residential and graduate offerings and faith-based mission. Highly comparable in scale, mission, and target student segments.
- Seton Hill University: Small Catholic university in western Pennsylvania with comparable size, health science programs, and traditional undergraduate focus, operating in an overlapping recruitment geography.
- Franciscan University of Steubenville: Direct Franciscan heritage peer operating as a small Catholic liberal arts university with overlapping Franciscan mission identity and similar undergraduate focus.
- Misericordia University: Pennsylvania Catholic university with strong health sciences (PT, OT, SLP) and liberal arts programs serving a similar mix of residential undergraduates and adult learners in the same regional market.
- University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne): Catholic university with Franciscan heritage offering undergraduate and graduate health science and professional programs to a similar persona of traditional and adult learners. Direct mission and academic-portfolio overlap.
- DeSales University: Pennsylvania-based Catholic university offering comparable undergraduate and graduate programs in business, health sciences, and professional studies to similar student segments within the same competitive geography.
- King's College (Wilkes-Barre): Small Catholic institution in northeastern Pennsylvania serving traditional undergraduates with similar professional and health science program mix. Comparable scale, geography, and competitive dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- University of Notre Dame: Premier Catholic research university with much larger scale and resources, competing for top-tier Catholic-affiliated applicants and serving as the aspirational benchmark for institutional reputation in this market segment.
- Duquesne University: Larger Pittsburgh-based Catholic university with overlapping health sciences, business, and liberal arts programs competing for the same Pennsylvania student pipeline. Broader portfolio and resources but directly overlapping market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saint Francis University, Loretto social profiles
Digital presenceSaint Francis University, Loretto compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Saint Francis University, Loretto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saint Francis University, Loretto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Saint Francis University, Loretto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saint Francis University, Loretto M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saint Francis University, Loretto
What does Saint Francis University, Loretto do?
Saint Francis University is a private Catholic university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across four academic schools, supplemented by NCAA intercollegiate athletic programs. The institution was founded in 1847 in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and serves prospective and current students through residential and online learning channels.
Is Saint Francis University, Loretto a public or private company?
Saint Francis University, Loretto is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Saint Francis University, Loretto founded?
Saint Francis University, Loretto was founded in 1847. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Saint Francis University, Loretto based?
Saint Francis University, Loretto is headquartered in Loretto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Saint Francis University, Loretto make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board, athletics Programs, transcript Services and facility Rentals.
Who are Saint Francis University, Loretto's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are St. Bonaventure University, Mount St. Mary's University, Seton Hill University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Misericordia University, University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne), DeSales University and King's College (Wilkes-Barre). Broad incumbents are University of Notre Dame and Duquesne University.
Does Saint Francis University, Loretto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saint Francis University, Loretto.
What industry is Saint Francis University, Loretto in?
Saint Francis University, Loretto's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAJ, Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHALAK, Online Nonprofit Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.