Serving nearly 4,000 students, USF offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in arts, sciences, business, education, nursing and health care. Founded in 1920 in Joliet, Illinois, the University of St. Francis is a nationally ranked, award-winning, Catholic, Franciscan university serving nearly 4,000 students in doctoral, master's, bachelor's and certificate programs. AS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY ROOTED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS, WE ARE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS CHALLENGED BY FRANCISCAN VALUES AND CHARISM, ENGAGED IN A CONTINUOUS PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, WISDOM, AND JUSTICE, AND EVER MINDFUL OF A TRADITION THAT EMPHASIZES REVERENCE FOR CREATION, COMPASSION AND PEACEMAKING. WE STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN ALL PROGRAMS, PREPARING WOMEN AND MEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD THROUGH SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.