The University of San Francisco, founded in 1855 by the Jesuits, is a private Catholic research university situated on a hilltop in the heart of San Francisco's Lone Mountain neighborhood. With about 11,000 students, USF is known for its law school, nursing, business, and social justice programs. The campus offers sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Area while placing students at the center of one of the world's most dynamic cities.