The short answer: Campus care needs no reimbursement; no separate outside-copay fund was verified.¹
Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Book it: Call CAPS for an intake, crisis visit or appointment. The current phone number is 415-422-6352. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students located in California. Watch the cancellation rule: CAPS charges a "$30 no-show fine" for cancellations under 24 hours.² What it costs: CAPS care is free.¹
The limit that matters
Up to 12 individual or relationship appointments per academic year, including up to two single-session visits per semester. This is the fact to confirm again at intake, because staffing and campus rules can change during the academic year.¹
If you need help today
"Students experiencing a mental health crisis will be seen the same day during business hours" — Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the office closed 11:30 to 12:30. There is no walk-in; intake is by phone or form.¹ After hours: call the 24/7 crisis line on 855-531-0761.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: CAPS does not provide medication assessment and refers students outside for psychiatry. When campus care is too short: CAPS provides community referrals when a student needs longer or specialized care.²
If you use a parent’s insurance, billing paperwork can disclose that care was used. Read the student privacy and EOB route →. If money is the obstacle, compare Medi-Cal →, sliding-scale care →, and California-wide telehealth →.
Choose the right University of San Francisco door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Call CAPS for same-day crisis support. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call CAPS for an intake, crisis visit or appointment. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 855-531-0761 after hours. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | CAPS does not provide medication assessment and refers students outside for psychiatry. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | CAPS provides community referrals when a student needs longer or specialized care. | Say what matters: specialty, identity, location, telehealth, language, insurance and maximum price. |
Before you spend money outside campus
Campus counseling and outside insurance are separate. Before booking an outside therapist, ask:
- Is this clinician in-network for my exact plan—not just the insurance company?
- What will I owe before and after my deductible?
- Does the plan require a campus referral or prior authorization?
- If the clinician is out-of-network, will they provide a superbill and where do I submit it?
If you use a parent’s plan, ask the insurer how to request confidential communications before the first claim. An explanation of benefits can otherwise show that care was used.
What to ask in the first appointment
- What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
- If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
- Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
- What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
- Will any charge or insurance explanation be sent to someone else?
Verification record
Every campus-specific statement above was read on an official University of San Francisco page. Core access facts are due for re-check by 2026-11-23. A missing number is reported as “not published,” never filled from an old catalog or another campus.
Sources
- USF — CAPS services, read 2026-09-12.
- USF — CAPS contact and crisis help, read 2026-09-12, where the free-service list and the $30 no-show fine appear. Off-campus referrals: myusf.usfca.edu/caps/referrals.