Sarah Mitchell
The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university with campuses in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, and Miami, Florida. Founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary for Catholic immigrants, it is named after Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher. The University of St. Thomas is the largest private university in Minnesota, enrolling 9,347 students as of fall 2021. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, engineering, law, education, and theology. With a rich history and diverse community, the University of St. Thomas is committed to academic excellence and the success of its students, fostering ethical leadership and engagement with contemporary issues, including social justice and service to the global community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding | Founded in 1885 by John Ireland, archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, St. Thomas began as an all-male, Catholic seminary. |
| Current status | The University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic research university with campuses in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rome, Italy. |
| Student population | As of fall 2021, St. Thomas enrolled 9,347 students, making it Minnesota's largest private, nonprofit university. |
| Degree programs | St. Thomas offers 150+ undergraduate majors and minors, plus 100 undergraduate and 55 graduate degree programs with options in business, engineering, law, education, social work, and arts and humanities. |
| Student housing | The university offers special interest floors intended to house specific residents with similar interests or class standing. |
| Courses | The university offers courses in law, business, theology, health, and sports administration. |
| Mascot | The STU mascot is a Bobcat. |
| Sports teams | The university has sports teams, including a rugby team and a soccer club. |
| Catholic identity | St. Thomas is committed to the academic and professional success of its students, who become ethical leaders in the global community. |
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What You'll Learn
- The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university with a rich history
- It was founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland
- It offers a values-driven education and unique experiences
- The university has a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- St. Thomas has a strong relationship with the Catholic Church
The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university with a rich history
St. Thomas was founded to provide high-quality education for Catholic immigrants facing social and economic challenges. In 1894, the liberal arts program became an independent college through funding from local railroad tycoon James J. Hill. During World War II, the university served as a training base for naval officers. After the war, St. Thomas established Tom Town to meet the housing demands of its growing community.
The University of St. Thomas has a rich history of relationship with the Church. It was founded by the Augustinian order in Havana, Cuba, and found itself in exile in 1961 when the order was expelled from the country. The university remained under Augustinian sponsorship until the late 1980s, when it came under the Archdiocese of Miami. St. Thomas is one of only eleven Catholic universities directly associated with a local diocese or archdiocese.
The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, engineering, law, education, social work, and arts and humanities. It is committed to academic excellence and the success of its students, fostering ethical leadership and a global perspective. St. Thomas embraces cultural and international diversity and engages with contemporary issues, particularly those affecting the poor and marginalized. With a strong Catholic identity, the university strives to make the world a better place through empathy, understanding, intellectual rigor, and innovation.
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It was founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland
The University of St. Thomas, also known as UST or simply St. Thomas, was founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It was established as a Catholic seminary for men, named after Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher.
Archbishop Ireland was highly dedicated to the establishment of the school. In the nine months leading up to its opening, he was deeply involved in the details, from expanding the building to hiring faculty and devising the curriculum. The school opened on September 8, 1885, initially offering two-year diplomas in commercial and classical programs.
Archbishop Ireland's vision for St. Thomas was to provide a high-quality education for Catholic immigrants facing social and economic challenges. In 1890, James J. Hill, a railroad builder, donated $500,000, an enormous sum at the time, to fund the construction of a graduate seminary. This donation allowed the liberal arts program to become an independent college in 1894, establishing the Saint Paul Seminary separate from the college.
From its early days as a seminary, St. Thomas has evolved significantly. In 1903, a military program was introduced on campus, and it was officially designated a military school by the U.S. War Department in 1906. During World War II, the university served as a training base for naval officers, playing a crucial role in keeping the school open while male students were fighting in the war.
Today, the University of St. Thomas stands as Minnesota's largest private, nonprofit university, welcoming students of all faiths, races, nationalities, and genders. It has expanded to include campuses in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, offering a range of academic programs and extracurricular opportunities for its diverse student body.
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It offers a values-driven education and unique experiences
The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university with a rich history of relationship with the Church. It was founded by the Augustinian order in Havana, Cuba, as the Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanueva. The university found itself in exile in 1961 when the order and faculty were expelled from Cuba. It remained under Augustinian sponsorship until the late 1980s when the Archdiocese of Miami assumed sponsorship. The University of St. Thomas is the Archdiocesan university of the Archdiocese of Miami and is one of only eleven Catholic universities directly associated with the local diocese or archdiocese of the Church.
The University of St. Thomas is committed to engaging with contemporary issues, especially concerning the poor and marginalized. The Center for Community Engagement offers students at every level the possibility of relationships with local justice issues, such as those in the Miami Gardens community and with regional farmworker issues. The university also has a sustained development relationship with Port de Paix, Haiti.
The University of St. Thomas offers a values-driven education and unique experiences. It is committed to the academic and professional success of its students, who become ethical leaders in the global community. The university teaches and worships in the Catholic tradition, with a commitment to justice, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and love. This commitment is constitutive of the university's identity. The university offers over 100 undergraduate and 55 graduate degree programs with more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 115,000+ alumni.
The University of St. Thomas offers a range of unique opportunities and experiences across its three campuses in St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis, and Rome, Italy. The university has a strong commitment to entrepreneurship and innovative thinking, with a hub of innovative students and alumni across all disciplines. It is also the only NCAA member to be reclassified directly as a full Division I institution.
The University of St. Thomas has a rich Catholic identity that is reflected in its academic programs and campus life. It offers special interest floors intended to house specific residents with similar interests or class standings. Almost one-third of all floors are First Year Experience floors for freshmen, which aim to create a cohesive community. First-year students can participate in Living Learning Communities (LLCs) such as Catholic Studies, which offer a unique educational and community experience.
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The university has a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
The University of St. Thomas has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This commitment is rooted in the university's Catholic identity and values. Founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland as a high school, college, and seminary, St. Thomas was established to provide a high-quality education for Catholic immigrants facing social and economic challenges. From its inception, the university has welcomed individuals of all faiths, races, nationalities, and genders.
Today, St. Thomas continues to embrace diversity and foster an inclusive environment. With campuses in St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis, and Rome, Italy, the university offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for its students. As of 2021, St. Thomas enrolled 9,347 students, making it Minnesota's largest private, nonprofit university. The university offers 150+ undergraduate majors and minors, along with graduate programs in various fields, including business, engineering, law, education, social work, and arts and humanities.
The university's commitment to diversity and inclusion is also reflected in its special interest housing floors, which aim to create a cohesive community by placing students with similar interests or class standing together. Additionally, first-year students can participate in Living Learning Communities (LLCs) that explore diverse topics such as sustainability, Catholic studies, business for the common good, and bridging divides.
St. Thomas is dedicated to engaging with contemporary issues, particularly those affecting the poor and marginalized. The Center for Community Engagement at the university offers students the opportunity to address local, regional, and global justice issues. This commitment to social justice is inherent in the university's Catholic identity, which emphasizes a genuine concern for all of God's people and creation.
As a Catholic university, St. Thomas strives to form ethical leaders who will positively impact the global community. The university's mission statement reflects this aspiration, stating that the university community teaches and worships in the Catholic tradition while making actions on behalf of justice, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and love constitutive of its identity. This commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is integral to the university's mission and aligns with its Catholic values and heritage.
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St. Thomas has a strong relationship with the Catholic Church
St. Thomas University has a strong relationship with the Catholic Church. The university was founded by the Catholic Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, John Ireland, in 1885 as a high school, college, and seminary to provide quality education to Catholic immigrants facing social and economic challenges. The institution was initially an all-male Catholic seminary. In 1894, the liberal arts program evolved into an independent college through funding from local railroad tycoon James J. Hill, who supported the establishment of the Saint Paul Seminary as a separate entity from the college.
St. Thomas University has a rich history of engagement with the Catholic Church. It was founded by the Augustinian order in Havana, Cuba, as the Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanueva. The university experienced exile in 1961 when the Augustinian order and faculty were expelled from Cuba. Augustinian sponsorship continued until the late 1980s, when the Archdiocese of Miami assumed responsibility. St. Thomas University is the official Archdiocesan university of the Archdiocese of Miami, one of only eleven Catholic universities with such a direct association. Over the years, the university has cultivated deep connections with local parishes, churches, and the Catholic school system within the Archdiocese of Miami.
The university upholds the values and teachings of the Catholic faith in its academic programs and community engagement. It offers a Catholic Studies Living Learning Community (LLC) for first-year students, providing them with a unique living experience that combines their faith and academic pursuits. Additionally, the university's commitment to social justice and serving the marginalized aligns with Catholic social teachings. Through its Center for Community Engagement, students have the opportunity to address local justice issues, such as those in the Miami Gardens community and with regional farmworker concerns.
St. Thomas University's mission statement reflects its Catholic identity and values. The statement emphasizes the university's commitment to teaching and worshipping in the Catholic tradition while advocating for justice, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and love. The institution embraces cultural and international diversity and strives to foster ethical leadership among its students. The university's commitment to these values demonstrates its strong relationship with the Catholic Church and its dedication to embodying Catholic teachings in its academic and community endeavors.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university with a rich history of relationship with the Church. It was founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary and named after Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher.
The University of St. Thomas welcomes all faiths, races, nationalities, and genders. It is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for its students.
The University of St. Thomas is committed to the academic and professional success of its students, who are encouraged to become ethical leaders in the global community. The university's mission statement emphasizes values such as justice, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and love.
The University of St. Thomas offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. It has a strong athletic program and has won several titles in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). The university also has a rich history, having served as a training base for naval officers during World War II.
