About us

Our Beginnings

Archbishop John Ireland founded St. Thomas in 1885 as a high school, college and seminary to provide high-quality education for Catholic immigrants who were suffering social and economic hardship. His legacy lives on in today’s university - one that welcomes all faiths, races, nationalities and genders, and is committed to making the world a better place through empathy, understanding, intellectual rigor and innovation.

How far you go depends on where you go

The University of St. Thomas is the largest private university in Minnesota and one of the largest Catholic colleges or universities in the nation, with more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students at our eight schools and colleges.

Our founding was inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, a 2,000-year-old practice of uniting faith and reason to explore the world. Rooted in this Catholic identity, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I); our convictions call us to protect and enhance the dignity of every human and to work for a more just and equitable society. At the University of St. Thomas, we develop future leaders of all faiths looking to make a positive impact on the world.

Mission, Convictions and Heritage

Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. As a community, we are committed to our convictions: the pursuit of truth, academic excellence, faith and reason, dignity, diversity, personal attention and gratitude.