9,000+
undergraduate and graduate students
About St. Thomas
How far you go depends on where you go
The Â鶹´«Ã½ 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.
We are ranked as a "Top National University" and "Best Value School" by U.S. News & World Report, and are in the top 25 in The Princeton Review's list of "Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs", thanks to the .
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 Â鶹´«Ã½, we develop future leaders of all faiths looking to make a positive impact on the world.
Our three campuses in St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis and Rome, Italy, offer unique learning and living opportunities, along with our growing .
Who, What & Where
150+
undergraduate majors and minors
55+
graduate degree programs
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.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our community is committed to embodying and championing a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We believe that each of us is called to protect and enhance human dignity. That’s what it means to be “all for the common good.”
Our Campuses
St. Thomas offers unique opportunities and experiences at our three campuses in St. Paul, downtown Minneapolis and Rome, Italy.
History/Our Founder John Ireland 
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.
1910: Growth of a College
From 1910 to 1919, St. Thomas separated its college and high school, awarded its first bachelor’s degrees and received academic accreditation.
1946: Welcome Veterans
"War Vets Jam St. Thomas Campus," read a 1946 newspaper headline. Thanks in part to the GI Bill, enrollment topped 2,200. To accommodate the surge, the college acquired 26 government-surplus buildings, including 20 double-dwelling huts for married faculty and veterans.
1977: Becoming Coeducational
St. Thomas became coeducational in the fall of 1977, enrolling its first 211 women undergraduates.
1990s: From College to University
In the 1990s, the college became a university with an undergraduate, liberal arts college and several graduate programs.
1992: A Minneapolis Campus
In 1992, it also opened its first Minneapolis campus building, named Terrence Murphy Hall for the university president. The campus hosts our Opus College of Business, St. Thomas School of Law, School of Education and Dougherty Family College.
Office of the President
The President is responsible for the direction of the University, and believes our mission compels us to cultivate three values: the true, the beautiful and the good.