Founded in 1885 by Most Reverend John Ireland, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, the University of St. Thomas is the largest private university in Minnesota. Spanning an attractive 78-acre campus in the residential Summit Avenue neighborhood of Saint Paul along the Mississippi River, alongside a modern graduate campus in downtown Minneapolis, St. Thomas connects Catholic liberal arts education with business leadership, law, and engineering. You can examine its founding charter, Catholic heritage, and urban expansion through the University of St. Thomas Wikipedia historical entry.
When you study at St. Thomas, you enter a values-centered academic community focused on ethical leadership, personal mentorship, and career readiness. Living in Saint Paul places you inside a picturesque neighborhood surrounded by historic architecture, corporate headquarters, and city parks.
Premier Academic Programs
St. Thomas organizes its instruction across eight specialized schools and colleges holding national reputations:
- Opus College of Business: Top-ranked business school famous for ethics-based leadership, entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and real estate analytics. Explore degree paths on the Opus College of Business portal.
- School of Engineering: Delivers hands-on education in civil engineering, computer science, electrical systems, mechanical design, and software engineering.
- University of St. Thomas School of Law: Located in downtown Minneapolis, recognized for practical legal clinics, ethics, and dispute resolution.
- Dougherty Family College: Innovative two-year pathway college providing intensive academic support and seamless transition to four-year degrees.
- Morrison Family College of Health: Prepares compassionate healthcare professionals in nursing, social work, and public health administration.
"All the Good That is Possible, translated from the founding words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, serves as St. Thomas's guiding motto."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on the Summit Avenue arches, O'Shaughnessy Educational Center quadrangle, and the Anderson Student Center. School spirit revolves around Tommie the Dog, the energetic mascot representing St. Thomas Tommies athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I Summit League and Pioneer Football League sports. You can read about spirit traditions and historic athletic programs on the official St. Thomas Tommies Athletics portal. Cheering inside O'Shaughnessy Stadium and joining over 140 student clubs creates a close-knit campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Social Innovation
St. Thomas operates an active research framework emphasizing ethical business, software engineering, and community health:
- Schulze School of Entrepreneurship: Premier center for student business incubation, venture funding competitions, and corporate strategy.
- Center for Common Good: Interdisciplinary institute coordinating community-engaged research and social justice service projects across the Twin Cities. Learn more via St. Thomas Research Operations.
- Center for Microgrid Research: State-of-the-art engineering lab developing smart renewable power systems and energy storage.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of cabinet officers, corporate founders, judges, and sports leaders, including:
- Richard M. Schulze: Founder and former Chairman of Best Buy who attended St. Thomas and endowed the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.
- Vince Flynn: Bestselling political thriller novelist who earned his undergraduate degree in political science at St. Thomas.
- John Vachon: Renowned documentary photographer and photojournalist who studied at St. Thomas.
- Dave Durenberger: Former U.S. Senator who graduated from the University of St. Thomas.
St. Thomas provides generous merit scholarship coverage and need-based financial aid for admitted domestic and international students. Review full admission standards and application steps on the official St. Thomas Admissions portal.