Donnelly College

What is the history of Donnelly College?

Donnelly College was founded in 1949 in Kansas City, Kansas, through a partnership between the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and the Catholic archdiocese. Its original purpose was to make college education accessible to students in the surrounding community.

That local focus remains central to Donnelly's identity. The college has developed from a two-year institution into one offering both associate and bachelor's degrees, while retaining a relatively small enrollment. Its history is relevant to applicants looking for a Catholic college with a community-oriented mission rather than a large residential university.

What are the faculties and departments at Donnelly College?

Donnelly College offers undergraduate programs rather than a broad system of separate colleges or graduate schools. Its academic offerings include associate-level study and selected bachelor's programs; business and computer and information sciences are among its reported fields of study.

Applicants should compare programs by credential and intended next step. An associate degree may support transfer or entry into a field, while a bachelor's degree involves a longer course of study. Donnelly's student-to-faculty ratio is reported as 11 to 1, but that institution-wide figure does not establish the size or availability of any particular class. Prospective students should review the current catalog for their program's required courses, schedule, and graduation requirements.

What is the location of Donnelly College?

Donnelly College is in Kansas City, Kansas, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its urban location makes commuting and access to the surrounding community important parts of the student experience.

Applicants planning to travel to campus should check their route and parking arrangements against the times their classes meet. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus. Kansas City International Airport serves the region, although everyday access to the college will matter more than airport proximity for most students.

What is the mission and vision of Donnelly College?

Donnelly describes its mission in terms of accessible higher education, academic development, and service, grounded in its Catholic and Benedictine heritage. These are the college's stated priorities, not measures of an individual student's likely outcome.

Students considering Donnelly may want to examine how that mission appears in the curriculum and campus activities. A religious affiliation does not, by itself, explain the requirements of a particular major or whether students must participate in religious activities; the current catalog and student policies are the appropriate places to check those details.