
Courtesy of Lourdes University
Lourdes University traces its origins to Lourdes Junior College, founded in 1958 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. It began as a Catholic institution rooted in the sisters' educational work and later expanded beyond its original junior-college purpose.
The institution subsequently became Lourdes College and adopted the Lourdes University name in 2011, reflecting its broader range of undergraduate and graduate study. That history helps explain why Franciscan values remain part of its stated identity even though students pursue subjects ranging from nursing to business and the arts.
Lourdes University has offered undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, business, education, health professions, and social sciences. Examples include nursing, business administration, education, psychology, biology, and social work.
Prospective students should evaluate a specific program rather than rely on the university's overall program list. Clinical placements, teacher preparation, graduate admission, and professional licensing can have requirements beyond those for general university admission. Applicants should confirm that their intended degree and entry term are currently offered before planning a course sequence.
Lourdes University is in Sylvania, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo near the Michigan border. Its setting places students in a suburban community while giving them access to Toledo-area employers, clinical sites, and other regional resources.
Commuting is an important part of campus life: institutional figures indicate that roughly 64% of students commute. Students arranging off-campus classes or placements should account for travel time, particularly if they depend on limited transportation options. Toledo Express Airport is a nearby regional airport, but flight availability should be checked separately.
Lourdes University identifies itself as a Catholic institution in the Franciscan tradition. Its stated educational purpose connects academic study with service, community, and respect for human dignity.
Those are institutional commitments, not measures of any individual student's experience. Applicants considering Lourdes for its religious identity - or wondering how that identity affects campus life - should review the requirements of their particular program and opportunities for service and spiritual participation.
Name of the institution
Lourdes UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1958
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.