


Rockhurst University is a private Jesuit institution founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1910. It began as Rockhurst College, established by the Society of Jesus to provide Catholic higher education in the city, and adopted the Rockhurst University name in 1998.
Its history still shapes its academic identity: Rockhurst combines liberal arts study with professional programs and an emphasis on service. Nursing and other health-sciences programs have expanded its range beyond the traditional undergraduate college. Applicants comparing programs should pay attention to the school or college that offers their intended degree, since clinical training, admission rules, and campus arrangements can differ.
Rockhurst offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and health professions. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the Helzberg School of Management, and Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Undergraduate options include fields such as biology, psychology, computer science, business, nursing, and education. Graduate and professional study includes health-related and business programs. The distinction between an undergraduate major and a professional pathway matters: a student interested in nursing, for example, should check the specific degree route, clinical requirements, and admission process rather than assume that university admission alone secures a place in every program.
Rockhurst University's main campus is in Kansas City, Missouri, near the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Country Club Plaza area. This urban location gives students access to employers, health care organizations, and cultural venues, but it also makes commuting arrangements an important part of enrollment planning.
Students can live on campus or travel in for classes; campus parking is available to first-year students. Anyone considering a health-sciences program should confirm where its classes and clinical placements take place, because those activities may require travel beyond the main campus. Kansas City International Airport serves the region for students traveling longer distances.
Rockhurst describes its educational purpose through its Catholic, Jesuit identity. Its stated priorities include intellectual development, ethical reflection, service, and educating students as whole people - not solely preparing them for a particular occupation.
That philosophy appears in the university's emphasis on service and reflection alongside academic study. Prospective students do not need to share a religious affiliation to evaluate the university, but they should expect Jesuit language and traditions to be visible in campus programming. Its mission is a statement of institutional aims, not independent evidence that every student has the same experience.
Name of the institution
Rockhurst UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1909Rockhurst University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
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 - research/scholarship
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.