
St. Augustine College was founded in Chicago in 1980 with a focus on making higher education accessible to Hispanic and other underserved students, including adults returning to school. Its bilingual and bicultural approach became a defining part of the college's identity.
A major change followed its combination with Lewis University in 2024. Applicants may still encounter older information published under the St. Augustine College name, including enrollment, tuition, and graduation statistics. Those figures are useful for understanding the college's recent history, but students applying now should use Lewis University's current catalog and enrollment materials to determine which policies and programs apply.
St. Augustine College has offered associate and bachelor's-level study rather than a broad collection of separate professional schools. Its academic offerings have included business administration, computer and information sciences, psychology, social work, and hospitality-related study.
Program names and degree requirements matter more than a general subject listing. A student considering social work, for example, should check the current degree's field-education requirements and its relationship to professional licensing. Following the combination with Lewis University, applicants should also confirm which programs are accepting students at a Chicago location, which courses are offered online or elsewhere, and which catalog governs their degree.
St. Augustine College is associated with Chicago, Illinois, and has served students through city-based locations rather than a traditional residential campus. Its urban setting makes public transit, travel time between classes, and access to work and family responsibilities practical considerations for many students.
The college has historically used more than one Chicago location. Because the combination with Lewis University may affect where individual programs meet, applicants should check the address on their admission and course-scheduling materials before planning a commute. O'Hare International Airport serves the Chicago region, but everyday transit access is likely to matter more to a local student.
St. Augustine College's stated educational purpose has centered on access to higher education, particularly for Hispanic students and adults whose needs may not fit a conventional full-time college schedule. Bilingual and bicultural education has been a longstanding part of that approach.
Its name reflects its institutional heritage, but a prospective student should not infer that every course is taught in Spanish or that every current program follows the same language model. The relevant questions are the language of instruction, available academic support, and the requirements of the specific degree. Since the combination with Lewis University, students should read both the current program description and the university's institutional mission when assessing fit.
Name of the institution
St. Augustine CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1980
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData 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.