St. Mary's University

What is the history of St. Mary's University?

St. Mary's University traces its founding to 1852, when members of the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious order known as the Marianists, established a school in San Antonio. Its roots in Marianist education remain central to the university's identity.

The institution developed from a school for boys into a university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. It moved to its present campus in the 1920s, an important step in its growth beyond its original downtown setting. Today, its range of programs includes a law school alongside liberal arts, business, science and engineering. Prospective students comparing similarly named institutions should note that this is St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, not another St. Mary's college or university.

What are the faculties and departments at St. Mary's University?

St. Mary's organizes its academic programs through the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the Greehey School of Business; the School of Science, Engineering and Technology; and the School of Law. It offers undergraduate degrees as well as graduate and professional study.

Undergraduates can explore fields such as psychology, communication, criminal justice, biology, computer science, engineering, accounting and finance. The School of Law serves students pursuing legal education rather than a typical undergraduate major. This structure matters when comparing programs: admission to the university does not necessarily establish eligibility for every specialized program, and students should check the catalog for their intended major's course sequence, prerequisites and graduation requirements.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes the relationship between enrolled students and faculty; it does not mean every class has 11 students.

What is the location of St. Mary's University?

St. Mary's University is in San Antonio, Texas, on a campus west of the city's downtown area. Students have access to a large metropolitan area while attending classes on a distinct university campus.

San Antonio can provide opportunities for internships, service, recreation and part-time work, but travel time will depend on where a student lives and whether they have a car. About half of students are reported as commuters. First-year students may register or park a car on campus, subject to university parking rules. San Antonio International Airport is the area's principal commercial airport; students traveling from outside the region should account for transportation between the airport and campus.

What is the mission and vision of St. Mary's University?

St. Mary's describes its educational purpose in the Catholic and Marianist tradition, connecting academic study with ethical reflection, service and community. Its stated mission emphasizes educating the whole person rather than treating professional preparation as the sole aim of a degree.

That religious affiliation is part of the institution's identity, not a claim that every student shares the same beliefs. Applicants who want to understand how the mission affects daily life can look at degree requirements, campus ministry activities and opportunities for community engagement. Those concrete features are more useful for assessing fit than a mission statement alone.