
St. Thomas University is a private Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was established in 1961 as Biscayne College by Augustinian educators whose earlier university in Havana, Cuba, had closed following the Cuban Revolution. The institution adopted the St. Thomas University name in 1984.
That history helps explain two enduring features of the university: its Catholic identity and its connection to South Florida's international communities. What began as a college has expanded to offer undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, including law.
St. Thomas University offers undergraduate majors alongside graduate and professional programs. Its academic organization includes Biscayne College, the Gus Machado College of Business, the College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law.
Examples of fields available across the university include business, accounting, criminal justice, psychology, education, biology, computer science, nursing-related study, and law. Degree level and admissions requirements differ by program: an applicant interested in nursing or law, for example, should not assume that admission to the university is the same as admission to that specific program.
Undergraduates considering a major should compare its current course sequence with their intended timetable. This is especially useful for transfer students, since a course may earn elective credit without satisfying a prerequisite or major requirement.
St. Thomas University is in Miami Gardens, a city in northern Miami-Dade County. Its campus is in a metropolitan area rather than an isolated college town, so students can weigh access to the wider South Florida region against the practical demands of commuting.
Miami International Airport is a useful arrival point for students traveling from farther away. Day-to-day travel is a separate consideration: students who plan to commute should check routes and travel times for their actual class schedule. First-year students are permitted to park a car on campus, subject to the university's parking rules.
St. Thomas University identifies itself as a Catholic university and describes its educational purpose in terms of learning, ethical leadership, and service. Its Augustinian roots are part of that identity.
Prospective students can expect the religious affiliation to be visible in the university's stated values and some campus activities. Those statements describe institutional aims; they do not, by themselves, establish what every student's classroom or social experience will be like. Applicants comparing programs should look at the curriculum and any religion-related degree requirements that apply to their major.
Name of the institution
St. Thomas UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1961St. Thomas University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 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
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.