


Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, Catholic historically Black university in New Orleans. Its origins date to 1915, when St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament established a school to expand educational opportunities for Black students in a segregated society. College-level instruction followed, and the institution became Xavier University of Louisiana in 1925.
The university's religious founding and its commitment to access remain central to its identity. Over time, Xavier developed graduate and professional education alongside its undergraduate programs, notably through its College of Pharmacy. Prospective students should not confuse it with Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio; the two are separate institutions.
Xavier University of Louisiana organizes much of its undergraduate teaching through the College of Arts and Sciences and offers professional pharmacy education through the College of Pharmacy. Its academic offerings also include graduate study. Applicants should check the requirements for their intended degree rather than assume that admission to the university is admission to every professional program.
Undergraduate choices span the sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, education, communication, and the arts. Examples include biology, chemistry, psychology, public health, computer science, business administration, and music. Students interested in health professions should distinguish a science major or pre-professional pathway from a licensed professional degree: each has different coursework, application steps, and career requirements.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes enrollment relative to faculty; it does not mean every class has ten students.
Xavier University of Louisiana is in New Orleans, Louisiana, in an urban setting. Its main campus is near the city's Mid-City and Gert Town neighborhoods, with access to the academic, cultural, and employment opportunities of a large metropolitan area.
Students considering an off-campus address should assess the trip to campus at the times they would actually travel. Public transit is available in New Orleans, but a particular commute may involve transfers or schedules that differ from driving. Students may also bring a car, subject to university parking rules; first-year students are permitted to register or park one on campus. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport serves the region for students traveling from farther away.
Xavier states that its mission is to promote a more just and humane society by preparing students for leadership and service. Its educational identity brings together a Catholic heritage, its status as a historically Black university, academic study, and community engagement.
The university's founding by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament explains its continuing religious affiliation. Applicants need not treat the mission as an outcome measure: it describes the institution's stated purpose and priorities, while the academic programs, costs, and student outcomes elsewhere in this article offer separate ways to assess fit.
Name of the institution
Xavier University of LouisianaLevel 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
1925Xavier University of Louisiana 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
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 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.