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Facts & Figures

Mission

Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.

Academics

The University’s major academic units are the College of Arts and Sciences (which awards baccalaureate degrees as well as master’s degrees in Education, Counseling, Public Health Sciences, and Speech-Language Pathology and a doctorate in Educational Leadership) and the College of Pharmacy (which awards the Doctor of Pharmacy, the Master of Health Sciences, and the Master of Science). The University also awards the Master of Theology through its Institute for Black Catholic Studies.

Xavier offers preparation in over 50 major areas on the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels. Undergraduate students, regardless of their major are required to complete forty hours of core curriculum courses that will challenge students to think critically and normatively about their world, regions, communities, and themselves. 

Accreditations

Xavier University of Louisiana is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to grant baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Xavier University of Louisiana is authorized to offer certificates at approved degree levels. If you have any questions about Xavier University of Louisiana's accreditation, please direct them in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Xavier University of Louisiana is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the State of Louisiana Department of Education, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and the National Association of Schools of Music. The University has also been awarded candidacy status by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and Accreditation-Provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.

Enrollment

The total enrollment for fall 2023 was 3,181, which included a freshman class of 692. Of these, 2,586 are undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences, 178 are students in the College of Pharmacy, and 412 are graduate students.

Students

From its founding Xavier has embraced a special mission to serve the African American Catholic community; however, its doors have always been open to qualified students of every race and creed. Today, 79% percent of its enrollment is African American/Black and seven percent is Catholic. Almost 40% of Xavier students are from Louisiana (36.8%), primarily from the New Orleans area. Non-local enrollment continues to increase with students coming from 42 other states and U.S. territories. Twenty-four foreign countries are represented on campus. Student life is enriched by the social and cultural setting of New Orleans, and by campus activities designed to enhance personal growth, interpersonal skills, and leadership in such areas as community service, the environment, cultural concerns, and social justice.

Admissions and Retention

The Office of Admissions seeks to enroll a student body that is diverse and in keeping with the offerings within the colleges of the University. The average ACT and SAT scores for entering freshmen in 2023 were 22 and 1063, respectively. In maintaining its historic commitment to academic excellence, the University attracts many students who are high achievers, yet it remains committed to admitting a certain percentage of “at-risk” students who exhibit the will to succeed. The Student Academic Success Office provides the resources and support systems to assist all students in being successful. The retention rate of first-time freshmen is 70.8%.

Advanced Degrees

Xavier students attend graduate and professional schools at a rate that reflects the efforts of XU faculty, staff and administrators. In 2023, 38% of College of Arts and Sciences graduates matriculated directly into graduate, professional schools, and other educational programs.

Rankings and Distinctions

Xavier is recognized as a national leader in the sciences and the liberal arts:

  • A recent AAMC report revealed that Xavier maintains its high-ranking status in sending African American graduates on to successfully complete Medical School. Xavier also remains among the top ten in sending African American Graduates to Medical School.
  • Plexuss recognized Xavier as the nation’s #2 HBCU and as the #1 HBCU in Louisiana as part of their 2022 rankings. Xavier’s new Data Science program was also ranked as the top in the state.
  • Xavier was recognized as the nation’s #3 HBCU by U.S. News “Best Colleges” Guide 2022.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana was singled out as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review in the 2021 edition of its “The Best 386 Colleges” publication.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana was recognized as one of the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as the best value among southern regional universities in the recently released “Best Colleges 2020” guide by the U.S. News Media Group. 
  • The Xavier University Division of Business was awarded the Louisiana Quality Foundation’s (LQF) highest award, the Level 3 Louisiana Performance Excellence Award (LPEA) based on an evaluation of its proven effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, integrated processes, and tracked results. 
  • Xavier was again ranked #3 in a special 2023 report on the “Best Catholic Colleges and Universities” by the Edvocate.
  • Xavier was recognized as among the nation’s top five HBCUs in the recently released “Best Colleges 2022” guide by the online college ranking site Niche.com. 
  • In 2020, Xavier University of Louisiana was ranked as #4 in “Top Performers on Social Mobility Regional Universities South” by U.S. News “Best Colleges” Guide 2020, as well as one of the top 10 among Universities ranked in innovation. 
  • Xavier University of Louisiana is among the top 10% of “best colleges for the money” in Louisiana and the entire Southeast Region in the College Factual 2020 rankings and is recognized as one of the top four for that ranking in the state of Louisiana.
  • Xavier University of Louisiana’s programs in biological and biomedical sciences, general biology, physical sciences, and chemistry are all ranked in the top 5 for the best value in the College Factual 2020 Rankings.  
  • Xavier University of Louisiana was named as the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education Award by Diversity Abroad. 
  • With a 93% placement rate, Xavier remains Louisiana’s top institution for graduates successfully entering the job market according to career experts at Zippia.com. 
  • Xavier was designated as a 2020-2021 Military Friendly School by Military Friendly. 
  • Xavier was recently named the Best HBCU in the state of Louisiana by University Headquarters (University HQ), an independent hub of resources and information for those considering higher education.

Budget and Endowment

The University’s unrestricted operating revenue is more than $125 million, while the current value of its endowment is more than $178 million. Unlike some denominations, the Catholic Church does not provide funds for Xavier or other Catholic colleges and universities in the United States (Catholic University in Washington, DC is the one exception). More than 87 percent of Xavier’s undergraduates apply for and receive some form of need-based financial aid. More than 65 percent receive Pell grants. Because many students have limited financial resources, the University maintains a policy of low tuition ($22,503 undergraduate per year in 2020-2021).

Research and Sponsored Programs

Xavier has significantly increased its national prominence in research over the last decade. Among the 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Xavier currently ranks 6th in funding from Health and Human Services (HHS) and 1st on a per capita basis. Among all universities in the nation, Xavier is among the top 30 percent in National Science Foundation (NSF) funding and among the top 15 percent in HHS funding. In Louisiana Xavier ranks third in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding behind only Tulane and the LSU System. Awards from NIH, NSF, the Louisiana Board of Regents and foundations like Keck and Sherman Fairchild have enormously expanded Xavier’s core instrumentation facilities. Membership in the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium is making it possible for Xavier’s Cancer research programs to move aggressively forward.

Partnerships

 

California Community Colleges

  • Xavier University of Louisiana partnered with California Community Colleges to allow students who meet certain requirements to be admitted to Xavier with junior standing. According to the agreement, students who apply for admission and successfully obtain a transfer-level associate degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher and complete either the California State University General Education Breadth pattern, or University of California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, will be guaranteed admission into Xavier with junior standing.

Google in Residence Program Places Veteran Engineer

  • Xavier University of Louisiana’s partnership with the Google in Residence Program was launched in 2013 to improve diversity in the tech industry by embedding engineers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Expanding the pool of technologists is core to Google’s strategy to have a representation of minority Googlers in the United States reach or exceed the available talent pool at all levels of the company. The initiative is one of the ways the company is looking to attract and hire more diverse Googlers to truly reflect the diversity of its users.

St. Michael Indian School

  • St. Michael Indian School (SMIS) and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a partnership to explore the establishment of a Catholic university to be located on the campus of St. Michael Indian School in St. Michaels, Arizona. Both institutions founded by Saint Katharine Drexel will implement a four-stage process through 2020 that begins with a feasibility study conducted by both institutions for an affiliated Catholic university.

The Baylor College of Medicine

  • Xavier University of Louisiana and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston partnered to establish an initiative that allows qualified Xavier students to participate in a collaborative Medical Track Program that facilitates assured acceptance into the School of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Michigan State’s College of Human Medicine

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has partnered with Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine to advance the education of its students via the SpartanMD Acceptance Realization Track initiative or SMART Initiative. Through this program, students who fit the admissions criteria for MSU’s medical school will be able to apply for early acceptance during their junior and senior years. This event partnership allows Xavier to provide more opportunities for pre-med students.

Georgia Tech for XULA engineering students

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has partnered with the Georgia Tech College of Engineering to offer a Dual-Degree Engineering Program (DDEP). Students study Physics at XULA for 3 years plus 2 years in Georgia Tech’s Engineer School, and those who complete the program graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Xavier as well as a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Georgia Tech.

LCMC Health System, New Orleans Health Department, and the LSU Health Sciences Center

  • Xavier University of Louisiana partnered with LCMC Health, the New Orleans Health Department, and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center to launch the first mobile community testing site in a city-wide initiative that brought COVID-19 testing to individuals and families throughout New Orleans who live in communities that are medically vulnerable.

Duquesne University’s School of Law to launch pipeline program

  • Xavier University of Louisiana partnered with Duquesne University School of Law, whose Bar Preparation program is ranked No. 9 in the country by National Jurist. Duquesne University is also one of the nation's top Catholic Universities, founded 140 years ago by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. This new partnership with Duquesne University's School of Law provides a clear pathway for our students to further their education and pursue careers in the legal field.

Ochsner Health System

  •  Xavier University of Louisiana and the Ochsner Health System teamed up to launch a new Physician Assistant (PA) Program beginning in January 2020. The 28-month, full-time graduate program leads to a master’s degree in health sciences. Commonly known as a PA, a physician assistant is a licensed and trained healthcare professional trained in general medicine who works under the supervision of a physician.

The University of Southern California’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has partnered with the University of Southern California’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy to address the lack of diversity in the physical therapy profession with a new partnership designed to create a pipeline for Xavier students to complete their prerequisite courses, gain valuable hands-on experience, and develop mentoring relationships with their future USC faculty members.

The University of California-San Diego (UCSD)

  • Xavier University of Louisiana partnered with the University of California- San Diego and created a three-year program designed to provide exceptional undergraduate students opportunities for summer research in the biological sciences. The UCSD/XULA Graduate Pathways Partnership was launched in 2018, with up to six Xavier students selected to participate in the UCSD’s prestigious STARS program, an intensive eight-week academy modeled on graduate school life.

 

The U.S. Department of Education funded partnership of teaching training programs with NOLA Public Schools and New Schools for New Orleans- Collaborations across the board include Xavier, Loyola University New Orleans, Teach for America Greater New Orleans, teachNOLA, the Relay Graduate School of Education, and New Schools for New Orleans

  • NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS), New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO), and Xavier University announced the “Supporting Public School Teachers” initiative via OPSB’s commitment of funding from the System-Wide Needs Fund for teacher programs. Together with our collaborators, the collective work resulted in more than 250 new teachers for New Orleans schools. This initiative was designed to recruit, prepare, and develop nearly 900 highly-effective, culturally competent teachers from diverse backgrounds by 2020. The $13 million grant establishes a unique and innovative partnership of teacher training programs. The six partners worked together to address teacher pipeline challenges across the city, implementing their unique teacher preparation models to meet the needs of schools with high concentrations of High-Need Students while collaborating on best practices and problem-solving.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Auburn University, US Army Research laboratory, and NASA Glenn Research Center investigators

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has partnered with several collaborators, including Georgia Institute of Technology, Auburn University, US Army Research laboratory, and NASA Glenn Research Center investigators to study the interfacial properties of electrodes and solid electrolytes. This project contributes to improving diversity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce by engaging students from underrepresented minority groups in cutting-edge research in energy storage technologies for Space, one of NASA’s most critical projects. The goal is to improve transport and stability across the interfaces that will lead to the development of Solid High Energy Lithium Batteries (SHELiB).

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

  • Xavier University of Louisiana partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a world leader in scientific and technological contributions, to make COVID-19 testing available to all who returned to Xavier’s campus in Fall of 2020. Through an initiative called “The Just Project,” Thermo Fisher committed to supporting HBCUs with a donation of $15 million in diagnostic instruments, test kits and related supplies. The company has also provided technical assistance for establishing or expanding HBCU laboratories to provide regular on-campus testing throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Student Freedom Initiative

  •  Xavier University of Louisiana is a participant in the Student Freedom Initiative program, which will provide eligible students with an income-contingent financing alternative to high cost, fixed payment debt obligations, along with holistic support services, including internships and mentoring. 

Ochsner Health, Louisiana leaders

  •  Ochsner Health, Louisiana leaders and Xavier University of New Orleans have partnered with a long-term vision to improve the overall health of the state with a comprehensive strategy to enhance healthcare access, improve health equity and health outcomes. The 10-year commitment includes an initial investment of $100 million during the next five years. Investments will support projects that eliminate barriers to healthcare; bring resources into underserved, urban, and rural communities; collaborate with partners to research and better understand health disparities; utilize technology and innovation to improve outcomes and invest in Louisiana’s next generation of healthcare providers and frontline staff.  

  IBM

  • To drive a diverse and including quantum workforce, IBM has partnered with Xavier University of Louisiana and other HBCUs to launch the first IBM Quantum Education and Research Initiative. As one of the 13 participating HBCUs, Xavier is part of the IBM-HBCU Quantum Center, which offers access to quantum computers as well as collaboration on academic, education and community outreach programs. 

Tik-Tok

  • Xavier University of Louisiana received a $1 million endowment from TikTok to empower the next generation of health heroes. The funding will support undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students pursuing medical careers or other health-related fields. 

 Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Lambda Chapter alums

  •  Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Lambda Chapter alums signed an agreement with Xavier University of Louisiana to donate a total of $112,500 in scholarship endowment funds to the university, with a completion of the endowment by 2025 in recognition of the university's centennial celebration.

  NBCUniversal News Group 

  • NBCUniversal News Group selected Xavier University of Louisiana as one of the HBCUs to launch NBCU Academy, a new, innovative, multiplatform journalism training and development program. The initiative includes a curated onsite curriculum for a hands-on learning experience with world-class NBCU News Group journalists and funding for accredited journalism programs and scholarships. 

Grants

Coca-Cola Foundation Awards Grant to Xaiver University of Louisiana to Support Black Male Recruitment and Retention

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The goal of the project, “The Obligation of Excellence: Black Male Recruitment and Retention at Xavier University of Louisiana,” is to help in the University’s ongoing efforts to improve Black male recruitment, enrollment and retention rates and to provide supplemental scholarship funding that will lessen the financial burden for Black male students enrolled at Xavier.

 

Mellon Grant to Support Community College Student Pipeline, Summer Bridge Program

  • Xavier University of Louisiana received a three-year, $500,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support initiatives designed to expand its community college student pipeline and to establish a new summer bridge program. The grant funds on-going university efforts to engage and enroll more community college students by streamlining its transfer administrative process, clarifying course and major requirements, and reducing any course-related hindrances to graduating in four-years.

 

Minority Business Enterprises Readiness Project with the City of New Orleans awards Grant to Xavier University of Louisiana

  • A $465,894 grant was awarded to Xavier University of Louisiana by the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This grant funds the MBE Disaster Readiness Project, an initiative whose objective is to disseminate pertinent information about disaster preparedness and about obtaining disaster-related contracts to minority-owned businesses in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

National Science Foundation Grant awarded to Xavier University of Louisiana

  • Xavier University of Louisiana was awarded a three-year, $844,448 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a systematic approach to increasing the participation and advancement of women in academic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers. Xavier Professor Dr. Payton-Stewart was named as a Diversity Fellow for the NSF ADVANCE Grant.

 

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)  funds Project Pathways at Xavier, as part of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) program.

The ultimate goal of this program is to address the lack of diversity in the biomedical research workforce and prepare a diverse group of future contributors to the NIH-funded research enterprise. Xavier’s Project Pathways, focuses on the various pathways to success for students in the biomedical sciences, bringing together both academic areas and academic support areas to provide students with a holistic program that better prepares them for a research career. To further expand the benefits of Project Pathways, Xaver has partnered with several institutions to give our students the opportunity to perform research with partnering liaisons, including Dartmouth, Boston University School of Medicine, the University of Michigan and more.

Future Directions

Xavier’s strategic priorities for maintaining its unique place in the world of higher education and reaching even higher levels of academic excellence and service to the community include increasing scholarships for deserving students, promoting excellence in teaching and research, increasing the number of Xavier students entering graduate and professional schools, expanding the University’s leadership in pharmaceutical education and minority healthcare issues, and enhancing programs that promote core values and leadership. 

 

 

7/27/23

"We want to keep you informed about the latest developments and achievements at Xavier University of Louisiana. Currently, we are undergoing updates and enhancements to our "Facts and Figures" page to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information.

As of 4/19/2021, we have initiated this process to bring you fresh insights and new data that reflect our continued growth and commitment to excellence. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause during the update period.

Rest assured, we are working diligently to present you with a revamped and comprehensive "Facts and Figures" section that showcases the milestones and accomplishments of our esteemed institution.

Thank you for your understanding and patience. We look forward to sharing the updated information with you soon."