Lourdes University

Academics

As a Franciscan university, Lourdes students benefit from the liberal arts curriculum and professional studies focus. Lourdes has a diverse community of students and an 11:1 student to faculty ratio.

Classified as a master’s university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Lourdes offers baccalaureate degree programs in the arts and sciences, business and leadership, education and human services, and nursing. Students can also pursue several pre-professional programs and graduate degrees.

Founding and early history

In 1916 Mother Adelaide Sandusky traveled from Minnesota to northwest Ohio to establish a province of the Rochester Franciscans that eventually became the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. For nearly 50 years, she cultivated the Sylvania Franciscan community establishing thriving ministries including the Catholic and Franciscan institution known today as Lourdes University.

Initially created as an extension campus of the College of St. Teresa (in Winona, Minnesota), Lourdes Junior College was founded in 1958 to educate the Sisters of St. Francis. In 1964, the liberal arts institution was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As time passed and there were fewer candidates in formation, Lourdes began admitting lay students with women enrolling in 1969 and men in 1975.

Recent history

In 2010, Lourdes embarked on a growth period which culminated in its transition to Lourdes University. Today, Lourdes offers students a unique residential campus experience with apartment-style on-campus housing. In addition to its robust National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program, Lourdes offers a fun and eclectic array of student activities and recreation and campus ministry programming.

Campus

Lourdes University is located in the suburban city of Sylvania, Ohio

Housing

Residential students choose from 1 and 2 bedroom apartment-style living spaces in six separate residence buildings (Pioneer, Justinian, Bonaventure, Ambrose, Rosaria and Emmanuel). Each residential apartment offers a living room, kitchen with dining area, bedroom, bathroom and shower, air conditioning, and internet access.

Athletics

Known as the Gray Wolves, Lourdes University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and plays in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). Offering 18 men’s and women’s sports, the teams play under the university’s colors of terra cotta and black. Their mascot is Gubi, named after the story of St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio.