St. Thomas University (Florida)

St. Thomas University, often called STU, is a private Catholic university located in Miami Gardens, Florida. It offers many different programs for students to study, including 61 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as some post-graduate certificate programs. Students can attend classes both on the university's campus and online.

As of 2021, the university had 5,922 students. This included 1,797 undergraduate students, 1,498 graduate students, 780 law students, 62 students not working toward a degree, and 1,784 high school students taking classes alongside university students.

The university is recognized as a quality institution because it is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This means that the university meets certain standards of educational quality and its degrees are valued by employers and other schools.

History

St. Thomas University started in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, where it was called the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva. In 1961, the school had to move because of changes in the country, and it reopened in Miami as Biscayne College. By 1984, it had grown to include many different kinds of programs and became St. Thomas University again. In 1988, it joined with the Archdiocese of Miami, making it the only university in Florida supported by a Catholic Archdiocese.

For many years, from 1970 to 1993, the university was used as a training place by the Miami Dolphins football team. It was also used by a baseball team called the Baltimore Orioles for their training.

In 2019, David A. Armstrong became the university’s tenth leader.

Presidents

Academics

St. Thomas University has many programs for students to study. It offers 23 majors for students who are starting their studies, 24 majors for students who want to learn more after their first degree, four special programs for very advanced learning, and one program for learning about laws. These programs are offered through four different groups at the university.

The university belongs to several groups that help colleges and schools work together and support students from different backgrounds.

The university makes it easy for students to apply to join. In 2024, most students who applied were welcome. Those who joined had good scores in school and on tests that help decide if a student is ready for college.

Students at St. Thomas University can also choose to study in other countries, like Croatia, India, Israel, Italy, and Spain.

Campus

The campus of St. Thomas University covers 150 acres and is located in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is close to many fun places such as Miami's beaches, the Wynwood Art District, the MiMo District, and Fort Lauderdale. The University Library has a special archive and museum that opened in 2008.

The university has six residence halls where students can live: Villanova Hall, Cascia Hall, Sullivan Hall, University Inn, Murphy Family Hall, and New Hall.

Athletics

Main article: St. Thomas Bobcats

The St. Thomas University athletic teams are called the Bobcats. The university competes in many sports and belongs to special groups that help organize college games. Most of their teams play in the Sun Conference, but some teams, like wrestling and eSports, play in different groups.

St. Thomas has many teams for both men and women, including baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, and more. In the past year, many of their teams did very well in school grades and some even got to compete in big national tournaments. The university is proud to teach good sportsmanship and values.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of St. Thomas University Alumni

St. Thomas University has many successful graduates who have gone on to achieve important things in their careers and communities.