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Choosing a university is more than choosing what to study. It’s about finding a place that will challenge you, support you and prepare you to use what you learn with purpose.
At St. Mary’s University, generations of students have found that place here.
Approaching its 175th anniversary in 2027, the University continues to build on a legacy that began in San Antonio in 1852. Rooted in the Catholic and Marianist tradition, St. Mary’s combines a rigorous education with a close-knit community where students are encouraged to grow intellectually, professionally and personally.
That mission still serves as a cornerstone, even as the opportunities available to students find their home in.
The Characteristics of Marianist Universities shape an education centered on faith, service, community and the common good. Students of all faiths and backgrounds a community that encourages them to think critically, seek truth and consider how their talents can make a meaningful difference.
For Political Science alumnus Andrew Ponce (B.A. ’25), that sense of community drew him to St. Mary’s.
“After being a part of a Marianist community in high school and now at St. Mary’s University, it’s easy to say that their mission has seamlessly become a part of me,” Ponce said. “Once you realize how inclusive and welcoming the Marianist community is, it becomes one you never want to leave.”
An education that keeps moving forward
Today, the University is creating new pathways for students to respond to some of the most important challenges facing their communities and professions.
The 30,000-square-foot Blank Sheppard Innovation Center has become a hub for hands-on learning, research and collaboration in science, engineering, technology, and health education. Its laboratories and learning spaces support work in areas including robotics, advanced manufacturing, data science and machine learning, while bringing students and faculty from multiple disciplines together to solve real-world problems.
The Center is also home to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Now in its third academic year, the program provides students with opportunities to develop their skills through classroom instruction, clinical experiences and simulation-based learning.
Inside the Nursing Simulation and Skills Laboratory, students encounter realistic scenarios using high-fidelity manikins, virtual reality, simulated electronic health records and artificial intelligence technology. These experiences allow future nurses to learn clinical judgment, communication and decision-making to become practice-ready professionals.
St. Mary’s continues to expand opportunities at the intersection of health, science and technology. In Fall 2026, the new Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering launched, making St. Mary’s the only private, Catholic university in Texas to offer the degree. The program brings together engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry and mathematics to prepare students to address challenges in fields such as medical devices, biotechnology and health care innovation.
That growing health education ecosystem also includes the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities, Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Medical Genomics. Together, these programs broaden the University’s approach to health and well-being, spanning public and mental health, the human and ethical dimensions of medicine, and emerging areas of scientific discovery.
The first Medical Genomics students began their studies in Fall 2026, preparing to apply genetics and bioinformatics to real-world challenges in medicine, research and biotechnology.
Across these programs, innovation is paired with something distinctly St. Mary’s: an emphasis on ethics, the human experience and the responsibility to use knowledge in service to others.
Opportunity with purpose
That commitment extends beyond what happens in laboratories and classrooms. St. Mary’s works to make a high-quality education accessible while helping students build the skills, relationships and confidence to move forward.
Students can choose from more than 75 academic programs, with opportunities spanning the humanities, business, law, science, engineering, technology, health and other fields. Across disciplines, small classes and hands-on experiences give students opportunities to work closely with faculty, conduct research, engage with their communities and prepare for what comes next.
As St. Mary’s approaches a milestone 175 years in the making, its mission remains rooted in the same purpose that has guided generations of Rattlers: educating the whole person and preparing graduates to lead lives of meaning and service.
The programs, technology and spaces may continue to change. The commitment to forming ethical leaders for the common good will not.
At St. Mary’s, nearly 175 years of education, faith and purpose are creating momentum for what comes next.
Find your place. Build your future. Carry the mission forward.
