A History of the University of Saint Mary and Its Long-standing Tradition of Excellence
The University of Saint Mary may be a full-scale Catholic educational institution now, but its humble beginnings may surprise you.
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Originating as a small academy for young women, the university has transformed from a boarding academy, a women’s junior college into what it is today – a fully accredited university with three locations, offering 26 undergraduate degrees and five graduate degrees.
The Sisters of Charity, the founders and sponsors of the University of Saint Mary, settled in Leavenworth, Kan. in 1858 longing for a location to serve the “wild frontier." Within days of their arrival in the oldest city in Kansas, the sisters began teaching boys and girls in the area – a tradition that continues today.
A few months later, the sisters opened a boarding school for girls in downtown Leavenworth. Filled to capacity with women from Kansas, Missouri, and the territories later admitted to the United States as Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah, the sisters moved the boarding school to the university’s current location in 1870 called St. Mary’s Academy.
The academy thrived, and in 1923 the sisters established Saint Mary College, a junior college for women. In 1930 the college became a four-year institution. While admitting men to most of its programs early on, the college did not become residentially co-ed until 1988.
In 1974, Saint Mary became the first four-year institution to offer degree completion in Kansas City, Kan. Formerly offering classes at Donnelly College, Saint Mary recently moved its Wyandotte County hub to Providence Medical Center in Western Wyandotte County.
As part of an expansion plan to better serve the Kansas City Metropolitan area, Saint Mary opened the Overland Park Campus in the year 2000. Located near 115th and Pflumm, the Overland Park Campus is centrally located for easy access.
In July 2003, the college expanded to meet the growing demands of the 21st century student, and became the University of Saint Mary. With over 80 years of experience in adult education, the University of Saint Mary has gained a reputation for developing value-centered graduates who are strong decision-makers, problem-solvers and business and community leaders. The university’s concept of applied liberal arts embraces the rich history and meaning of the liberal arts tradition, while intentionally connecting learning to the real world in concrete and practical ways.
