Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is a private historically black Catholic university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is the only Catholic HBCU. Upon the canonization of Katharine Drexel in 2000 it became the first Catholic university founded by a saint.
History Background Katharine Drexel, a Catholic nun possessing a substantial inheritance from her father, banker-financier Francis Drexel, founded and staffed many institutions throughout the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, in an effort to help educate and evangelize Native Americans and African Americans. Many of her chosen staff included sisters of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order she founded and served in as the first Superior General.
Aware of the lack of Catholic education for young black people in the South during Jim Crow, she planned to establish a high school in New Orleans. The chosen site had been previously occupied by Southern University on Magazine Street, a black institution which had moved to Baton Rouge in 1912 after an influx of white neighbors petitioned for its relocation.
Drexel sent the Josephite priest Pierre Oscar LeBeau to survey the property, to avoid public scrutiny and controversy, as her reputation for establishing black schools was well known. On April 13, 1915, Harry McEnerny, serving as Drexel's agent, purchased the property for . She knew that the city and community would never approve a sale for a black institution, but by going through an agent, the sale was allowed; even so, vandals smashed all the windows after learning of Drexel's intent.
High school era The high school opened on 27 September 1915 as Southern University of New Orleans, later re-named after Francis Xavier (the namesake of Katharine's father). In May 1916, it was incorporated under the title, "Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, of Louisiana," according to the laws of the state, and the new name, "Xavier University", was cut into the stone slab above the main entrance."A Historical Sketch of Xavier University of Louisiana," Sister M. Veronica, 1966, Xavier University of Louisiana, Archives & Special Collections (The high school, Xavier Prep, remained in operation until 2013; today, St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School operates from the same location.) The original campus consisted of the main Administration Building and a Convent for the Sisters.
In order to secure the standard of excellent required by the faculty for graduation, students were not enrolled beyond the eleventh grade, therefore, the first Xavier High School graduates, twenty-five in number, received their diplomas in June 1917. In September 1917, Xavier expanded to include a normal school to provide training for black teachers, as Archbishop James H. Blenk was eager for graduates to teach at six planned new black parishes. As described in a 1917 Xavier Bulletin, "Xavier University, located on the site of "Old Southern University," 5100-16 Magazine Street, is a school for higher education of Colored youths and girls. The curriculum comprises a four years' high school course supplemented by a post-graduate course of two years. The latter includes a junior normal period of two semesters, and a senior normal of two semesters. A thorough course in theory and art of teaching, embracing pedagogical subjects, intellectual, physical and manual, is pursued. The graduate student of the normal course is entitled to a diploma from Xavier University, which is recognized by the Board of Education of the State of Louisiana, and upon which the said Board issues a certificate of eligibility to teach in the City of New Orleans." On September 9, 1921, the Louisiana Department of Education officially recognized "Xavier University" as a State Approved High School.Correspondence, "State of Louisiana Department of Education Baton Rouge to Sister M. Eucharia," 9 September 1921, Xavier University of Louisiana, Archives & Special Collections. By 1922, the school was described as the only Catholic institution in the United States that offered "a full four years' high school course to colored boys." While this may not be true, Xavier University was by far the most prominent Catholic institution offering such educational opportunities at the time.McCarthy, Joseph J., "History of Black Catholic Education in the Chicago, 1871-1971" (1973). Pages 72-74.
University founding In September 1925, Xavier University of Louisiana came into being when the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established, with the Josephite priest Edward Brunner as the first president. This expansion included a Teachers' College and a Pre-Medical Course added to the curriculum for the, "higher education of young men and women of the colored race who aim to equip themselves for leadership in literary and scientific careers, or who wish to prepare for admission into recognized medical schools. The Louisiana Department of Education officially recognized Xavier University as a four-year college on March 19, 1928, with the first degrees awarded that spring.Correspondence, "State of Louisiana Department of Education Baton Rouge to Sister Mary Frances, Dean," 19 March 1928, Xavier University of Louisiana, Archives & Special Collections. Alongside Drexel's sisters, the Josephites served as some of the school's first male teachers, and as chaplains.
The College of Pharmacy was next to be opened, officially beginning 19 September 1927. As stated in the 1927-28 Xavier College Bulletin, "The Purpose of this department is to afford young men and women desirous of entering upon the pharmaceutical profession an opportunity of securing the special training necessary for the successful practice of that profession. In Louisiana, as in all other states, the law requires the pharmacist to be registered, and in order to become registered, he must pass an examination given by the State Board of Pharmaceutical Examiners. The former method of preparation for this examination by apprenticeship in a drug store is no longer considered adequate, and the law now requires the applicant to be a graduate of a College of Pharmacy. The Department of Pharmacy of Xavier will engage the prospective pharmacist to fulfill this requirement and to fit himself, under competent instructors, to become efficient in his chosen profession."
Recognizing the university's need for a separate identity and room to expand, Drexel bought a tract of undeveloped land for a campus on the corner of Palmetto and Pine Streets in 1929. To avoid blockage of the deal, Drexel again purchased the property through an agent.
Construction of the U-shaped, Gothic Revival-style Main Building, Convent and Library, made from Indiana limestone and now on the National Register of Historic Places, were completed between 1932 and 1937. The Main Administration Building was dedicated by the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, on Columbus Day, October 12, 1932. The Administration building is a City of New Orleans landmark.
Modern history In May 1961, a group of Freedom Riders, arrived in New Orleans by plane after bus drivers in Alabama refused to take them to Montgomery, Alabama. Locals, aware of the fire bombings and other attacks against other Freedom Riders, refused to accommodate them with lodging out of fear of retaliatory violence. Norman C. Francis, the university's Dean of Men, secretly arranged for the group to stay several days in a dormitory on campus. He had received permission from University President Sister Mary Josephina to allow the group to occupy space on the third floor of St. Michael's Hall under the condition that the press would not be alerted as to the move.
In 1987, Pope John Paul II addressed the presidents of all U.S. Catholic colleges from the courtyard of the Xavier administration building.
When Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area in August 2005, Xavier, located in the lower-lying Gert Town section and adjacent to the Washington-Palmetto Canal, suffered damage to almost every structure on campus. Many buildings sat partially submerged for extended periods of time following the hurricane. University president Francis organized boats and buses to transport stranded faculty, staff, and students from the campus to safe areas. Students began returning to the university in January 2006.
In April 2006, the nation of Qatar donated $17.5 million to assist the university in hurricane recovery and in expanding the school's College of Pharmacy. The groundbreaking in 2008 was attended by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, leader of Qatar, and on 15 October 2010 the school's Qatar Pharmacy Pavilion opened, adding adjacent to the existing College of Pharmacy building.
Senator Barack Obama gave the commencement speech in August 2006. New Orleans' archbishop, Alfred C. Hughes, declined to attend, citing that Obama was not opposed to abortion, and that he had not been consulted prior to the event. Obama returned after becoming president, visiting New Orleans in August 2010 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. He gave an address at Xavier complimenting the work of the leaders of the community and affirming the commitment to continue to aid in the rebuilding of the area.
The university received the "Katrina Compassion Award" from the United States government Corporation for National and Community Service in 2006, for the efforts of an estimated 60% of its students in rebuilding the neighborhoods damaged by the hurricane.
Xavier's campus was evacuated during Hurricane Ida in August 2021, 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina. Students who remained on campus were later evacuated to Dallas. The school resumed operations as normal on September 13
Philanthropy In July 2020, Xavier received $20 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the second largest single gift in the university's history.
In November 2025, Scott donated an additional $38 million which is the largest single gift in the university's history.
Demographics Students Though Xavier is the nation's only historically Black and Catholic university, its doors have always been open to qualified students of any race or creed.
In fall 2020, the vast majority of the student body was Black or African American (approx. 75.1%), and 12% identified as Catholic. Xavier was also the first U.S. Catholic college to educate both men and women, though the university currently enrolls a student population that is overwhelmingly made up of women (at more than 75%). Almost half of Xavier's students (43.8%) in the fall of 2020 were from Louisiana. Non-local enrollment continues to increase, with students coming in from at least 40 other states and sixteen foreign countries.
Faculty As of fall 2020, Xavier had a full-time faculty of 236 educators, both religious and lay, of diverse ethnic and racial origins—95 percent of whom have terminal degrees—providing a student/faculty ratio of 12.5/1.
Forty-four faculty members serve as endowed chairs or professors, which provides additional financial support for their research and teaching.
Unique among HBCUs, Xavier has a higher percentage of non-Black faculty than Black as of 2022.
Administration
Presidents
Edward J. Brunner (1915–1932) Mother M. Agatha Ryan (1932–1955) Josephina Kenney (1955–1965) M. Maris Stella Ross (1965–1968) Norman C. Francis (1968–2015) C. Reynold Verret (2015–present)
Academics
College of Arts and Sciences
Academic divisions Biological and Public Health Sciences Business Education and Counseling Fine Arts and Humanities Mathematical and Physical Sciences Philosophy Social and Behavioral Sciences Theology
College of Pharmacy
Academic divisions Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences
Pre-Med and biological science programs