Saint Xavier University (SXU, St. Xavier University, St Xavier University) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL, was founded in 1846 as a private, comprehensive, Catholic institution by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Saint Xavier, or SXU, sits on a 74-acre campus and serves just under 5,000 students each year. SXU students are expected to exhibit the values set forth by the university and show respect, strive for excellence, be compassionate, and serve others. In addition, students are expected to be hospitable, practice integrity, welcome diversity, and continue to pursue knowledge.

Based on a survey conducted in 2008, students at St. Xavier University feel actively engaged. Talented faculty and staff provide students with guidance and support so that they are able to attain their personal and professional goals.

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Information Summary

Ranks 47th in Illinois and 1169th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	78.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$48,436
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	24 / 1130
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	20 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	74% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,667

Academics

St. Xavier University offers 43 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate programs to its students. SXU’s five schools and colleges include:

College of Arts and Sciences
School of Nursing
Graham School of Management
School of Education
School for Continuing and Professional Studies

St. Xavier University offers students with a solid liberal arts foundation alongside practical career preparation. The U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009 listed SXU as one of the top 40 comprehensive master’s universities in the Midwest. The undergraduate program continues to rank in the top 25% of all 4-year programs, making SXU an extremely competitive and desirable school.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Known as Chicago’s “South Side” university, Saint Xavier highly encourages prospective students to visit and take a tour. During the visit, admissions officers will be standing by to answer any questions that may arise.

Incoming Freshmen are required to submit a completed application, a small fee if filling out a paper application (no fee if using online application), a high school transcript or GED score report, ACT or SAT scores, and a personal essay.

Many students seek transfers to SXU, which has been named as one of the top 10 private, non-profit colleges for transfers in the state. Transfer students are accepted during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Students applying for graduate programs may submit their applications to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Each school also has its own requirements, which are all posted online.

Financial Aid

A number of financial aid sources are available to students at SXU. All students who file for aid are automatically considered for federal, state, and institutional grants, scholarships, loans, or work study. New students can also apply for a number of academic scholarships, which are based on high school GPA as well as ACT/SAT scores. Eligibility requirements for financial aid include:

Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
Be registered with Selective Service (if required)
Be admitted to a program leading to a degree or certificate
Be enrolled at least half time
Maintain satisfactory academic progress
Not be in default for any other load or grant
Comply with the use of funds for educational purposes only

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4575th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Illinois.

Students

Six air-conditioned residence halls are available for the convenience of roughly 780 SXU students. Pacelli and Regina Halls are traditional dormitories and house mostly underclassmen. The other four halls, McCarthy, Morris, Rubloff, and O’Brien provide students with apartment-style suites with kitchenettes, furnished living areas, and private bedrooms and baths. Rubloff Hall, built in 2006, was the first green residence hall on campus and boasts a partially green roof, recycled carpeting, and toilets with two flush modes. The second green residence hall, O’Brien, opened in 2008 with an environmentally friendly design. It has a green roof and a mechanical room that boasts the most advanced technology to run the building efficiently.

In addition to participating in residence hall activities, students are also encouraged to join clubs and organizations. There are over 100 to choose from that fall into the following categories:

Academic / Honorary
Ethnic / Cultural
Faith / Spiritual
Club Sports
Leadership Groups
Social / Political / Special Interest
Government / Programming
Student Media

There is a Student Activities Board that students can access to learn more about upcoming events and to offer suggestions of events that they might want to see on campus.

Saint Xavier University also provides students with several dining options while they are on campus. Chartwells Dining Services oversees food services, making sure there is a wide variety to satisfy a range of palettes. Students have the option of sampling international cuisine as well as grab a quick bite to eat between classes. A couple favorites include Coffee Cats and The Diner.

At Saint Xavier University, students, faculty, and staff are able to stay connected throughout the day through social media. The University regularly posts information on Facebook, updates stakeholders through Twitter, and connects with their working graduates through LinkedIn.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The SXU Cougars play in several conferences including the National Association of Intercollegiate Atheltics, the Mid-States Football Association, and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, to name a few. Varsity teams are offered in eight sports. There are also two club teams, the Paw Prints (Dance Team) and Cheerleading.

In addition to intercollegiate and club sports, students are also able to stay fit. On campus, there is an outdoor sports center for students to utilize before, between, or after classes. The Shannon Center is also available for student use. The state-of-the-arts facility houses a weight room, two racquetball courts, an indoor track, two gymnasiums, a snack/smoothie bar, a dance studio, and meeting areas. The main arena at the Shannon Center, alone, seats as many as 3,000 people for sporting events, concerts, and special occasions.

Bibliography

McGrath, Anne, ed. U.S. News & World Report: Ultimate College Guide. Washington, Sourcebook, Inc., 2010. Print.

Saint Xavier University. Saint Xavier University. n.d. Web. 18 July, 2011.

SXU. Dine On Campus. n.d. Web. 18 July, 2011.

SXU Cougars. SXU Cougars. n.d. Web. 18 July, 2011.

Saint Xavier University