Xavier’s History

Xavier’s origins date back to 1915, when then Mother Katharine Drexel, a former Philadelphia socialite who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and devoted her life to the education of African Americans and Native Americans, opened a high school on the site previously occupied by Southern University. A Normal School, offering one of the few career fields (teaching) open to Blacks at the time, was added two years later.

Ten years later, in 1925, Xavier University of Louisiana became a reality when the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established. The first degrees were awarded three years later. In 1927, a College of Pharmacy was opened. Recognizing the University's need for a separate identity and room to expand, Drexel, who was canonized a Roman Catholic Saint in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, bought a tract of undeveloped land for a campus on the corner of Palmetto and Pine Streets in 1929. Construction on the U-shaped, gothic administration building (now a city landmark) was completed in 1933. The campus has expanded three-fold since then.

More info: https://www.xula.edu/about/the-full-story.html

Xavier’s Culture

• For decades, XULA has consistently produced more African American students and students of color who achieve medical degrees and doctorates in the health sciences than any other higher education institution in the nation.
• XULA is the first and only Catholic HBCU in the United States
• 116 student organizations
• Great online support: https://xulagold.com/news/2021/2/26/gen-online-victory.aspx 

What to know about Xavier

• XULA in April 2022 announced the planning phase to establish a graduate school of health sciences and medical school
• Louisiana’s top institution for graduates successfully entering the job market – a 93% placement rate – to career experts at Zippia.com
• Competitive cheer: 2022 NAIA national champion – XULA's first NAIA national team champion in any sport
• Men's tennis: 3-time NAIA national runner-up
• Women's tennis: 6-time NAIA national semifinalist
• Last 17 seasons (2006-23): XULA won 98 team championships at the conference, group or national level

Xavier Photo Gallery