In the heart of Houston, Texas, college students thrive at a distinctive, innovative, and renowned place, the University of St. Thomas (UST). They flourish personally, and professionally with unique attention to each student’s full formation. UST inherits a 200-year legacy of educational excellence and whole person engagement from its founders, the Basilian Fathers. That rich heritage joined with breakthrough learning experiences allows UST students reach new heights of success. Students flourish in a beautiful, tree lined, cosmopolitan campus situated between the world class museum district and innovation corridor. As Houston’s Catholic university, UST serves the rich breadth of God’s people in the local community and with a growing global footprint.

Students recognize the value of UST as a hub of educational excellence and faith-driven values. That is why for almost a decade, they choose to apply in record numbers. With that enthusiasm, UST is racing ahead with each entering class filled with impressive, student scholars and setting enrollment records.

Students choose UST for the high value, unique experiences, and great outcomes. For most (80 percent), their dream to be a Celt comes true because of generous scholarships to reward performance and meet need. Coupled with UST’s very competitive cost initially, student scholarships put world class education within reach for almost every admitted student.

Learning happens almost everywhere for UST students. Internships, funded by corporate partners, clinical rotations, and student research are just some of the ways. Students gain global competence around the world and right on campus. Students from approximately 40 countries learn and grow on the main campus. Campus life is extraordinarily rich by domestic students whose families remind the community God’s people come from everywhere. UST is a founding member of the International Council of the Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas (ICUSTA), a global network of universities. That is important for students because student exchanges can happen on almost every continent.

UST’s core curriculum is a particular distinction for students. It is deeply rooted in enduring virtues and equips learners to consider and answer life’s big questions. Formative skills are fostered with philosophy, theology, and classics infused with analyses of more modern issues. Students gain insight from interplay of timeless and transient perspectives, values, faith, and morality. This helps shape the UST’s reality—to nurture leaders with strong values.

"Here students experience a uniquely challenging yet supportive education of the mind, body, and spirit. The result is a wholistic formation of intellect, character and purpose that readies them for personal and professional success," says University President Dr. Richard Ludwick.

Professional Excellence Backed by Catholic Principles

UST strongly adheres to the core values instilled by Basilian fathers—goodness, discipline and knowledge. Later, the university added a fourth, community. Its academic programs are not just designed to prepare students to work for or run businesses but to make decisions based on moral principles.

UST is a Catholic university and because of that it engages in the pursuit of truth and welcomes students of all faiths, no faith, and varied backgrounds to join that pursuit. UST is a Christian community that welcomes all to join its celebration of each person’s human dignity and the sincere pursuit of truth through goodness, discipline, knowledge, and community.


Academic programs range from liberal arts and humanities to the professions. Students are drawn to business, nursing, engineering, natural sciences, and many more. STEM, graduate programs, and even associates degrees offer experience unmatched elsewhere. In particular, philosophy and theology programs engage and prepare students for the contemporary conversation about life, meaning, and values like nowhere else. Catholic Studies, the oldest and largest of its kind, is a strong pathway. While developing new programs, the university stays aligned with the rising trends of the digital world, which include AI, cybersecurity, and bio tech. Master programs in Creative Writing, Evangelization and Culture, and Women’s and Gender studies illustrate the value of Christian Anthropology in the pursuit of truth.

Students love UST’s vibrant campus life. Residence life, student groups, activities, and service projects are engaging and build lifelong social and interpersonal connections. Campus Ministry is robust, increasing, and supports student faith formation and spiritual growth. 21 Celt NCAA Division III teams represent and compete as scholar-athletes at the highest level. Celts e-sports are powerful with two North American championships in League of Legends and repeated preeminence in Valorant.

A distinguishing feature of UST is its ability to provide close, personalized attention to its students, a significant advantage of being a student-centered university. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, UST ensures that professors can offer one-toone attention and become true mentors to their students. The university’s emphasis on personal attention for each student is realized through its professors and staff, who share the mission of nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Transformative Support for Shaping Tomorrow

UST's prime location in Houston naturally helps it benefit from city connections, including its proximity to the Texas Medical Center, downtown and the innovation district. These connections enhance the university's campus and community, making it a highly attractive choice for students.

Central to this is the university's profound impact on students’ lives through a large catalog of scholarships they can apply for. Upon acceptance, students access a team of financial aid experts who help them determine their financial needs and explore options to help pay for their education.

The application process for scholarships varies, as many are unique. Some scholarships only require the student to be part of a local parish community. Others involve submitting essays, participating in interviews, or completing a simple application form.

The St. Thomas Promise and the Rising Stars program are two major opportunities that help low-income students pay for their education. The Rising Stars program provides financial support and meaningful internship opportunities to first-generation students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.

The program partners with a list of companies that have committed to employing these students via internships. But instead of paying the students directly, the funds are applied toward their tuition. This arrangement creates a win-win scenario, corporate sponsors gain a productive employee, and the Rising Stars become valuable assets prepared for Houston’s workforce. By the time they graduate, they will have valuable work experience and a clear understanding of working for a company.

“We create pathways for qualified students to access our distinctive UST curriculum and community, regardless of financial background. Our students soar when barriers are burst and we do that every day," says Dr. Ludwick.

Path to Greater Things 2030

The "Greater Things 2030" Strategic Vision lays a robust blueprint for the institution's future, anchoring ambitions in a comprehensive roadmap toward excellence. This vision embodies our commitment to being a model for Catholic higher education nationally, highlighting four key priorities: to establish UST as a top Catholic university in the country, to make our campus and community premier destinations within Houston, to enhance our global presence through international partnerships, and to achieve financial sustainability.

UST’s ability to attract and retain students results from a blend of academic excellence, ethical focus and community support that resonates with them. It serves as the common ground uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds and interests, all tied by their pursuit of academic excellence.