Avila University
About the university
Upon their arrival in the United States from France in the middle of the 1800s, the Sisters of St. Joseph committed themselves to the "practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and which will most benefit the dear neighbor." Avila University was founded on these tenets, and it has carried on the heritage via its values and mission.
As a result of our Catholic heritage, Avila University offers an educational experience that fosters the growth of the whole person by teaching students how to love in a way that aims to bring them closer to God and to their beloved neighbor.
The goal of Avila students is to change the world and their communities through creativity, passion, and drive. There are a lot of international students from around the globe on campus. Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, France, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam are among the nations.
The Avila University Mission
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet served as the inspiration for the founding of Avila University, a Catholic university that offers professional studies and liberal arts undergraduate and graduate degrees, fostering lifelong learners who contribute significantly to society.
University Values
- The worth, dignity and potential of each human being
- Excellence in teaching and learning
- Service with the dear neighbor
- Diversity and its expression
- The development of the whole person
- Right relationships, with God, self, others and creation
Campus
Margaret O'Rielly, first graduate, generously donated the 50-acre site in the Kanas City suburbs to Avila. The first campus structure, O'Rielly Hall, is named after her. The Goppert Performing Arts Center, which houses our School of Performing Arts, is our newest structure. It was recently extended. Any one of your classes is within a short stroll from one of our four living halls. Located in the very middle of campus are the Marian Center dining hall, also known as the "Caf," the Beak & Bean coffee shop, and The Quad. If you take the network of subterranean tunnels that link the majority of the campus together, you won't have to worry about getting wet or cold even when the weather is notoriously unpredictable in Kansas City.
Forbes names Avila in the top Online Colleges in Missouri:
- #3 within the 10 best accredited online schools in Missouri that offer online undergraduate programs
- #9 in the top 10 nationwide rankings of Best Affordable Online Master’s Programs of 2024
Accreditation
- Avila University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.