Xavier University is a private Jesuit Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio, whose history begins with the Athenaeum founded by Bishop Edward Fenwick in 1831. The Society of Jesus assumed responsibility for the school in 1840, renamed it St. Xavier College, and established the Jesuit educational identity that still shapes the institution. The college moved from downtown Cincinnati to its present area in the early twentieth century and adopted the Xavier University name in 1930. Today the university organizes its academic work through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, College of Nursing, and Williams College of Business.

Undergraduate study spans the liberal arts and sciences, business, nursing, education, health, communication, technology, social sciences, the arts, and interdisciplinary fields. Current undergraduate offerings include newer areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 3D animation and immersive game design, pharmaceutical science, genetics, neuroscience, and digital innovation alongside long-established programs in biology, chemistry, economics, finance, history, philosophy, psychology, theology, mathematics, nursing, social work, and education. The university also maintains pre-professional pathways in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and law.

Graduate education includes business, education, counseling, health administration, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, theology, biomedical sciences, criminal justice, sport administration, and other professional fields. Xavier also offers doctoral-level study in clinical psychology, leadership studies, occupational therapy, population-health nursing, and osteopathic medicine. Multiple graduate certificates provide shorter pathways in nursing specialties, education leadership, counseling-related areas, health administration, criminal justice, and other professional subjects.

For traditional undergraduates, the university uses a test-optional admission process. Applicants may use either Xavier's application or the Common Application, provide an official high-school transcript, and submit one recommendation. Xavier recommends four years of English, three years each of mathematics, science, and social sciences, plus two years of a language other than English. Music, Nursing, Theatre, Honors and other selective programs can impose additional requirements.

The university reports that 98% of the Class of 2025 was employed, enrolled in graduate school, or serving in volunteer/service positions within six months of graduation. Financial support is also a major part of the undergraduate model: full-time traditional undergraduates receive institutional aid, and current merit awards generally range from $23,000 to $33,000. Students should use the official program, tuition, scholarship, and admission pages in the Important Links field for the exact rules applying to their intended program and entry term. Xavier's experiential-learning environment extends beyond conventional coursework. The university reports that nearly half of undergraduates participate in at least one high-impact immersive experience, which may include internship work, study abroad, service-learning classes, or co-curricular immersion. Students also have access to a coordinated success model involving academic advising, coaching, and professional mentoring. For applicants comparing professional pathways, Xavier's current portfolio is particularly broad in nursing, health and human sciences, business, education, counseling, occupational therapy, and the sciences, while its Jesuit core keeps ethical reflection and broad intellectual study connected to specialized preparation.