Creighton University

Creighton University

Latin: Universitas Creightoniana
Motto	Willing to Lead
Type	Private Research Coeducational
Established	1878
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Endowment	$449.4 million (2015)
President	Daniel S. Hendrickson
Rector	Greg J. O'Meara
Academic staff	960
Students	8,435
Undergraduates	4,163
Postgraduates	4,272
Location	Omaha, Nebraska, United States 41°15′53″N 95°56′46″W / 41.26472°N 95.94611°W / 41.26472; -95.94611Coordinates: 41°15′53″N 95°56′46″W / 41.26472°N 95.94611°W / 41.26472; -95.94611
Campus	Urban – 132 acres (53.4 ha)
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	Bluejays
Mascot	Billy the Bluejay
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – Big East
Website	creighton.edu

Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Creighton is Nebraska's largest private religious university.

Sitting on a 140-acre (57 ha) campus just outside Omaha's downtown business district, the university enrolls 8,435 graduate and undergraduate students.

The university was founded as Creighton College on September 2, 1878 through a gift from Mary Lucretia Creighton, who stipulated in her will that a school be established in memory of her husband, prominent Omaha businessman Edward Creighton. Edward's brother, John A. Creighton, is credited with fostering and sustaining the university's early growth and endowment. In 1958, the college split into a prep school and the present-day Creighton University.

The schools and colleges at Creighton are:

The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest school, containing about 28% of the university's enrolled students. Creighton’s acceptance rate is 72.7%.

Creighton competes in NCAA Division I athletics, within the Big East. Nicknamed the Bluejays, Creighton fields 14 teams in eight sports. Bruce Rasmussen is the Director of Athletics.

Greg McDermott is the men's basketball program's head coach. Famous basketball alums include Paul Silas, Benoit Benjamin, Kyle Korver, and Greg's son Doug McDermott, while famous former Bluejay coaches include Eddie Sutton and Willis Reed.