St. Mary's University, Texas

St. Mary's University

Latin: Universitas Sancti Mariae
Type	Private
Established	1852
Affiliation	Roman Catholic (Marianist)
Endowment	$154 million
President	Thomas Mengler
Administrative staff	212 full-time 147 part-time
Undergraduates	2,393
Postgraduates	1,475
Location	San Antonio, Texas, U.S. 29°27′11″N 98°33′44″W / 29.4531°N 98.5623°W / 29.4531; -98.5623Coordinates: 29°27′11″N 98°33′44″W / 29.4531°N 98.5623°W / 29.4531; -98.5623
Campus	Urban, 135 acres (0.55 km2)
Colors	Gold and blue
Athletics	NCAA Division II – Heartland Conference
Nickname	Rattlers
Mascot	Rattler Man
Affiliations	ACCU NAICU
Website	www.stmarytx.edu

St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on 135 acres (0.55 km²) northwest of Downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary's is a nationally recognized master's level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News and World Report. In 2010, St. Mary's was named by Washington Monthly as first in the nation in the category of Master's Universities for promoting an ethic of service to country; fostering scientific and humanistic research; and performing as an engine of social mobility.

Founded by the Society of Mary (Marianists) in 1852, St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic university in Texas and the American Southwest. With a diverse student population of nearly 4,000, St. Mary's is home to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; the School of Science, Engineering and Technology; the Bill Greehey School of Business; and the St. Mary's University School of Law.

Founded as St. Mary's Institute, the school opened on Aug. 25, 1852, with a faculty of five and an enrollment of 12 boys. In 1921 all college classes were transferred from downtown to the St. Louis College campus. In 1923, St. Louis College became St. Mary's College with an enrollment of 12 in the freshman class. Grade school and high school students remained at the downtown school, which adopted the name St. Mary's Academy. The new St. Mary's College quickly gained senior college status and in 1927 the first class of bachelor's degree candidates graduated from the newly renamed St. Mary's University.

In 1932, the high school programs at St. Mary's Academy relocated from the College Street campus to become Central Catholic High School. Personal attention and powerful academic programs have made St. Mary's, located on 135 acres (0.55 km²) 3 miles northwest of Downtown San Antonio, a nationally recognized liberal arts institution with a diverse student population of nearly 4,000 of all faiths and backgrounds. After over a century as an all-male institution, St. Mary's opened its doors to female students in 1963 and became a coeducational university. In 1987, Polish-American silent film star Pola Negri left most of her estate to St. Mary's University, including a collection of memorabilia and several rare prints of her films. St. Mary's University also set up a scholarship in her name.